Blagdon since 1904 — the dam that proved reservoirs could hold fish as well as water. A contrarian lake: the textbook lee-shore rule is wrong here. Onshore wind colours the shallow water and pushes fish out into cleaner reaches, so the productive drift is parallel to the bank, not into it. Easterly opens up the whole North Shore and Rugmoor for right-handers. Polish Water rises first in the morning, fed by a spring pipe that keeps it cool when surface temperatures climb. In July heat, Cheddar Water's aerators are where the rainbows bunch. Rugmoor Point fishes reliably in almost any wind — the single honest banker on the whole lake.
Rules at a glance
- Day tickets
- Fly only
Reasonable late spring fishing likely at Blagdon Lake
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Worth a session if the wind holds.
The buzzer is on at Blagdon Lake.
63% confidence in this read
This is peak season for the venue, though today's conditions aren't quite ideal. Worth fishing — the timing is right even if the weather isn't perfect.
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
W 24 km/h
Moderate breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
12°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for rainbow trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
Buzzers from April; sedges and damsels through summer evenings; back-end blob and booby work October before close. Blagdon is more intimate than Chew — pace yourself.
Where
Lugg Bay and the open boat marks on the western end. Drift lines through the middle hold fish in spring and summer.
Method
Floater with buzzers under indicator in spring; midge-tip and team of three through summer. Drift broadside; the lake is small enough to read each lane carefully.
Kit
10 ft #7 boat rod; floating, intermediate and fast-intermediate lines; 6 to 8 lb fluoro. Drogue and a long-handled net.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Start with Diawl Bach (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
Plan B
If the main plan stalls, drop to a size 14–16 midge — switch to a washing-line or suspender rig and change drift line before you change food group.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Bank, sheltered shores
In wind, bank fish the lee shore — boats can anchor in productive areas if conditions allow.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
6 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Detail · next 12h
Precipitation
The reading most likely to move tomorrow's verdict
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Blagdon Lake · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
Best for
- Dry Fly
- Boat
- Travelling reservoir
About this water
Blagdon Lake, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedBlagdon Lake · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Blagdon since 1904 — the dam that proved reservoirs could hold fish as well as water. A contrarian lake: the textbook lee-shore rule is wrong here. Onshore wind colours the shallow water and pushes fish out into cleaner reaches, so the productive drift is parallel to the bank, not into it. Easterly opens up the whole North Shore and Rugmoor for right-handers. Polish Water rises first in the morning, fed by a spring pipe that keeps it cool when surface temperatures climb. In July heat, Cheddar Water's aerators are where the rainbows bunch. Rugmoor Point fishes reliably in almost any wind — the single honest banker on the whole lake.
- Reservoir
- Limestone
Blagdon Lake · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Blagdon Lake · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
Blagdon Lake · sources
Useful links
External · open in a new tab
Booking & contacts
Blagdon Lake
Google Places
Blagdon since 1904 — the dam that proved reservoirs could hold fish as well as water.
Species
Reasonable late spring fishing likely at Blagdon Lake
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Worth a session if the wind holds.
The buzzer is on at Blagdon Lake.
63% confidence in this read
This is peak season for the venue, though today's conditions aren't quite ideal. Worth fishing — the timing is right even if the weather isn't perfect.
Conditions
Wind
W 24 km/h
Moderate breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
12°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
51%
Cloud70%
Wind30%
Temp60%
A reasonable day here, though wind isn't quite in the sweet spot.
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
Buzzers from April; sedges and damsels through summer evenings; back-end blob and booby work October before close. Blagdon is more intimate than Chew — pace yourself.
Where
Lugg Bay and the open boat marks on the western end. Drift lines through the middle hold fish in spring and summer.
Method
Floater with buzzers under indicator in spring; midge-tip and team of three through summer. Drift broadside; the lake is small enough to read each lane carefully.
Kit
10 ft #7 boat rod; floating, intermediate and fast-intermediate lines; 6 to 8 lb fluoro. Drogue and a long-handled net.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Diawl Bach (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
Plan B
If the main plan stalls, drop to a size 14–16 midge — switch to a washing-line or suspender rig and change drift line before you change food group.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Bank, sheltered shores
In wind, bank fish the lee shore — boats can anchor in productive areas if conditions allow.
Why this score
- Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Directions
About this water
Blagdon since 1904 — the dam that proved reservoirs could hold fish as well as water. A contrarian lake: the textbook lee-shore rule is wrong here. Onshore wind colours the shallow water and pushes fish out into cleaner reaches, so the productive drift is parallel to the bank, not into it. Easterly opens up the whole North Shore and Rugmoor for right-handers. Polish Water rises first in the morning, fed by a spring pipe that keeps it cool when surface temperatures climb. In July heat, Cheddar Water's aerators are where the rainbows bunch. Rugmoor Point fishes reliably in almost any wind — the single honest banker on the whole lake.
- Reservoir
- Limestone
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Blagdon since 1904 — the dam that proved reservoirs could hold fish as well as water. A contrarian lake: the textbook lee-shore rule is wrong here. Onshore wind colours the shallow water and pushes fish out into cleaner reaches, so the productive drift is parallel to the bank, not into it. Easterly opens up the whole North Shore and Rugmoor for right-handers. Polish Water rises first in the morning, fed by a spring pipe that keeps it cool when surface temperatures climb. In July heat, Cheddar Water's aerators are where the rainbows bunch. Rugmoor Point fishes reliably in almost any wind — the single honest banker on the whole lake.
Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts