Stillwater · Limestone · South West / Somerset

Blagdon Lake

Aerial photograph of the western half of Blagdon Lake including the dam, Somerset.
Contributor photo

Blagdon Lake

Adam Cli - CC BY-SA 4.0

Blagdon since 1904 — the dam that proved reservoirs could hold fish as well as water.

Good · Rainbow
Diawl Bach · 12-14
Goodlive now
Good summer conditions for Blagdon Lake
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
69% confidence

Peak season here starts around September — worth planning ahead.

What moved it
  • WindSW 17 km/hGentle breeze
Today’s fly
Diawl Bach
Diawl Bach12-14
Washing-line, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Gentle breeze
SW 17 km/h
N
SW
from the south-west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp
Air temp18°C
CloudBroken
Pressure1020 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

Head to
Heat refugeHeat refuge
Cheddar WaterPolish Water

At 18°C, fish have moved off the surface into cooler water — the aerator at Cheddar Water is the place to start.

How to fish it · for rainbow
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 Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. 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

Watch for Murrough towards evening — this could be the best window of the day.

Either bank or boat

Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
86%
Cloud100%
Wind65%
Temp100%

Conditions are ideal for Blagdon Lake — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.

Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 6
  1. Aerial photograph of the western half of Blagdon Lake including the dam, Somerset.
    Blagdon Lake
  2. Broad daylight view across Blagdon Lake reservoir from the northern shore.
    Blagdon Lake
  3. Fly-fishing boats spread across the open water of Blagdon Lake on a busy fishing day.
    Finding some space on Blagdon Lake
  4. Wide landscape view across Blagdon Lake and the surrounding Mendip valley from elevated ground.
    Blagdon Lake
  5. The Victorian pumping station on the shore of Blagdon Lake with open reservoir water behind it.
    Pumping station on Blagdon Lake
  6. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Blagdon since 1904 — the dam that proved reservoirs could hold fish as well as water. This smaller reservoir responds faster than larger ones — fishing patterns shift noticeably within thirty-six hours of major weather changes. 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
Why this score
  • Cloud cover (mixed) suits the fishery well.
  • Temperature (moderate) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
  • Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Booking & contacts