Start with Booby (8-10) on a fast strip on floating line or static on sinking. 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. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
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.
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
A reasonable day here, though cloud isn't quite in the sweet spot.
A 320-hectare Staffordshire reservoir with boat and bank fly fishing for stocked rainbows and brown trout. The reservoir has productive arms and bays that concentrate fish. Good buzzer hatches from April. Managed by South Staffs Water.
A 320-hectare Staffordshire reservoir with boat and bank fly fishing for stocked rainbows and brown trout.
Start with Booby (8-10) on a fast strip on floating line or static on sinking. 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. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
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.
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
A reasonable day here, though cloud isn't quite in the sweet spot.
A 320-hectare Staffordshire reservoir with boat and bank fly fishing for stocked rainbows and brown trout. The reservoir has productive arms and bays that concentrate fish. Good buzzer hatches from April. Managed by South Staffs Water.
