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.
Rules at a glance
- Free fishing
Good late spring conditions for Blithfield Reservoir
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Fishable ripple — drift the productive shore.
The buzzers are on at Blithfield Reservoir. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
65% 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
SW 14 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
10°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
The buzzers are on at Blithfield Reservoir. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Buzzer Team (14-16) on a slow figure-of-eight or hang under indicator. 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.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Start with Buzzer Team (14-16) on a slow figure-of-eight or hang under indicator. 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.
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.
Either bank or boat
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
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
- Cloud cover (cloud) suits the fishery well.
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for late spring fishing.
- Buzzers are in their 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
Blithfield Reservoir · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
Best for
- Midlands
- Boat
- Competition
About this water
Blithfield Reservoir, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedBlithfield Reservoir · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
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.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Blithfield Reservoir · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Blithfield Reservoir · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
Blithfield Reservoir
Google Places
A 320-hectare Staffordshire reservoir with boat and bank fly fishing for stocked rainbows and brown trout.
Species
Good late spring conditions for Blithfield Reservoir
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Fishable ripple — drift the productive shore.
The buzzers are on at Blithfield Reservoir. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
65% 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
SW 14 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
10°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
86%
Cloud100%
Wind65%
Temp100%
Conditions are ideal for Blithfield Reservoir — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
The buzzers are on at Blithfield Reservoir. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Buzzer Team (14-16) on a slow figure-of-eight or hang under indicator. 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.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Buzzer Team (14-16) on a slow figure-of-eight or hang under indicator. 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.
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.
Either bank or boat
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Why this score
- Cloud cover (cloud) suits the fishery well.
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for late spring fishing.
- Buzzers are in their 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
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.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
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.
Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts