Crowdy is the kind of place you go when you've had your fill of stocked rainbows for the season. A hundred-and-fifteen acres of moorland water on the northern shoulder of Bodmin Moor, sitting inside a Site of Special Scientific Interest, surrounded by the sort of silence that makes you whisper without meaning to. The trout are small, dark, and wholly wild — fish to seven or eight inches are the run, with occasional fish to four pounds for those who put in the hours. Bank fishing only. There's no permit and no bailiff; just an EA rod licence and the long walk in. Buzzer hatches from April, beetle falls when the wind drops, and a soundtrack of skylarks and the odd starling murmuration. The fishing is rarely easy, which is the point.
Good drifting conditions on Crowdy Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
The buzzer is on. Olives may also come into play as the day warms. Drift conditions look good — cover the wind lanes.
55% confidence in this read
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
W 21 km/h
Moderate breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
13°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
1020 hPa
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
April–June; late evenings July–September
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Pheasant Tail Nymph on the bob and Diawl Bach on the point.
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
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Pheasant Tail Nymph on the bob and Diawl Bach on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
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
- Temperature (moderate) is in the sweet spot for late spring fishing.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Access · 1
Check the current rules, permits and access before travelling.
Free wild brown trout fishingSouth West Lakes
Wild brown troutFlySpinBait
Free bank fishing for rod-licence holders. The reservoir is unstocked, the trout are wild, and the only entry requirement is a valid Environment Agency non-migratory rod licence. Spinning, fly, and bait are all permitted; the management's preference is catch-and-release on barbless hooks, with an option to take up to four fish over seven inches per day.
Season 15 March – 12 October. EA rod licence required (non-migratory). C&R preferred on barbless; otherwise 4 fish over 7" daily limit. Inside an SSSI — leave no trace.
Arrange access →About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
About this water
Crowdy Reservoir, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedCrowdy Reservoir · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Crowdy is the kind of place you go when you've had your fill of stocked rainbows for the season. A hundred-and-fifteen acres of moorland water on the northern shoulder of Bodmin Moor, sitting inside a Site of Special Scientific Interest, surrounded by the sort of silence that makes you whisper without meaning to. The trout are small, dark, and wholly wild — fish to seven or eight inches are the run, with occasional fish to four pounds for those who put in the hours. Bank fishing only. There's no permit and no bailiff; just an EA rod licence and the long walk in. Buzzer hatches from April, beetle falls when the wind drops, and a soundtrack of skylarks and the odd starling murmuration. The fishing is rarely easy, which is the point.
- Reservoir
- Granite
Crowdy Reservoir · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Crowdy Reservoir · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 March → 12 October
Crowdy Reservoir
Google Places
Crowdy is the kind of place you go when you've had your fill of stocked rainbows for the season.
Species
Good drifting conditions on Crowdy Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
The buzzer is on. Olives may also come into play as the day warms. Drift conditions look good — cover the wind lanes.
55% confidence in this read
Conditions
Wind
W 21 km/h
Moderate breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
13°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
1020 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
77%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp100%
A good match for this venue — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
April–June; late evenings July–September
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Pheasant Tail Nymph on the bob and Diawl Bach on the point.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Pheasant Tail Nymph on the bob and Diawl Bach on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Why this score
- Temperature (moderate) is in the sweet spot for late spring fishing.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Access · 1
Check the current rules, permits and access before travelling.
Free wild brown trout fishingSouth West Lakes
Wild brown troutFlySpinBait
Free bank fishing for rod-licence holders. The reservoir is unstocked, the trout are wild, and the only entry requirement is a valid Environment Agency non-migratory rod licence. Spinning, fly, and bait are all permitted; the management's preference is catch-and-release on barbless hooks, with an option to take up to four fish over seven inches per day.
Season 15 March – 12 October. EA rod licence required (non-migratory). C&R preferred on barbless; otherwise 4 fish over 7" daily limit. Inside an SSSI — leave no trace.
Arrange access →Directions
About this water
Crowdy is the kind of place you go when you've had your fill of stocked rainbows for the season. A hundred-and-fifteen acres of moorland water on the northern shoulder of Bodmin Moor, sitting inside a Site of Special Scientific Interest, surrounded by the sort of silence that makes you whisper without meaning to. The trout are small, dark, and wholly wild — fish to seven or eight inches are the run, with occasional fish to four pounds for those who put in the hours. Bank fishing only. There's no permit and no bailiff; just an EA rod licence and the long walk in. Buzzer hatches from April, beetle falls when the wind drops, and a soundtrack of skylarks and the odd starling murmuration. The fishing is rarely easy, which is the point.
- Reservoir
- Granite
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 March → 12 October
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Crowdy is the kind of place you go when you've had your fill of stocked rainbows for the season. A hundred-and-fifteen acres of moorland water on the northern shoulder of Bodmin Moor, sitting inside a Site of Special Scientific Interest, surrounded by the sort of silence that makes you whisper without meaning to. The trout are small, dark, and wholly wild — fish to seven or eight inches are the run, with occasional fish to four pounds for those who put in the hours. Bank fishing only. There's no permit and no bailiff; just an EA rod licence and the long walk in. Buzzer hatches from April, beetle falls when the wind drops, and a soundtrack of skylarks and the odd starling murmuration. The fishing is rarely easy, which is the point.
Fishing better nearby · 5