Upper Derwent Valley reservoir above Ladybower — bank fishing in a dramatic gritstone valley. More remote and exposed than Ladybower. Stocked rainbows and wild browns from feeder streams. The moorland setting provides solitude. No boats. Managed by Severn Trent Water.
Rules at a glance
- Free fishing
- Fly only
Good late spring conditions for Derwent Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
Current conditions suit Derwent Reservoir well for late spring tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
67% confidence in this read
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
9°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
Current conditions suit Derwent Reservoir well for late spring tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Bloodworm (10-14) — 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.
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 Bloodworm (10-14) — 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 fish refuse on top, drop to a buzzer under an indicator at different depths.
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
- Wind conditions (breezy) closely match what this water fishes best in.
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for late spring fishing.
- Hawthorn Fly 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
Derwent Reservoir · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
Derwent Reservoir, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedDerwent Reservoir · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Upper Derwent Valley reservoir above Ladybower — bank fishing in a dramatic gritstone valley. More remote and exposed than Ladybower. Stocked rainbows and wild browns from feeder streams. The moorland setting provides solitude. No boats. Managed by Severn Trent Water.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Derwent Reservoir · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Derwent Reservoir · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
Derwent Reservoir
Google Places
Upper Derwent Valley reservoir above Ladybower — bank fishing in a dramatic gritstone valley.
Species
Good late spring conditions for Derwent Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
Current conditions suit Derwent Reservoir well for late spring tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
67% confidence in this read
Conditions
Wind
SW 14 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
9°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
85%
Cloud50%
Wind100%
Temp100%
Conditions are ideal for Derwent Reservoir — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
Current conditions suit Derwent Reservoir well for late spring tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Bloodworm (10-14) — 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.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Bloodworm (10-14) — 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 fish refuse on top, drop to a buzzer under an indicator at different depths.
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
- Wind conditions (breezy) closely match what this water fishes best in.
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for late spring fishing.
- Hawthorn Fly 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
Upper Derwent Valley reservoir above Ladybower — bank fishing in a dramatic gritstone valley. More remote and exposed than Ladybower. Stocked rainbows and wild browns from feeder streams. The moorland setting provides solitude. No boats. Managed by Severn Trent Water.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Upper Derwent Valley reservoir above Ladybower — bank fishing in a dramatic gritstone valley. More remote and exposed than Ladybower. Stocked rainbows and wild browns from feeder streams. The moorland setting provides solitude. No boats. Managed by Severn Trent Water.
Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts