A 243-hectare Midlands reservoir that joined the Anglian Water portfolio in April 2025 alongside Grafham, Rutland, and Pitsford. Trout stocking continues as before, and from 2025 predator fishing has been added — pike and perch targeting in the colder months. The dam wall remains one of England's great bank-fishing marks, with deep water close in and reliable buzzer fishing from April. Boat drifts over Toft Bay and Lin Croft are productive in southerly winds. Sedge and daddy bring fish to the surface in late summer.
Rules at a glance
- Day tickets
Good late spring conditions for Draycote Water
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
Current conditions suit Draycote Water well for late spring tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
67% confidence in this read
Peak season here starts around June — worth planning ahead.
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
SW 12 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
11°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
Buzzers dawn into late morning April through June; daphnia mid-water in summer; sedges into September; back-end lures through October.
Where
Coomb Bay, the dam, and the open water boat marks. Bank access is good — popular Midlands water.
Method
Floater with buzzers under indicator in spring; midge-tip and team of three through summer; sweeping line for the back-end.
Kit
10 ft #7 boat rod; floating, intermediate and fast-intermediate lines; 6 to 8 lb fluoro. Drogue and a long-handled net.
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
- 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
Draycote Water · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
Best for
- First Time Reservoir
- Intermediate Fly
- Boat
- Bank
About this water
Draycote Water, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedDraycote Water · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
A 243-hectare Midlands reservoir that joined the Anglian Water portfolio in April 2025 alongside Grafham, Rutland, and Pitsford. Trout stocking continues as before, and from 2025 predator fishing has been added — pike and perch targeting in the colder months. The dam wall remains one of England's great bank-fishing marks, with deep water close in and reliable buzzer fishing from April. Boat drifts over Toft Bay and Lin Croft are productive in southerly winds. Sedge and daddy bring fish to the surface in late summer.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Draycote Water · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Draycote Water · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
Draycote Water · sources
Useful links
External · open in a new tab
Booking & contacts
Draycote Water
Google Places
A 243-hectare Midlands reservoir that joined the Anglian Water portfolio in April 2025 alongside Grafham, Rutland, and Pitsford.
Species
Good late spring conditions for Draycote Water
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
Current conditions suit Draycote Water well for late spring tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
67% confidence in this read
Peak season here starts around June — worth planning ahead.
Conditions
Wind
SW 12 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
11°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
71%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp100%
A good match for this venue — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
Buzzers dawn into late morning April through June; daphnia mid-water in summer; sedges into September; back-end lures through October.
Where
Coomb Bay, the dam, and the open water boat marks. Bank access is good — popular Midlands water.
Method
Floater with buzzers under indicator in spring; midge-tip and team of three through summer; sweeping line for the back-end.
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 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
- 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
A 243-hectare Midlands reservoir that joined the Anglian Water portfolio in April 2025 alongside Grafham, Rutland, and Pitsford. Trout stocking continues as before, and from 2025 predator fishing has been added — pike and perch targeting in the colder months. The dam wall remains one of England's great bank-fishing marks, with deep water close in and reliable buzzer fishing from April. Boat drifts over Toft Bay and Lin Croft are productive in southerly winds. Sedge and daddy bring fish to the surface in late summer.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
A 243-hectare Midlands reservoir that joined the Anglian Water portfolio in April 2025 alongside Grafham, Rutland, and Pitsford. Trout stocking continues as before, and from 2025 predator fishing has been added — pike and perch targeting in the colder months. The dam wall remains one of England's great bank-fishing marks, with deep water close in and reliable buzzer fishing from April. Boat drifts over Toft Bay and Lin Croft are productive in southerly winds. Sedge and daddy bring fish to the surface in late summer.
Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts