Stillwater · Mixed · East Midlands, GB-ENG

Carsington Water

Photo of Carsington Water

Carsington is a big Severn Trent reservoir set in the Derbyshire hills, and it fishes like proper reservoir water — open, wind-shaped, demanding that you read the day rather than just turn up and cast.

Fair · Rainbow
Partridge and Orange · 14-16
Temporary closureReported 28 Aug 2026

Fishery not currently operating

The trout fishery closed after its operator of 33 years ceased trading and went into liquidation. Severn Trent has said it is seeking a new operator. Check directly before travelling — do not rely on this page for access.

Derbyshire trout fishery closes after operator liquidation ↗

Temporary notices from official orders and recent fishery reports — they clear automatically once out of date. Always confirm locally before travelling.

Fairlive now
Tougher conditions for Carsington Water today — adapt your approach
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Worth a session if the wind holds.
51% confidence
What moved it
  • WindE 25 km/hModerate breeze
Today's fly
Partridge and Orange
Partridge and Orange14-16
Upstream, in the film
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Moderate breeze
E 25 km/h
N
E
from the east
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp16.8°C
Air temp17°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1015 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Head to
Wind driftE wind
Eastern end

An easterly has held for most of a day, running colder than the water (12°C air against 17°C water). The end it blows into is taking that chilled surface water, so try the sheltered eastern end instead — off the back of the wind, where the undertow returns food along the bottom. That chill sits in the top of the water, though, and the bed is slower to feel it — on a bottom bait it is the undertow, not the temperature, that puts you at this end. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Conditions are not ideal but fishable at Carsington Water.
Where
Start with Pheasant Tail Nymph (14-16) — on the point — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. 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.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Pheasant Tail Nymph (14-16) — on the point — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. 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 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.

Bank

Bank-only venue. Fish from accessible margins, points, weed edges, and inflows.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 3 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box

Spider-heavy and practical. Strong tradition of North Country soft hackles, useful nymphing, and simple dry flies when fish rise properly.

What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
45%
Cloud50%
Wind30%
Temp60%

Conditions are away from Carsington Water's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with cloud skies.

Fishing better nearby · 5
Derbyshire Wye
15 km
82
Brown trout · Rainbow trout · Grayling
River Dove
10 km
Brown trout · Grayling
Ogston Reservoir (Fisherman's Carpark)
15 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Yeaveley Trout Fishery (Yeaveley Estate)
16 km
Rainbow trout
Press Manor Fishing Lakes
17 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout · Brook trout
Gallery · 2
  1. Photo of Carsington Water
    Carsington Water
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Carsington is a big Severn Trent reservoir set in the Derbyshire hills, and it fishes like proper reservoir water — open, wind-shaped, demanding that you read the day rather than just turn up and cast. The rainbows cruise in pods, following the food and the wind lanes, and the browns keep their own counsel near the deeper features. Wind, which beginners curse, is the friend here: it stacks the buzzers along the windward shore and puts a ripple on the surface that gives a fish the confidence to come up. On a flat-calm bright afternoon the place can feel empty. Wait for cloud and a chop and it transforms. Best read by wind, light and water temperature.

  • Reservoir
  • Mixed
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
  • Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
  • Reservoirs of this kind fish well at this time of year.
Related guides
Big Stillwater Playbookreservoir tacticsReservoir Entomologymatching the hatchThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts