Stillwater · Sandstone · East Midlands, GB-ENG

Ogston Reservoir (Fisherman's Carpark)

Wide view across Ogston Reservoir with surrounding Derbyshire countryside under an open sky.

Ogston is a sandstone-country reservoir in the Amber valley of Derbyshire, a well-established trout water with a faithful following and a reputation for fishing honestly.

Fair · Rainbow
Partridge and Orange · 14–16
Fairlive now
Good winter conditions for Ogston Reservoir (Fisherman's Carpark)
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
60% confidence
What moved it
  • WindNW 8 km/hLight breeze · Gusts to 19 km/h
Today's fly
Partridge and Orange
Partridge and Orange14–16
Upstream, in the film
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Light breeze · Gusts to 19 km/h
NW 8 km/h
N
NW
from the north-west
WaveRipple
Water temp8.0°C
Air temp3°C
CloudClear
Pressure1006 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Current conditions suit Ogston Reservoir (Fisherman's Carpark) well for winter tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
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

Slow down everything. A booby on a fast-sinking line, left static, can pick up deep fish.

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 2 guilds as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Through the year
0–3 scale · November 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.

Buzzer team todayfor the conditions now
Point
Black buzzer, orange thorax
Not in this water's box
#10
How to fish it
Intermediate line · let the breeze drift the team, then hang it 15–30 s

Fly recommendations

Point fly shown — supporters see the whole team, sizes and why.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

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
78%
Cloud25%
Wind100%
Temp100%

A good match for Ogston Reservoir (Fisherman's Carpark) — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.

Other water nearby · 5
Press Manor Fishing Lakes
4.0 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout · Brook trout
Carsington Water
15 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Barlow Country Club Fishery
16 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Derbyshire Wye
16 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout · Grayling
River Derwent (Derbyshire)
17 km
Brown trout · Grayling
Gallery · 2
  1. Wide view across Ogston Reservoir with surrounding Derbyshire countryside under an open sky.
    Ogston Reservoir viewed from Wet Lane, Higham, Derbyshire.
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Sandstone catchments give softer, slightly coloured water rather than the gin-clear flow off limestone — no bad thing for the angler, since a tinge of colour gives a fish confidence. The rainbows cruise and the browns hold near the dam and the deeper margins. Like all open reservoirs, it lives and dies by the wind: a steady breeze pushing onto a bank stacks the food and the fish, while a flat calm can leave you casting at water that looks beautiful and holds nothing willing. Best read by wind, light and water temperature.

  • Reservoir
  • Sandstone
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for winter fishing.
  • Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
  • Reservoirs of this kind fish hard 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
At a glance

Ogston Reservoir (Fisherman's Carpark) is a reservoir in East Midlands, England. The catchment geology is recorded as sandstone, and the water sits at about 117 m above sea level. Species listed for this water: rainbow trout and brown trout. Best window recorded for anglers: Spring buzzer fishing and autumn; windward banks on a steady breeze. Core methods listed: Static buzzer fishing on a floating line; Bank fishing the windward drop-offs; Pulled lure for searching and fresh stockies. Nearby waters in our listings include Press Manor Fishing Lakes at 4.0 km, Carsington Water at 15 km and Barlow Country Club Fishery at 16 km.