Winter carp on the fly is marginal — fish are lethargic and deep. Only worth trying on unusually mild, sunny days when carp push into warming shallows. Sight-fishing only. Polarised glasses essential.
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.
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Bank-only venue. Fish from accessible margins, points, weed edges, and inflows.
Hatch predictions
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Hatch predictions
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Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
As water cools through September and October, carp shift away from surface feeding and concentrate on building reserves before winter. They cruise subsurface along weed edges, dam faces and the deeper sections of margins, occasionally feeding on invertebrates. Bottom bugs and nymphs dropped precisely in the path of cruising fish work best. Surface flies become unreliable once water temperature drops below 12°C. Approach cautiously — autumn carp in clear water are easily spooked.
Conditions are ideal for Jennetts Reservoir — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.
Tench to 8 lb (elusive), bream to 10 lb, perch over 4 lb, eels to 5 lb, and 50 lb-plus bags of roach and skimmers on float, pole and feeder. Twenty-seven swims; a steep climb from the car park. Open all year, dawn to dusk. Run by South West Lakes Trust; not covered by the all-waters coarse season permit.
An 8-acre reservoir on the edge of Bideford known as a 'runs' water: carp to 32 lb take off the bottom or on the surface, the head of twenties is exceptional, and several twenties in a day is possible.
Winter carp on the fly is marginal — fish are lethargic and deep. Only worth trying on unusually mild, sunny days when carp push into warming shallows. Sight-fishing only. Polarised glasses essential.
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.
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Bank-only venue. Fish from accessible margins, points, weed edges, and inflows.
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 4 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
As water cools through September and October, carp shift away from surface feeding and concentrate on building reserves before winter. They cruise subsurface along weed edges, dam faces and the deeper sections of margins, occasionally feeding on invertebrates. Bottom bugs and nymphs dropped precisely in the path of cruising fish work best. Surface flies become unreliable once water temperature drops below 12°C. Approach cautiously — autumn carp in clear water are easily spooked.
Conditions are ideal for Jennetts Reservoir — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.
Tench to 8 lb (elusive), bream to 10 lb, perch over 4 lb, eels to 5 lb, and 50 lb-plus bags of roach and skimmers on float, pole and feeder. Twenty-seven swims; a steep climb from the car park. Open all year, dawn to dusk. Run by South West Lakes Trust; not covered by the all-waters coarse season permit.
Jennetts Reservoir is a reservoir in South West / North Devon (Bideford), England. The catchment geology is recorded as shale, and the water sits at about 36 m above sea level. Species listed for this water: carp and perch. The coarse season is recorded as running from 1 January to 31 December. Best window recorded for anglers: May–October. Core methods listed: Carp off the bottom and on the surface; float; pole. Nearby waters in our listings include Melbury Reservoir at 7.0 km, Darracott Reservoir at 8.0 km and Bulldog Fisheries at 17 km.
