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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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 Melbury Reservoir — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.
Mirror and common carp to 30 lb, among them the sought-after 'fully scaled' at over 25 lb and 'The Train' around 27 lb. Mixed bags over 50 lb of roach, rudd, hybrids and good bream to pole, float and feeder; perch have topped 5 lb. Lily pads and weed give fish cover and anglers features in spring and summer. Fifteen swims. Open all year, dawn to dusk. Run by South West Lakes Trust.
A mature 12-acre reservoir near Parkham, south-west of Bideford, between forestry and farmland.
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 Melbury Reservoir — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.
Mirror and common carp to 30 lb, among them the sought-after 'fully scaled' at over 25 lb and 'The Train' around 27 lb. Mixed bags over 50 lb of roach, rudd, hybrids and good bream to pole, float and feeder; perch have topped 5 lb. Lily pads and weed give fish cover and anglers features in spring and summer. Fifteen swims. Open all year, dawn to dusk. Run by South West Lakes Trust.
Melbury Reservoir is a reservoir in South West / North Devon (Bideford), England. Its recorded elevation is about 150 m above sea level and the catchment geology is shale. Our data lists carp and perch here. The coarse season is recorded as running from 1 January to 31 December. Best window recorded for anglers: April–October. Core methods listed: Carp by the lilies and weed; pole; float. Nearby waters in our listings include Jennetts Reservoir at 7.0 km, Darracott Reservoir at 12 km and Upper Tamar Lake at 13 km.
