5.5-acre fly-fishing trout lake (plus separate carp and coarse lakes) near Ashover in the Peak District, 5 miles north of Matlock, stocked with rainbow, brown, blue and brook trout; four boats, AAPGAI tuition available.
- Fishery
- Sandstone
Head to
Wind driftSW wind
South-western end
A southwesterly has held for 6 hours, running colder than the water (5°C air against 11°C water). The end it blows into is taking that chilled surface water, so try the sheltered south-western 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
Current conditions suit Press Manor Fishing Lakes well for autumn tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Viva (10-12) on a figure-of-eight with occasional strip. 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. When no hatch is visible, a buzzer team — black stripped quill on the point, attractor or pearl-rib on the top dropper — is the default starting point on any UK stillwater.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Viva (10-12) on a figure-of-eight with occasional strip. 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. When no hatch is visible, a buzzer team — black stripped quill on the point, attractor or pearl-rib on the top dropper — is the default starting point on any UK stillwater.
Plan B
A fry-imitating pattern stripped through the margins can save a blank in autumn.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Bank
Bank fishing near inflows, dam walls, and weed beds. Move to find feeding fish.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-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 trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · October highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
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#10
Black buzzer, orange thorax
In this water’s box: Black Buzzer
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 trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
73%
Cloud50%
Wind100%
Temp60%
A good match for Press Manor Fishing Lakes — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
About this water
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 1 January → 31 December
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Permits & access
Boards & regulators
Press Manor Fishing Lakes
5.
Head to
Wind driftSW wind
South-western end
A southwesterly has held for 6 hours, running colder than the water (5°C air against 11°C water). The end it blows into is taking that chilled surface water, so try the sheltered south-western 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
Current conditions suit Press Manor Fishing Lakes well for autumn tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Viva (10-12) on a figure-of-eight with occasional strip. 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. When no hatch is visible, a buzzer team — black stripped quill on the point, attractor or pearl-rib on the top dropper — is the default starting point on any UK stillwater.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Viva (10-12) on a figure-of-eight with occasional strip. 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. When no hatch is visible, a buzzer team — black stripped quill on the point, attractor or pearl-rib on the top dropper — is the default starting point on any UK stillwater.
Plan B
A fry-imitating pattern stripped through the margins can save a blank in autumn.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Bank
Bank fishing near inflows, dam walls, and weed beds. Move to find feeding fish.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-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 trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · October highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
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#10
Black buzzer, orange thorax
In this water’s box: Black Buzzer
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 trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
73%
Cloud50%
Wind100%
Temp60%
A good match for Press Manor Fishing Lakes — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
About this water
5.5-acre fly-fishing trout lake (plus separate carp and coarse lakes) near Ashover in the Peak District, 5 miles north of Matlock, stocked with rainbow, brown, blue and brook trout; four boats, AAPGAI tuition available.
- Fishery
- Sandstone
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 1 January → 31 December
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Permits & access
Boards & regulators