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.
A good match for Squabmoor Reservoir — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
Fifteen swims. Carp are the main target, to 36 lb and averaging around 20 lb, the mirrors old-style fish, dark with big scales; they patrol the lily pads at the shallow end. Tench to 7 lb, bream to 10 lb, roach over 2 lb, perch to 3 lb and eels to 6 lb, with good mixed bags to feeder or pole on worm and maggot. Open all year, dawn to dusk. Run by South West Lakes Trust.
A 4-acre reservoir on Woodbury Common, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, near Exmouth.
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.
A good match for Squabmoor Reservoir — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
Fifteen swims. Carp are the main target, to 36 lb and averaging around 20 lb, the mirrors old-style fish, dark with big scales; they patrol the lily pads at the shallow end. Tench to 7 lb, bream to 10 lb, roach over 2 lb, perch to 3 lb and eels to 6 lb, with good mixed bags to feeder or pole on worm and maggot. Open all year, dawn to dusk. Run by South West Lakes Trust.
Squabmoor Reservoir is a reservoir in South West / East Devon (Woodbury Common), England. The catchment geology is recorded as sand gravel, and the water sits at about 82 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 along the lily pads; feeder; pole with worm and maggot. Nearby waters in our listings include River Sid at 13 km, River Otter at 16 km and Hollies Trout Farm at 22 km.
