Venford is the most sheltered of the wild Dartmoor reservoirs — thirty-three acres tucked into broadleaf woodland with a footpath that runs all the way round in just over a mile. Wild brown trout, clear granite-filtered water, and the kind of stillness you get when the wind dies and the only sound is a wood pigeon making an opinion about something a mile away. Bank fishing only. There's no permit and no fee; an EA non-migratory rod licence is the only paperwork. Most of the path is stable, with five steps halfway round and a couple of stretches that won't suit wheelchairs or pushchairs. A good place to fish a small dry through a summer evening when the bigger moorland waters are getting roughed up by the wind.
Good drifting conditions on Venford Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
The buzzer is on. Olives may also come into play as the day warms. Drift conditions look good — cover the wind lanes. The breeze will be blowing terrestrial insects onto the water — check the wind lanes and downwind margins for rising fish.
55% confidence in this read
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
W 14 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
14°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
1019 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
April–June; late evenings July–September
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Pheasant Tail Nymph on the bob and Diawl Bach on the point.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Pheasant Tail Nymph on the bob and Diawl Bach on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
6 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Temperature (moderate) is in the sweet spot for late spring fishing.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Access · 1
Check the current rules, permits and access before travelling.
Free wild brown trout fishingSouth West Lakes
Wild brown troutFlySpinBait
Free bank fishing for rod-licence holders. The reservoir is unstocked, the trout are wild, and the only entry requirement is a valid Environment Agency non-migratory rod licence. Spinning, fly, and bait are all permitted; catch-and-release on barbless is preferred. The perimeter path makes Venford the most accessible of the SWLT wild reservoirs.
Season 15 March – 12 October. EA rod licence required (non-migratory). C&R preferred on barbless; otherwise 4 fish over 10" daily limit. Perimeter footpath ~1 mile; five steps halfway round, some sections not wheelchair-accessible.
Arrange access →About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
About this water
Venford Reservoir, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedVenford Reservoir · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Venford is the most sheltered of the wild Dartmoor reservoirs — thirty-three acres tucked into broadleaf woodland with a footpath that runs all the way round in just over a mile. Wild brown trout, clear granite-filtered water, and the kind of stillness you get when the wind dies and the only sound is a wood pigeon making an opinion about something a mile away. Bank fishing only. There's no permit and no fee; an EA non-migratory rod licence is the only paperwork. Most of the path is stable, with five steps halfway round and a couple of stretches that won't suit wheelchairs or pushchairs. A good place to fish a small dry through a summer evening when the bigger moorland waters are getting roughed up by the wind.
- Reservoir
- Granite
Venford Reservoir · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Venford Reservoir · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 March → 12 October
Venford Reservoir
Google Places
Venford is the most sheltered of the wild Dartmoor reservoirs — thirty-three acres tucked into broadleaf woodland with a footpath that runs all the way round in just over a mile.
Species
Good drifting conditions on Venford Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
The buzzer is on. Olives may also come into play as the day warms. Drift conditions look good — cover the wind lanes. The breeze will be blowing terrestrial insects onto the water — check the wind lanes and downwind margins for rising fish.
55% confidence in this read
Conditions
Wind
W 14 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
14°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
1019 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
77%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp100%
A good match for this venue — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
April–June; late evenings July–September
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Pheasant Tail Nymph on the bob and Diawl Bach on the point.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Pheasant Tail Nymph on the bob and Diawl Bach on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Why this score
- Temperature (moderate) is in the sweet spot for late spring fishing.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Access · 1
Check the current rules, permits and access before travelling.
Free wild brown trout fishingSouth West Lakes
Wild brown troutFlySpinBait
Free bank fishing for rod-licence holders. The reservoir is unstocked, the trout are wild, and the only entry requirement is a valid Environment Agency non-migratory rod licence. Spinning, fly, and bait are all permitted; catch-and-release on barbless is preferred. The perimeter path makes Venford the most accessible of the SWLT wild reservoirs.
Season 15 March – 12 October. EA rod licence required (non-migratory). C&R preferred on barbless; otherwise 4 fish over 10" daily limit. Perimeter footpath ~1 mile; five steps halfway round, some sections not wheelchair-accessible.
Arrange access →Directions
About this water
Venford is the most sheltered of the wild Dartmoor reservoirs — thirty-three acres tucked into broadleaf woodland with a footpath that runs all the way round in just over a mile. Wild brown trout, clear granite-filtered water, and the kind of stillness you get when the wind dies and the only sound is a wood pigeon making an opinion about something a mile away. Bank fishing only. There's no permit and no fee; an EA non-migratory rod licence is the only paperwork. Most of the path is stable, with five steps halfway round and a couple of stretches that won't suit wheelchairs or pushchairs. A good place to fish a small dry through a summer evening when the bigger moorland waters are getting roughed up by the wind.
- Reservoir
- Granite
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 March → 12 October
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Venford is the most sheltered of the wild Dartmoor reservoirs — thirty-three acres tucked into broadleaf woodland with a footpath that runs all the way round in just over a mile. Wild brown trout, clear granite-filtered water, and the kind of stillness you get when the wind dies and the only sound is a wood pigeon making an opinion about something a mile away. Bank fishing only. There's no permit and no fee; an EA non-migratory rod licence is the only paperwork. Most of the path is stable, with five steps halfway round and a couple of stretches that won't suit wheelchairs or pushchairs. A good place to fish a small dry through a summer evening when the bigger moorland waters are getting roughed up by the wind.
Fishing better nearby · 5