7.5-acre reservoir fly fishery in woodland north of Sheffield (Woodhead Rd, S35 7DA), stocked year-round with rainbows, blues and browns to ~5lb with occasional double-figure fish; bank and boat fishing, sparse natural fly life.
- Reservoir
- Sandstone
How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Current conditions suit Wharncliffe Fly Fishery well for summer tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Booby (8-10) on a fast strip on floating line or static on sinking. 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. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Booby (8-10) on a fast strip on floating line or static on sinking. 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. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
Plan B
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.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Either bank or boat
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
See the full sub-surface read with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
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.
Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
10-14 · Gammarus Scud
Washing-line, sub-surface
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
77%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp100%
A good match for Wharncliffe Fly Fishery — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
Other water nearby · 5
About this water
Why this score
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Booking & contacts
Wharncliffe Fly Fishery
7.
How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Current conditions suit Wharncliffe Fly Fishery well for summer tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Booby (8-10) on a fast strip on floating line or static on sinking. 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. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Booby (8-10) on a fast strip on floating line or static on sinking. 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. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
Plan B
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.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Either bank or boat
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
See the full sub-surface read with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
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.
Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
10-14 · Gammarus Scud
Washing-line, sub-surface
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
77%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp100%
A good match for Wharncliffe Fly Fishery — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
Other water nearby · 5
About this water
7.5-acre reservoir fly fishery in woodland north of Sheffield (Woodhead Rd, S35 7DA), stocked year-round with rainbows, blues and browns to ~5lb with occasional double-figure fish; bank and boat fishing, sparse natural fly life.
- Reservoir
- Sandstone
Why this score
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Booking & contacts