Stillwater · Mixed · East Midlands / Northamptonshire

Pitsford Water

Pitsford Reservoir in winter with the dam embankment and open water extending across the frame.
Good · Rainbow
Diawl Bach · 12-14
Goodlive now
Good summer conditions for Pitsford Water
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
69% confidence

Peak season here starts around September — worth planning ahead.

What moved it
  • WindW 12 km/hLight breeze
Today's fly
Diawl Bach
Diawl Bach12-14
Washing-line, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Light breeze
W 12 km/h
N
W
from the west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp—
Air temp18°C
CloudBroken
Pressure1014 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Buzzers dawn through late morning April through June — Pitsford is a buzzer water through and through. Sedges into September; back-end lures through October.
Where
The north shore is the classic bank fishery; boat anglers drift the open water and the southern bays. Buzzer fishing is what this place is about.
Method
Floater with buzzers under indicator in spring; midge-tip with team of three through summer; sweeping line and boobies for the back-end.
Kit
10 ft #7 boat rod; floating, intermediate and fast-intermediate lines; 6 to 8 lb fluoro. Drogue and a long-handled net.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Diawl Bach (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper. Midday in warm weather — switch to a fast-sink or Di-7 and fish boobies or blobs along the bottom. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.

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

Silverhorn should come on through the afternoon as the water warms.

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

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.

Start free trial

14-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
Gammarus Scud (Olive)
Gammarus Scud (Olive)
10-14 · Gammarus Scud
Washing-line, sub-surface
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
100%
Cloud100%
Wind100%
Temp100%

Conditions are ideal for Pitsford Water — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.

Other water nearby · 5
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
12 km
Pike · Perch · Carp
Elinor Trout Fishery
26 km
Rainbow trout
Eyebrook Reservoir
27 km
Brown trout · Pike · Perch
Draycote Water
32 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout · Pike
Grafham Water
37 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Gallery · 6
  1. Pitsford Reservoir in winter with the dam embankment and open water extending across the frame.
    Pitsford Reservoir
  2. Open water view of Pitsford Water reservoir near Moulton showing the broad lake surface.
    Pitsford Water
  3. Boats on Pitsford Reservoir with open water and the Brixworth shore in the background.
    Northampton Sailing Club on Pitsford Reservoir
  4. The Victorian draw-off tower standing in Pitsford Reservoir with open water and surrounding woodland.
    Pitsford Reservoir and tower
  5. The Brixworth Road causeway crossing Pitsford Reservoir with water on both sides.
    Pitsford Reservoir Causeway
  6. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
  • Cloud cover (cloud) suits the fishery well.
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
  • Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Big Stillwater Playbookreservoir tacticsReservoir Entomologymatching the hatchThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations