Water flow:
Visibility: 20 inches
Water temperature at mid-day: 52 Degrees F
Water condition: Clear
Best time of day to fish: From the bank, early morning and late evening, boats anytime on mild cloudy days, evening otherwise
Best stretch: Home Bay, Long Bay, Green Lawn, Rainbow Point
Best access point: From Lodge on south shore, or on North shore
Fly fishing hatches in order of importance:
Midge all year - black early season, then claret leading to olive. Caddis from May onwards, but the fish tend not to get "on" these flies much Corixae all year, but best from summer onwards. Damsels present but like caddis not taken readily. Sparse upwinged flylife - a few lake olives at times.
Fish species: Brown trout and rainbow trout
Fishing season: 15th March to end of October
Nearest airport: Bristol International Airport is about four miles from the lake
Recommended fly fishing leader: 15 Foot Leader
Recommended fly fishing tippet: 3X Tippet
Best fly fishing rod: 9' 5 Weight Fly Rod
Best floating fly line: WF Trout Fly Line
Best sinking fly line: Clear Sink Tip Fly Line
Blagdon Lake is without doubt a magical place to fish, with its history going back as far as the Victorian era. Opened in 1904, one wonders just how many anglers have graced its boats and banks. This is one of the venues featured in "Fifty Places to Fly Fish before you Die". Blagdon is found on the edge of the rolling Somerset landscape better known as the Mendip Hills, and upon driving into the lake's shores ...
Blagdon is a lake that responds really well to nymphs fished slowly. Diawl bachs are the "fly-of-the-lake" and in its many varieties will usually get a few fish. Buzzers also do well. As the season moves on, dry flies become more significant as a fly to put on the end. Lures such as blobs and boobies are always worth a go when the trout are not responsive to the nymphs! Long leaders are usually required (but not too long with the dry fly!) and a decent fluorocarbon is helpful - especially early season when you need to get down. Look to shallower areas and off the weedbeds later in the year.
Shallower areas still seem as good as anywhere, though oddly, there are some fish across the middle.
