10/07/2026
BEWL WATER FISHING REPORT
July
*By the Bewl Phantom*
The continued hot, sunny weather has brought little change this week, with fishing remaining challenging—particularly for the fly anglers. There were still plenty of boats out over the weekend, and those fishing Any Method (AM) at anchor generally enjoyed the better sport, with bait once again proving the most productive approach.
July is traditionally one of the more difficult months on Bewl, as trout become less active in the warmer water temperatures. Similar conditions are being experienced across many of England's lowland stillwaters at the moment.
Despite the hot weather, it's been great to see so many anglers continuing to support Bewl Water. The boats have been busy, and while the trout are making us work a little harder, there is still plenty of sport to be had.
On Wednesday morning, Mike Harris and I headed out to explore the fly fishing. I managed to hook a trout on a floating line using deep-fished Superglue Buzzers, although it quickly came adrift. Mike enjoyed more consistent action, landing a "full house" of three perch on small B***y patterns fished deep. If nothing else, the perch were certainly willing to feed.
There was some early cloud cover, but it soon disappeared and wasn't enough to encourage much surface activity. Apart from a couple of "Polaris missile" trout launching vertically from the depths before dropping straight back down without moving their heads, the surface remained quiet.
We covered plenty of water, including the Main Bowl and Bewl Straight. It was noticeable how much clearer the water became as we moved around the reservoir, and although the conditions looked promising, there was very little sign of feeding trout.
Perch fishing, however, has been absolutely superb. Fish are being caught consistently around the 2-metre depth with Hook House playground, and **The Nose** all producing plenty of quality perch. Small spinners, maggots and flies are all proving successful, making for some excellent sport while the trout remain deeper in the water.
A good number of boats were out on Wednesday, well spread across the reservoir, with some anglers enjoying a spot of holiday coarse fishing.
If you're visiting Bewl, don't forget to pop into our well-stocked on-site tackle shop before heading out. Whether you're after flies, PowerBait, spinners, landing nets, tackle, or a few last-minute essentials, we've got everything you need for a successful day's fishing. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are always happy to offer advice on what's working, where the fish are holding, and the best methods to try.
Bewl remains a wonderful place to spend a day afloat, with stunning scenery and plenty of opportunities beyond the trout. Perch and roach continue to provide enjoyable sport on maggots, small spinners, or flies. Over the years, a growing number of regular visitors have targeted perch throughout the summer, and they can provide excellent fishing, especially in the deeper water.
For the coming week, a slow, low, and often static presentation remains the best approach, whether you're fishing bait or fly. Keep experimenting with depth, as the trout could be holding anywhere between 5 and 30 feet
And that's the challenge... finding them!
Tight lines, and we look forward to seeing you on the water.