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Fishing Rudyard Reservoir: what the data says
153-acre lake near Staffordshire. The lake tops out around 23 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Rudyard Reservoir maps at 153 acres behind 4 miles of shoreline. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 2.3) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. About 79% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone.
Brown Trout fishing at Rudyard Reservoir
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 23 ft. The depth story barely changes: 7 to 23 ft through summer, 3 to 23 ft in winter. Summer brown trout concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 10 ft. Fish it in after dark and early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 23 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 7 to 23 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (10 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 4 to 23 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 23 ft | dawn | Break off the point (10 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
European Perch fishing at Rudyard Reservoir
Spring european perch on Rudyard Reservoir hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 7 to 23 ft in summer and finish the year down in 7 to 23 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 3 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning. The summer box starts with a drop-shot micro plastics or a small crankbait (perch pattern).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner #1-2 |
| Summer | 7 to 23 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small crankbait (perch pattern) |
| Fall | 7 to 23 ft | midday | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 7 to 23 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Tungsten jig + maggots, Small balance jig |
Northern Pike fishing at Rudyard Reservoir
When the water first warms, northern pike slide up into 2 to 8 ft. Summer is a 8 to 20 ft game here, winter a 5 to 15 ft one. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 3 ft of water and rates prime come spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (10 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (10 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 20 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 10 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 8 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
Common questions
How deep is Rudyard Reservoir?
Rudyard Reservoir is about 23 ft (7 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Rudyard Reservoir?
Anglers target northern pike, european perch, brown trout on Rudyard Reservoir. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Where is the best fishing spot on Rudyard Reservoir?
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for european perch in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Rudyard Reservoir?
For brown trout, the summer bite is best in after dark and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Redes Mere 10 mi · Betley Mere 14 mi · Tatton Mere 17 mi · Tabley Mere or Tabley Moat 17 mi · The Mere 19 mi · Pick Mere 20 mi · Rostherne Mere 20 mi · Cop Mere or Cop Mere 21 mi · Budworth Mere 21 mi · Petty Pool 21 mi · Baddiley Mere 22 mi · Ladybower Reservoir 23 mi
See how Rudyard Reservoir stacks up: best northern pike lakes in United Kingdom · best european perch lakes in United Kingdom · best brown trout lakes in United Kingdom
Browse all United Kingdom fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.