The hot dry summer of 2018 was declared by the Met Office as the joint hottest for the UK along with 2006, 2003 and 1976 albeit this was driven by temperatures in England which were the hottest on record. The rainfall during June was extremely low in England and Wales being 25% and 23% of the 1961-1990 long term average (LTA), with parts of the South East of England receiving less than 10% of the LTA. While July was a little wetter it was still 60% and 76% of the LTA in England and Wales respectively which combined with the soil moisture deficits meant that river, groundwater and reservoir levels continued to fall.
I took the opportunity to travel passed Carsington Water and Blithfield Reservoir while travelling on business in late August to check the water levels and what that meant for fishing. Lower water conditions can be an opportunity to explore what the underwater structure looks like in key fishing locations although on this occasion I did not have the opportunity to explore the banks much. However, thought some of these photos might prove useful to others so have posted them. The shallow banks at Blithfield were showing large tracts of bank exposed.
Carsington Water was at about 86% at the time I visited which isn’t very low in terms of water supply levels, however, the shoreline looks quite different with shallows exposed and would no doubt have an impact on where to fish. Around Stones Island there are two smaller islands which were in the process of being joined to Stones Island as the water level drops.
I will include photos for Llyn Efyrnwy/Lake Vyrnwy in a seperate post as we went canoeing there in August and I took the opportunity to photograph parts of the bank exposed by the low water.
Tight Lines
Greg