Start with Viva (10-12) on a figure-of-eight with occasional strip. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely. When no hatch is visible, a buzzer team — black stripped quill on the point, attractor or pearl-rib on the top dropper — is the default starting point on any UK stillwater.

A fry-imitating pattern stripped through the margins can save a blank in autumn.

Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.

Bank fishing near inflows, dam walls, and weed beds. Move to find feeding fish.