Stillwater · Mixed · East Midlands / Leicestershire, GB-ENG

Thornton Reservoir

Calm water of Thornton Reservoir in Leicestershire, seen from its western arm
Fair · Rainbow
Marabou Damsel · 8-12
Fairlive now
Tougher conditions for Thornton Reservoir today — adapt your approach
Water temperature is the limiting factor today, not the wave. Fish dawn or dusk if you go at all, and handle everything with extra care.
51% confidence
What moved it
  • WindSE 24 km/hModerate breeze
Today's fly
Marabou Damsel
Marabou Damsel8-12
Retrieve, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Moderate breeze
SE 24 km/h
N
SE
from the south-east
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp20.7°C
Air temp23°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1012 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
April–June
Where
Start with Minkie (6-10) — on the point. 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.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Minkie (6-10) — on the point. 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.

Plan B

If the main plan stalls, drop to a size 14–16 midge — switch to a washing-line or suspender rig and change drift line before you change food group.

Watch for

Watch for Sedge towards evening — this could be the best window of the day.

Bank

Bank-only venue. Fish from accessible margins, points, weed edges, and inflows.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 3 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Fly box · Rainbow
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
41%
Cloud70%
Wind30%
Temp25%

Conditions are away from Thornton Reservoir's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with mixed skies.

Cooler water nearby · 3
Water here around 21°C — probably warm enough to stress Rainbow . These are likely cooler.
Draycote Water
38 km
~15°C
Brown trout · Rainbow trout · Pike
Breedon Priory Fishery
14 km
~19°C
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Foremark Reservoir
22 km
~19°C
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Gallery · 2
  1. Calm water of Thornton Reservoir in Leicestershire, seen from its western arm
    The western arm of Thornton Reservoir, Leicestershire
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
  • Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
  • Reservoirs of this kind fish well at this time of year.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Big Stillwater Playbookreservoir tacticsReservoir Entomologymatching the hatchThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Permits & access
  • Fishery closed
    Trout fishery appears closed since early 2024