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

Rutland Water

High-altitude aerial view of Rutland Water reservoir showing the full horseshoe-shaped impoundment.
Fair · Rainbow
Minkie · 6-10
Fairlive now
Reasonable autumn fishing likely at Rutland Water
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.
54% confidence

Seasonally this is the right time to be here, but today's conditions are not doing Rutland Water many favours. It can still fish, but temper expectations.

What moved it
  • WindSW 23 km/hModerate breeze
Today's fly
Minkie
Minkie6-10
Retrieve, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Moderate breeze
SW 23 km/h
N
SW
from the south-west
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp20.5°C
Air temp23°C
CloudClear
Pressure1011 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

Head to
Wind shiftWind shift
DamEast CreekWhitwell

The wind has shifted to a southwesterly today, but a day of a southeasterly has loaded food into Dam, East Creek and Whitwell. The fish haven't had time to move on — start there before following the new wind direction.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Buzzers dawn into late morning April through June; daphnia migrating mid-water June into August; sedges and damsels through summer evenings; back-end on lures and boobies through November.
Where
Drift lines on the open water, the dam, the fishing-lodge area at Normanton where fresh stockies cruise. North Arm fishes well in a southwesterly.
Method
Floater with buzzers under indicator in spring, or the washing line on calm days (booby on the point with buzzers on the droppers); midge-tip and team of three through summer; sweeping or fast-intermediate with lures and boobies for the back-end.
Kit
10 ft #7 boat rod; floating, intermediate and fast-intermediate lines; 6 to 8 lb fluoro. Drogue and a long-handled net.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Minkie (6-10) — on the point. Evening can produce explosive surface takes — try a foam beetle or booby on a long leader. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.

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

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

Bank, sheltered shores

In wind, bank fish the lee shore — boats can anchor in productive areas if conditions allow.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

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
Rutland Water Fishing Map
Click to expand

Rutland Water Map

Tap to view full map

Angler’s map · Anglian Water (Feb 2025)

What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
54%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp25%

A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Water here around 21°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.
Gallery · 6
  1. High-altitude aerial view of Rutland Water reservoir showing the full horseshoe-shaped impoundment.
    Rutland Water Reservoir
  2. Aerial photograph over the full extent of Rutland Water reservoir with both bays visible.
    Rutland Water aerial
  3. The earthen embankment dam at Rutland Water with the reservoir water visible behind it.
    Rutland Water Dam
  4. Ground-level view across the open water of Rutland Water from the Barnsdale shore.
    Rutland Water from Barnsdale
  5. Normanton Church standing in the shallows of Rutland Water with the reservoir stretching to the horizon.
    Rutland Water at Normanton
  6. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Why this score
  • 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
Fly Fishing Near Nottinghamfeatured in this city guideBig Stillwater Playbookreservoir tacticsReservoir Entomologymatching the hatch
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts