Stillwater · Peat · Scottish Borders, GB-SCT

West Water Reservoir

Wide view of West Water Reservoir with the dam wall, grassy hills and Mendick Hill in the background, thistles in the foreground.
Fair · Trout
Minkie · 6-10
Fairlive now
Reasonable autumn fishing likely at West Water Reservoir
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Worth a session if the wind holds.
64% confidence

West Water Reservoir is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindSE 27 km/hModerate breeze
Today's fly
Minkie
Minkie6-10
Retrieve, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Moderate breeze
SE 27 km/h
N
SE
from the south-east
Wave60 cm wave
Water temp15.7°C
Air temp16°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1004 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

Head to
Wind driftSE wind
South-eastern end

A southeasterly has held for most of a day, running colder than the water (13°C air against 16°C water). The end it blows into is taking that chilled surface water, so try the sheltered south-eastern end instead — off the back of the wind, where the undertow returns food along the bottom. That chill sits in the top of the water, though, and the bed is slower to feel it — on a bottom bait it is the undertow, not the temperature, that puts you at this end. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.

How to fish it · for Trout
When
May to July and September
Where
Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.

Plan B

If the daddy is being refused, drop to a hopper or a single foam beetle and cover rising fish individually.

Watch for

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

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 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
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 · Trout
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
45%
Cloud50%
Wind30%
Temp60%

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

Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
  1. Wide view of West Water Reservoir with the dam wall, grassy hills and Mendick Hill in the background, thistles in the foreground.
    West Water Reservoir and its dam, with Mendick Hill rising behind in the Pentland Hills.
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
  • Daddy Longlegs are in their seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
  • Reservoirs of this kind fish well at this time of year.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 15 March → 6 October
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts