A famous competition venue on the eastern edge of Dunkeld, tucked into the woods just off the A9. Stocked rainbow and brown trout, boat and bank, fly only, and a long track record of producing Scottish international team selections. Butterstone had a difficult period in 2018–19 with an IHN disease outbreak that forced closure and a complete restock, but it has been back and stable since then, and as of 2026 it is once again holding competitions and fishing properly. The loch is small and sheltered by comparison with the Pentland reservoirs — closer in feel to an English competition stillwater than a Highland loch — and the fish behave accordingly: wary, technical, and capable of making a good angler look foolish twice in the same drift.
Good drifting conditions on Butterstone Loch
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
The hawthorn fly is on. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well.
61% confidence in this read
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
S 8 km/h
Light breeze
Wave
Ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
6°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
The hawthorn fly is on. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
1
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1
Blue Winged OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
6 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
- Hawthorn Fly is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Detail · next 12h
Precipitation
The reading most likely to move tomorrow's verdict
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Butterstone Loch · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
Butterstone Loch, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedButterstone Loch · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
A famous competition venue on the eastern edge of Dunkeld, tucked into the woods just off the A9. Stocked rainbow and brown trout, boat and bank, fly only, and a long track record of producing Scottish international team selections. Butterstone had a difficult period in 2018–19 with an IHN disease outbreak that forced closure and a complete restock, but it has been back and stable since then, and as of 2026 it is once again holding competitions and fishing properly. The loch is small and sheltered by comparison with the Pentland reservoirs — closer in feel to an English competition stillwater than a Highland loch — and the fish behave accordingly: wary, technical, and capable of making a good angler look foolish twice in the same drift.
- Loch
- Mixed
Butterstone Loch · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Butterstone Loch · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 31 October
Butterstone Loch
Terrain map
A famous competition venue on the eastern edge of Dunkeld, tucked into the woods just off the A9.
Species
Good drifting conditions on Butterstone Loch
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
The hawthorn fly is on. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well.
61% confidence in this read
Conditions
Wind
S 8 km/h
Light breeze
Wave
Ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
6°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
73%
Cloud50%
Wind100%
Temp60%
A good match for this venue — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
The hawthorn fly is on. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
- Hawthorn Fly is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
1
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1
Blue Winged OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Directions
About this water
A famous competition venue on the eastern edge of Dunkeld, tucked into the woods just off the A9. Stocked rainbow and brown trout, boat and bank, fly only, and a long track record of producing Scottish international team selections. Butterstone had a difficult period in 2018–19 with an IHN disease outbreak that forced closure and a complete restock, but it has been back and stable since then, and as of 2026 it is once again holding competitions and fishing properly. The loch is small and sheltered by comparison with the Pentland reservoirs — closer in feel to an English competition stillwater than a Highland loch — and the fish behave accordingly: wary, technical, and capable of making a good angler look foolish twice in the same drift.
- Loch
- Mixed
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 31 October
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
A famous competition venue on the eastern edge of Dunkeld, tucked into the woods just off the A9. Stocked rainbow and brown trout, boat and bank, fly only, and a long track record of producing Scottish international team selections. Butterstone had a difficult period in 2018–19 with an IHN disease outbreak that forced closure and a complete restock, but it has been back and stable since then, and as of 2026 it is once again holding competitions and fishing properly. The loch is small and sheltered by comparison with the Pentland reservoirs — closer in feel to an English competition stillwater than a Highland loch — and the fish behave accordingly: wary, technical, and capable of making a good angler look foolish twice in the same drift.
Other water nearby · 5