A big, windy, half-wild reservoir sitting in the gap between the Campsies and the Gargunnock Hills, 25 km north-east of Glasgow. Fly-only. Wild and stocked brown trout. No rainbows. Carron Valley has the reputation of being a competition angler's reservoir, and it earns it — the Scottish National Trout Fly Fishing Championships are fished here most years — but the truth is that it fishes best for people who don't treat it as a competition at all. The fish average around three-quarters of a pound to a pound, with enough bigger ones to keep you honest. The wind is part of the deal; on a dead calm day you might wonder what you came for, and then the ripple arrives and the fish start moving and you remember.
Good late spring conditions for Carron Valley Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
Conditions are not ideal but fishable at Carron Valley Reservoir. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
66% confidence in this read
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
SW 14 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
5°C
Cloud
Clear
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
Wild browns only — no rainbow stockies. Buzzers April through June at first light; sedges and daddy long-legs through summer; small black flies into October.
Where
Drift lines on the open water; weed margins on the bays; the deeper edges of points. Carron Valley fishes more wild than the southern reservoirs.
Method
Drifted team of three on a floating line. Buzzers in spring, sedges and dabblers in summer. Slow the drift with the drogue and fish each lane properly.
Kit
10 ft #7 boat rod, floating and slow-intermediate lines, 6 to 7 lb fluoro. Drogue and a long-handled net.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Start with Kate McLaren (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
Plan B
If fish refuse on top, drop to a buzzer under an indicator at different depths.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Either bank or boat
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
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
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
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
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
- 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
Carron Valley Reservoir · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
Carron Valley Reservoir, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedCarron Valley Reservoir · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
A big, windy, half-wild reservoir sitting in the gap between the Campsies and the Gargunnock Hills, 25 km north-east of Glasgow. Fly-only. Wild and stocked brown trout. No rainbows. Carron Valley has the reputation of being a competition angler's reservoir, and it earns it — the Scottish National Trout Fly Fishing Championships are fished here most years — but the truth is that it fishes best for people who don't treat it as a competition at all. The fish average around three-quarters of a pound to a pound, with enough bigger ones to keep you honest. The wind is part of the deal; on a dead calm day you might wonder what you came for, and then the ripple arrives and the fish start moving and you remember.
- Reservoir
- Peat
Carron Valley Reservoir · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Carron Valley Reservoir · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
Carron Valley Reservoir
Google Places
A big, windy, half-wild reservoir sitting in the gap between the Campsies and the Gargunnock Hills, 25 km north-east of Glasgow.
Species
Good late spring conditions for Carron Valley Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
Conditions are not ideal but fishable at Carron Valley Reservoir. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
66% confidence in this read
Conditions
Wind
SW 14 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
5°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
52%
Cloud25%
Wind65%
Temp60%
A reasonable day here, though cloud isn't quite in the sweet spot.
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Wild browns only — no rainbow stockies. Buzzers April through June at first light; sedges and daddy long-legs through summer; small black flies into October.
Where
Drift lines on the open water; weed margins on the bays; the deeper edges of points. Carron Valley fishes more wild than the southern reservoirs.
Method
Drifted team of three on a floating line. Buzzers in spring, sedges and dabblers in summer. Slow the drift with the drogue and fish each lane properly.
Kit
10 ft #7 boat rod, floating and slow-intermediate lines, 6 to 7 lb fluoro. Drogue and a long-handled net.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Kate McLaren (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
Plan B
If fish refuse on top, drop to a buzzer under an indicator at different depths.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Either bank or boat
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Why this score
- 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
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
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
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Directions
About this water
A big, windy, half-wild reservoir sitting in the gap between the Campsies and the Gargunnock Hills, 25 km north-east of Glasgow. Fly-only. Wild and stocked brown trout. No rainbows. Carron Valley has the reputation of being a competition angler's reservoir, and it earns it — the Scottish National Trout Fly Fishing Championships are fished here most years — but the truth is that it fishes best for people who don't treat it as a competition at all. The fish average around three-quarters of a pound to a pound, with enough bigger ones to keep you honest. The wind is part of the deal; on a dead calm day you might wonder what you came for, and then the ripple arrives and the fish start moving and you remember.
- Reservoir
- Peat
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
A big, windy, half-wild reservoir sitting in the gap between the Campsies and the Gargunnock Hills, 25 km north-east of Glasgow. Fly-only. Wild and stocked brown trout. No rainbows. Carron Valley has the reputation of being a competition angler's reservoir, and it earns it — the Scottish National Trout Fly Fishing Championships are fished here most years — but the truth is that it fishes best for people who don't treat it as a competition at all. The fish average around three-quarters of a pound to a pound, with enough bigger ones to keep you honest. The wind is part of the deal; on a dead calm day you might wonder what you came for, and then the ripple arrives and the fish start moving and you remember.
Other water nearby · 5