A small Somerset reservoir tucked into the Brendon Hills, where the coombes hold the water close and the coves give it the bay-and-headland structure that rewards exploratory boat fishing. Cruising rainbows are the signature — fish that quarter the margins and cove mouths rather than milling in open water, and on the right evening they'll take a dry fly from the surface without a second look. Ten boats available, with bank fishing on the dam and accessible end. Stocked and managed by South West Lakes Trust with enough wild character to keep things honest.
Rules at a glance
- Free fishing
- Fly only
Reasonable late spring fishing likely at Clatworthy Reservoir
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Fishable ripple — drift the productive shore.
The buzzer is on at Clatworthy Reservoir.
66% confidence in this read
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
W 24 km/h
Moderate breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
12°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for rainbow trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
The buzzer is on at Clatworthy Reservoir.
Where
Start with Diawl Bach (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. 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.
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
Start with Diawl Bach (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. 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
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.
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
- Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for late spring fishing.
- Buzzer 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
Clatworthy Reservoir · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
Clatworthy Reservoir, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedClatworthy Reservoir · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
A small Somerset reservoir tucked into the Brendon Hills, where the coombes hold the water close and the coves give it the bay-and-headland structure that rewards exploratory boat fishing. Cruising rainbows are the signature — fish that quarter the margins and cove mouths rather than milling in open water, and on the right evening they'll take a dry fly from the surface without a second look. Ten boats available, with bank fishing on the dam and accessible end. Stocked and managed by South West Lakes Trust with enough wild character to keep things honest.
- Reservoir
- Sandstone
Clatworthy Reservoir · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Clatworthy Reservoir · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
Clatworthy Reservoir
Google Places
A small Somerset reservoir tucked into the Brendon Hills, where the coombes hold the water close and the coves give it the bay-and-headland structure that rewards exploratory boat fishing.
Species
Reasonable late spring fishing likely at Clatworthy Reservoir
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Fishable ripple — drift the productive shore.
The buzzer is on at Clatworthy Reservoir.
66% confidence in this read
Conditions
Wind
W 24 km/h
Moderate breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
12°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
57%
Cloud50%
Wind30%
Temp100%
A reasonable day here, though wind isn't quite in the sweet spot.
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
The buzzer is on at Clatworthy Reservoir.
Where
Start with Diawl Bach (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. 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.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Diawl Bach (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. 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
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.
Why this score
- Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for late spring fishing.
- Buzzer 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 small Somerset reservoir tucked into the Brendon Hills, where the coombes hold the water close and the coves give it the bay-and-headland structure that rewards exploratory boat fishing. Cruising rainbows are the signature — fish that quarter the margins and cove mouths rather than milling in open water, and on the right evening they'll take a dry fly from the surface without a second look. Ten boats available, with bank fishing on the dam and accessible end. Stocked and managed by South West Lakes Trust with enough wild character to keep things honest.
- Reservoir
- Sandstone
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
A small Somerset reservoir tucked into the Brendon Hills, where the coombes hold the water close and the coves give it the bay-and-headland structure that rewards exploratory boat fishing. Cruising rainbows are the signature — fish that quarter the margins and cove mouths rather than milling in open water, and on the right evening they'll take a dry fly from the surface without a second look. Ten boats available, with bank fishing on the dam and accessible end. Stocked and managed by South West Lakes Trust with enough wild character to keep things honest.
Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts