Cornwall's largest reservoir at 370 hectares — a wild, exposed moorland water on Bodmin Moor. Bank fishing only (no boats). The granite-bowl water is clear and acidic; browns and rainbows are stocked. The exposed position means wind is a constant factor. Buzzer fishing from April; the reservoir's isolation gives genuine solitude. Managed by South West Lakes Trust.
Rules at a glance
- Free fishing
Good late spring conditions for Colliford Lake
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Fishable ripple — drift the productive shore.
Current conditions suit Colliford Lake well for late spring tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
73% 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
10°C
Cloud
Broken
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
Current conditions suit Colliford Lake well for late spring tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Buzzer Team (12-14) on a figure-of-eight with occasional strip. 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. When no hatch is visible, a buzzer team — black stripped quill on the point, attractor or pearl-rib on the top dropper — is the default starting point on any UK stillwater.
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 Buzzer Team (12-14) on a figure-of-eight with occasional strip. 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. When no hatch is visible, a buzzer team — black stripped quill on the point, attractor or pearl-rib on the top dropper — is the default starting point on any UK stillwater.
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
- Wind conditions (breezy) closely match what this water fishes best in.
- Cloud cover (cloud) suits the fishery well.
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for late spring fishing.
Detail · next 12h
Precipitation
The reading most likely to move tomorrow's verdict
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Colliford Lake · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
Colliford Lake, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedColliford Lake · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Cornwall's largest reservoir at 370 hectares — a wild, exposed moorland water on Bodmin Moor. Bank fishing only (no boats). The granite-bowl water is clear and acidic; browns and rainbows are stocked. The exposed position means wind is a constant factor. Buzzer fishing from April; the reservoir's isolation gives genuine solitude. Managed by South West Lakes Trust.
- Reservoir
- Granite
Colliford Lake · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Colliford Lake · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
Colliford Lake
Google Places
Cornwall's largest reservoir at 370 hectares — a wild, exposed moorland water on Bodmin Moor.
Species
Good late spring conditions for Colliford Lake
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Fishable ripple — drift the productive shore.
Current conditions suit Colliford Lake well for late spring tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
73% confidence in this read
Conditions
Wind
SW 14 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
10°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
100%
Cloud100%
Wind100%
Temp100%
Conditions are ideal for Colliford Lake — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
Current conditions suit Colliford Lake well for late spring tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Buzzer Team (12-14) on a figure-of-eight with occasional strip. 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. When no hatch is visible, a buzzer team — black stripped quill on the point, attractor or pearl-rib on the top dropper — is the default starting point on any UK stillwater.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Buzzer Team (12-14) on a figure-of-eight with occasional strip. 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. When no hatch is visible, a buzzer team — black stripped quill on the point, attractor or pearl-rib on the top dropper — is the default starting point on any UK stillwater.
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
- Wind conditions (breezy) closely match what this water fishes best in.
- Cloud cover (cloud) suits the fishery well.
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for late spring fishing.
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
Cornwall's largest reservoir at 370 hectares — a wild, exposed moorland water on Bodmin Moor. Bank fishing only (no boats). The granite-bowl water is clear and acidic; browns and rainbows are stocked. The exposed position means wind is a constant factor. Buzzer fishing from April; the reservoir's isolation gives genuine solitude. Managed by South West Lakes Trust.
- Reservoir
- Granite
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Cornwall's largest reservoir at 370 hectares — a wild, exposed moorland water on Bodmin Moor. Bank fishing only (no boats). The granite-bowl water is clear and acidic; browns and rainbows are stocked. The exposed position means wind is a constant factor. Buzzer fishing from April; the reservoir's isolation gives genuine solitude. Managed by South West Lakes Trust.
Other water nearby · 5
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