Stillwater · Mixed · South East, GB-ENG

Bough Beech Reservoir

Bough Beech Reservoir venue image

Bough Beech sits in the Kent Weald looking more like a flooded valley than a waterworks, which is part of its charm.

Marginal · Rainbow
Partridge and Orange · 14–16
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Slow going — pick your moments and do not force it.
40% confidence
limited data
What moved it
  • WindN 15 km/hGentle breeze · Gusts to 26 km/h
Today's fly
Partridge and Orange
Partridge and Orange14–16
Upstream, in the film
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Gentle breeze · Gusts to 26 km/h
N 15 km/h
N
N
from the north
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp7.4°C
Air temp2°C
CloudClear
Pressure1013 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

Head to
Wind driftN wind
Northern end

A northerly has held for most of a day, running colder than the water (6°C air against 8°C water). The end it blows into is taking that chilled surface water, so try the sheltered northern 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 Rainbow
When
Conditions are not ideal but fishable at Bough Beech Reservoir. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Pheasant Tail Nymph (14–16) — on the point — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. Early in the day, try buzzers on a slow figure-of-eight or a booby on a fast-sink line near the bottom. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Pheasant Tail Nymph (14–16) — on the point — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. Early in the day, try buzzers on a slow figure-of-eight or a booby on a fast-sink line near the bottom. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.

Plan B

Slow down everything. A booby on a fast-sinking line, left static, can pick up deep fish.

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.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · November highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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.

Buzzer team todayfor the conditions now
Point
Bloodworm
Not in this water's box
#10
How to fish it
Slow-sink line · slow figure-of-eight, pausing to let the flies hang

Fly recommendations

Point fly shown — supporters see the whole team, sizes and why.

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Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box

Spider-heavy and practical. Strong tradition of North Country soft hackles, useful nymphing, and simple dry flies when fish rise properly.

What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
52%
Cloud25%
Wind65%
Temp60%

A reasonable day here, though cloud isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Other water nearby · 5
Coltsford Mill Trout Fishery
11 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout · Brook trout
Chalybeate Springs Trout Fishery
13 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Spring Hill Trout Waters
15 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Ashdown Forest Fly Fishery
22 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Bewl Water
23 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

It's reservoir trout fishing in the proper sense — rainbows that cruise rather than hold, and a few browns that lurk near the deeper margins and make you work for them. The fishing turns on small things. A buzzer hatch on a still spring morning will have fish head-and-tailing in the film, and a light ripple does more good than harm by hiding your leader. Pick a bright bright midday and the fish go down and sulk, which at least gives you time to watch the cormorants and reconsider your life choices. Best read by wind, light and water temperature.

  • Reservoir
  • Mixed
Why this score
  • winter conditions with clear skies and breezy wind.
  • Reservoirs of this kind fish hard at this time of year.
Related guides
Big Stillwater Playbookreservoir tacticsReservoir Entomologymatching the hatchThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
At a glance

Bough Beech Reservoir is a reservoir in South East, England. It sits at about 66 m above sea level. Our data lists rainbow trout and brown trout here. Best window recorded for anglers: Spring through early summer; calm mornings and the last hour of light. Core methods listed: Static buzzer fishing on a floating line; Washing line for fish in the upper layers; Bank work along the marginal drop-off. Nearby waters in our listings include Coltsford Mill Trout Fishery at 11 km, Chalybeate Springs Trout Fishery at 13 km and Spring Hill Trout Waters at 15 km.