A beautiful Dartmoor reservoir surrounded by conifer plantation — 30 hectares of moorland water with wild brown trout and stocked rainbows. Bank fishing only in a genuine wilderness setting. Managed by South West Lakes Trust.
- Reservoir
- Granite
How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
The buzzer is on at Fernworthy Reservoir. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Viva (10-12) 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. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Viva (10-12) 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. 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 stalls, drop to a size 14–16 midge — switch to a washing-line or suspender rig and try different depths before you change food group.
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.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
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.
Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
71%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp100%
A good match for Fernworthy Reservoir — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
Reservoir (44030576234) Terrain map
About this water
Why this score
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for autumn fishing.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
- Reservoirs of this kind fish well at this time of year.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Permits & access
Boards & regulators
Fernworthy Reservoir
A beautiful Dartmoor reservoir surrounded by conifer plantation — 30 hectares of moorland water with wild brown trout and stocked rainbows.
How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
The buzzer is on at Fernworthy Reservoir. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Viva (10-12) 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. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Viva (10-12) 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. 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 stalls, drop to a size 14–16 midge — switch to a washing-line or suspender rig and try different depths before you change food group.
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.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
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.
Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
71%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp100%
A good match for Fernworthy Reservoir — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
Reservoir (44030576234) Terrain map
About this water
A beautiful Dartmoor reservoir surrounded by conifer plantation — 30 hectares of moorland water with wild brown trout and stocked rainbows. Bank fishing only in a genuine wilderness setting. Managed by South West Lakes Trust.
- Reservoir
- Granite
Why this score
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for autumn fishing.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
- Reservoirs of this kind fish well at this time of year.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Permits & access
Boards & regulators