Stillwater · Mixed · Midlothian, GB-SCT

Gladhouse Reservoir

Wide view across the calm, icy waters of Gladhouse Reservoir with reeds in the foreground and hills beyond

The largest of the Midlothian reservoirs, set into the hills south of Edinburgh in a shallow basin that is also, incidentally, a Ramsar wetland and a nationally important roost for pink-footed geese.

Closed season · Trout
Minkie · 6–10
Closed season
Season reopens 15 March. Try elsewhere.
Closed — confidence not applicable today.

Gladhouse Reservoir is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindSW 20 km/hGentle breeze · Gusts to 36 km/h
Today's fly
Minkie
Minkie6–10
Retrieve, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Gentle breeze · Gusts to 36 km/h
SW 20 km/h
N
SW
from the south-west
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp6.8°C
Air temp3°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1014 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

Head to
Wind driftSW wind
South-western end

A southwesterly has held for most of a day, running colder than the water (2°C air against 7°C water). The end it blows into is taking that chilled surface water, so try the sheltered south-western 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 Trout
When
May to July and September
Where
Start with Minkie (6–10) — on the point. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Minkie (6–10) — on the point. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.

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 4 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
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
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.

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
Trout fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
71%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp100%

A good match for Gladhouse Reservoir — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.

Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
  1. Wide view across the calm, icy waters of Gladhouse Reservoir with reeds in the foreground and hills beyond
    Gladhouse Reservoir, Midlothian
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Scottish Water own the fishing; wild brown trout are the quarry. No rainbows. The trout are not large — half a pound is respectable, three-quarters is a good one — but they are properly wild, they come to a dry fly when the olives are on, and they are as handsome a Scottish hill-loch brown as you'll find within half an hour of the city. Bank fishing only (the geese have the stronger claim on the boats). Fly only. Bring midge repellent in July; you will need it.

Surface area
1.9 km² (460 acres)
Area: Wikipedia, Gladhouse Reservoir
  • Reservoir
  • Mixed
Why this score
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for winter fishing.
  • Reservoirs of this kind fish hard at this time of year.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 15 March → 6 October
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
At a glance

Gladhouse Reservoir is a reservoir in Midlothian, Scotland. It sits at about 315 m above sea level. The species listed for this water is brown trout. The trout season is recorded as running from 15 March to 6 October. Best window recorded for anglers: May to July and September. Core methods listed: traditional wet fly; bank loch-style; dry fly. Nearby waters in our listings include Kailzie Trout and Salmon Fishery at 14 km, Loganlea Reservoir at 16 km and Glencorse Reservoir at 17 km.