Stillwater · Mixed · Midlothian

Gladhouse Reservoir

Gladhouse Reservoir venue image
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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.

Good · Trout
Kate McLaren · 12-14
Goodlive now
Good summer conditions for Gladhouse Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
65% confidence
What moved it
  • WindS 5 km/hCalm
Today’s fly
Kate McLaren
Kate McLaren12-14
Retrieve, in the film
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Calm
S 5 km/h
N
S
from the south
WaveRipple
Water temp
Air temp13°C
CloudClear
Pressure1020 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for trout
When
May to July and September
Where
Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. 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

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

Either bank or boat

Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
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
Trout fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
78%
Cloud25%
Wind100%
Temp100%

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

Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

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. 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.

  • Reservoir
  • Mixed
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
  • Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout15 March → 6 October
Related guides
Booking & contacts