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.
Good late spring conditions for Gladhouse Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
Current conditions suit Gladhouse Reservoir well for late spring tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
61% confidence in this read
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
SW 13 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
9°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
May to July and September
Where
Start with Kate McLaren (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
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 Kate McLaren (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
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
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
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for late spring fishing.
- Hawthorn Fly is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Detail · next 12h
Precipitation
The reading most likely to move tomorrow's verdict
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
About this water
Gladhouse Reservoir, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedGladhouse Reservoir · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
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
Gladhouse Reservoir · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Gladhouse Reservoir · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 March → 6 October
Gladhouse Reservoir
Google Places
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.
Species
Good late spring conditions for Gladhouse Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
Current conditions suit Gladhouse Reservoir well for late spring tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
61% confidence in this read
Conditions
Wind
SW 13 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
9°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
77%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp100%
A good match for this venue — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
May to July and September
Where
Start with Kate McLaren (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Kate McLaren (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
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
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for late spring fishing.
- Hawthorn Fly is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
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
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
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
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 March → 6 October
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
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.
Other water nearby · 5