Stillwater · Peat · West Lothian, GB-SCT

Harperrig Reservoir

Wide view across Harperrig Reservoir towards East Cairn Hill in the Pentland Hills

A high, exposed Scottish Water reservoir on the West Lothian flank of the Pentlands, ten minutes off the A70 and a world away from everything.

Fair · Trout
Marabou Damsel · 8-12
Fairlive now
Reasonable summer fishing likely at Harperrig Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
59% confidence

Harperrig Reservoir is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindW 13 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
Marabou Damsel
Marabou Damsel8-12
Retrieve, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Gentle breeze
W 13 km/h
N
W
from the west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp
Air temp12°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1020 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for Trout
When
Late April to June 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

Fish early and late, try deeper during the heat of the day with a fast-sinking line.

Watch for

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

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 4 guilds with Pro.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Through the year
0–3 scale · August 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
59%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp60%

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

Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
  1. Wide view across Harperrig Reservoir towards East Cairn Hill in the Pentland Hills
    Harperrig Reservoir, West Lothian
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

A high, exposed Scottish Water reservoir on the West Lothian flank of the Pentlands, ten minutes off the A70 and a world away from everything. Wild brown trout run the place, with some modest stocking on top, and the fish here have the small-headed look of browns that have worked for a living. Fly only. Bank fishing mostly; the wind decides whether a boat is a good idea or a bad one, and most days it has an opinion. Harperrig is the reservoir you come to when you want to be alone with the hills and the water and the occasional buzzard, and to catch trout that have not been photographed by anyone else this week.

  • Reservoir
  • Peat
Why this score
  • Lake Olive is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 15 March6 October
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts