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
Minkie · 6-10
Fairlive now
Reasonable autumn fishing likely at Harperrig Reservoir
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Worth a session if the wind holds.
64% confidence

Harperrig Reservoir is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindSE 35 km/hFresh breeze
Today's fly
Minkie
Minkie6-10
Retrieve, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Fresh breeze
SE 35 km/h
N
SE
from the south-east
Wave60 cm wave
Water temp15.5°C
Air temp15°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1013 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

How to fish it · for Trout
When
Late April to June and September
Where
Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. Early in the day, nymphs and buzzers fished slowly tend to outperform attractors.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. Early in the day, nymphs and buzzers fished slowly tend to outperform attractors.

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

Watch for Sedge towards evening — this could be the best window of the day.

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 3 guilds as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-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 trial

14-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
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
Trout fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
57%
Cloud50%
Wind30%
Temp100%

A reasonable day here, though wind 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
  • Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
  • 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 15 March → 6 October
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts