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.
Good late spring conditions for Harperrig Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
Current conditions suit Harperrig 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
Late April to June 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
Harperrig Reservoir, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedHarperrig Reservoir · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
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
Harperrig Reservoir · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Harperrig Reservoir · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 March → 6 October
Harperrig Reservoir
Google Places
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.
Species
Good late spring conditions for Harperrig Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
Current conditions suit Harperrig 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
Late April to June 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
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
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 March → 6 October
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
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.
Other water nearby · 5