Lintrathen is the big one in Angus — a substantial Scottish Water reservoir west of Kirriemuir, tucked into the quiet country between Strathmore and the foothills of the Grampians, managed by Dundee Angling Club on a permit basis. It's fished for wild and stocked brown trout from boats, loch-style, on traditional tackle. The fish are not large by commercial standards but they are honest, free-rising in the right conditions, and the setting is far more beautiful than its low-key reputation suggests. On a warm May evening with a light ripple and a caenis hatch coming off, Lintrathen gives the kind of fishing most anglers think you have to drive to the Highlands for.
Good late spring conditions for Loch of Lintrathen
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
Current conditions suit Loch of Lintrathen 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 August
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
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
Loch of Lintrathen, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedLoch of Lintrathen · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Lintrathen is the big one in Angus — a substantial Scottish Water reservoir west of Kirriemuir, tucked into the quiet country between Strathmore and the foothills of the Grampians, managed by Dundee Angling Club on a permit basis. It's fished for wild and stocked brown trout from boats, loch-style, on traditional tackle. The fish are not large by commercial standards but they are honest, free-rising in the right conditions, and the setting is far more beautiful than its low-key reputation suggests. On a warm May evening with a light ripple and a caenis hatch coming off, Lintrathen gives the kind of fishing most anglers think you have to drive to the Highlands for.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Loch of Lintrathen · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Loch of Lintrathen · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout2026-04-15 → 2026-09-30
Loch of Lintrathen
Google Places
Lintrathen is the big one in Angus — a substantial Scottish Water reservoir west of Kirriemuir, tucked into the quiet country between Strathmore and the foothills of the Grampians, managed by Dundee Angling Club on a permit basis.
Species
Good late spring conditions for Loch of Lintrathen
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
Current conditions suit Loch of Lintrathen 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 August
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
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
Lintrathen is the big one in Angus — a substantial Scottish Water reservoir west of Kirriemuir, tucked into the quiet country between Strathmore and the foothills of the Grampians, managed by Dundee Angling Club on a permit basis. It's fished for wild and stocked brown trout from boats, loch-style, on traditional tackle. The fish are not large by commercial standards but they are honest, free-rising in the right conditions, and the setting is far more beautiful than its low-key reputation suggests. On a warm May evening with a light ripple and a caenis hatch coming off, Lintrathen gives the kind of fishing most anglers think you have to drive to the Highlands for.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Seasons & zones
- Trout2026-04-15 → 2026-09-30
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Lintrathen is the big one in Angus — a substantial Scottish Water reservoir west of Kirriemuir, tucked into the quiet country between Strathmore and the foothills of the Grampians, managed by Dundee Angling Club on a permit basis. It's fished for wild and stocked brown trout from boats, loch-style, on traditional tackle. The fish are not large by commercial standards but they are honest, free-rising in the right conditions, and the setting is far more beautiful than its low-key reputation suggests. On a warm May evening with a light ripple and a caenis hatch coming off, Lintrathen gives the kind of fishing most anglers think you have to drive to the Highlands for.
Other water nearby · 5