Stillwater · Limestone · South West / Somerset-Dorset border

Sutton Bingham Reservoir

Sutton Bingham Reservoir venue image
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A 56-hectare Wessex Water reservoir south of Yeovil with boat and bank fly fishing.

Good · Rainbow
Diawl Bach · 12-14
Goodlive now
Good summer conditions for Sutton Bingham Reservoir
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
72% confidence

Peak season here starts around September — worth planning ahead.

What moved it
  • WindNW 15 km/hGentle breeze
Today’s fly
Diawl Bach
Diawl Bach12-14
Washing-line, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Gentle breeze
NW 15 km/h
N
NW
from the north-west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp
Air temp15°C
CloudBroken
Pressure1024 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for rainbow
When
Current conditions suit Sutton Bingham Reservoir well for summer tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently. Early morning is often the most productive window in summer — make the most of it.
Where
Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. Early in the day, try buzzers on a slow figure-of-eight or a booby on a fast-sink line near the bottom. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. Early in the day, try buzzers on a slow figure-of-eight or a booby on a fast-sink line near the bottom. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.

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

Murrough should come on through the afternoon as the water warms.

Either bank or boat

Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
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
Rainbow fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
86%
Cloud100%
Wind65%
Temp100%

Conditions are ideal for Sutton Bingham Reservoir — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.

Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

A 56-hectare Wessex Water reservoir south of Yeovil with boat and bank fly fishing. From 2026, Sutton Bingham runs a split season: trout fly fishing from April to June, then carp on the fly from June through September. The carp-on-fly season has specific bank and boat windows — this is one of very few English reservoirs with an explicit, managed carp-on-fly programme. Compact and productive water in a sheltered setting.

  • Reservoir
  • Limestone
Why this score
  • Cloud cover (mixed) suits the fishery well.
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
  • Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 April → 30 September
  • Carp1 June → 30 September
Related guides
Booking & contacts