Stillwater · Chalk · South West / Dorset, GB-ENG

Wessex Fly Fishing

Wessex Fly Fishing venue image

Five lakes and pools beside the River Piddle near Tolpuddle: Meadow Lake (2.

Marginal · Rainbow
Daddy Long Legs · 10-12
A patient day, if you fancy it
Water temperature is the limiting factor today, not the wave. Fish dawn or dusk if you go at all, and handle everything with extra care.
41% confidence
limited data
What moved it
  • WindSE 28 km/hModerate breeze
Today's fly
Daddy Long Legs
Daddy Long Legs10-12
Upstream dry, on top
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Moderate breeze
SE 28 km/h
N
SE
from the south-east
Wave60 cm wave
Water temp20.4°C
Air temp22°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1010 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

Head to
Wind driftSE wind
North-western end

A southeasterly has held for 8 hours at much the same temperature as the 20°C water. No thermal steer either way, but the drift still stacks food against the north-western end — the bank it is blowing into — so start there. This reads the upper water, though — a bottom bait at range feels it far less than a floater or a fish in the margins. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Conditions are not ideal but fishable at Wessex Fly Fishing. Very warm conditions — trout have a narrower safe zone of cool, oxygen-rich water. Fish only at first light or last light, use barbless hooks, keep fish in the water during release, and stop if fish struggle to recover.
Where
Start with Floating Fry (8-10) on a Fish as a single fly. Evening can produce explosive surface takes — try a foam beetle or booby on a long leader. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Floating Fry (8-10) on a Fish as a single fly. Evening can produce explosive surface takes — try a foam beetle or booby on a long leader. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.

Plan B

A fry-imitating pattern stripped through the margins can save a blank in autumn.

Watch for

Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.

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 2 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
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
Rainbow fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
51%
Cloud70%
Wind30%
Temp60%

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

Cooler water nearby · 3
Water here around 20°C — probably warm enough to stress Rainbow . These are likely cooler.
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Five lakes and pools beside the River Piddle near Tolpuddle: Meadow Lake (2.5 acres), School Pool (0.5 acres), The Bowl (0.25 acres), The Oxbow (0.5 acres), and Church Pool (0.25 acres). Stocked with quality rainbow trout ranging from 1.75 to over 4 lbs. Regular stocking and well-maintained. Day tickets available.

  • Chalk
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
  • Terrestrials are in their seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts