Stillwater · Limestone · South West / Gloucestershire, GB-ENG

Witcombe Waters Trout Fishery

Witcombe Waters Trout Fishery venue image

Three spring-fed reservoirs (4-15 acres) on the Witcombe Estate beneath the Cotswold escarpment near Gloucester, fly-only, stocked weekly with rainbows averaging 2.

Fair · Rainbow
Minkie · 6-10
Fairlive now
Reasonable autumn fishing likely at Witcombe Waters Trout Fishery
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
64% confidence

Witcombe Waters Trout Fishery is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindW 18 km/hGentle breeze · Gusts to 35 km/h
Today's fly
Minkie
Minkie6-10
Retrieve, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Gentle breeze · Gusts to 35 km/h
W 18 km/h
N
W
from the west
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp12.2°C
Air temp7°C
CloudClear
Pressure1008 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 Rainbow
When
Year-round
Where
Start with Minkie (6-10) — on the point. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Minkie (6-10) — on the point. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.

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

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.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 3 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · October highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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.

Buzzer team todayfor the conditions now
Point
Black buzzer, orange thorax
In this water’s box: Black Buzzer
#10
How to fish it
Intermediate line · let the breeze drift the team, then hang it 15–30 s

Fly recommendations

Point fly shown — supporters see the whole team, sizes and why.

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Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
64%
Cloud25%
Wind65%
Temp100%

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

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

Three spring-fed reservoirs (4-15 acres) on the Witcombe Estate beneath the Cotswold escarpment near Gloucester, fly-only, stocked weekly with rainbows averaging 2.5lb (record 14lb 8oz). No catch-and-release. Bank and seasonal boat fishing.

  • Reservoir
  • Limestone
Why this score
  • 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 Opens 28 February
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts