Stillwater · Clay · Co. Down / Hillsborough, GB-NIR

Hillsborough Lake

Hillsborough Lake venue image
Fair · Rainbow
Buzzer patterns (12–14) · 10–14
Fairlive now
Daddy Longlegs expected on Hillsborough Lake
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
56% confidence

Hillsborough Lake is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindW 17 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
BP
Buzzer patterns (12–14)10–14
Static or slow on a long leader — the staple stillwater chironomid.
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Gentle breeze
W 17 km/h
N
W
from the west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp13.5°C
Air temp16°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1020 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

Freshness unknown· 4 mm in 48h

Conditions are moderate — some water movement possible.

Head to
Wind driftW wind
Eastern end

A westerly has held for 10 hours at much the same temperature as the 14°C water. No thermal steer either way, but the drift still stacks food against the eastern 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
Year-round, especially cool months
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Diawl Bach on the bob and Buzzer patterns on the point.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Diawl Bach on the bob and Buzzer patterns on the point.

Plan B

If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.

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 4 guilds as a supporter.

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14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

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 · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
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
Fly box · Rainbow
BP
Buzzer patterns (12–14)Top
10–14 · Buzzer
Static or slow on a long leader — the staple stillwater chironomid.
SS
Small streamers (8–10)
8–10 · Streamer
Strip it for fish chasing fry or in coloured water.
BS
Blob-style attractors (10–12)
10–12 · Lure
Pull it for fresh stock fish or when nothing is rising.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
59%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp60%

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
Why this score
  • Lake Olive is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 February31 December
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts