Stillwater · Limestone · South West / Somerset

Barrow Tanks

Barrow Gurney reservoir, known locally as Barrow Tanks, a popular fishing lake near Bristol, North Somerset

Three small concrete-walled drinking-water reservoirs at Barrow Gurney, twenty minutes from Bristol — the practical after-work fly water and, by some weeks, the first reservoir of the year.

Marginal · Rainbow
Buzzer · 12-14
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.
40% confidence
limited data

Barrow Tanks is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindSW 13 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
Buzzer
Buzzer12-14
Washing-line, in the film
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Gentle breeze
SW 13 km/h
N
SW
from the south-west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp—
Air temp31°C
CloudClear
Pressure1020 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

Head to
Wind shiftWind shift
West bank

The wind has shifted to a SW today, but 1 day of an E wind has loaded food into West bank. Fish haven't had time to redistribute — start there before following the new direction.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Conditions are not ideal but fishable at Barrow Tanks. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently. 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 Diawl Bach (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. 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 Diawl Bach (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. 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

Fish early and late, try deeper during the heat of the day with a fast-sinking line.

Watch for

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

Bank

Bank-only venue. Fish from accessible margins, points, weed edges, and inflows.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 3 with Pro.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
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
41%
Cloud25%
Wind65%
Temp25%

Conditions are away from Barrow Tanks's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with cloud skies.

Other water nearby · 5
Jacklands Fishing Lakes
8.0 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Chew Valley Lake
9.0 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Blagdon Lake
9.0 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Little Avon River
31 km
Brown trout · Grayling · Chub
River Brue
36 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 2
  1. Barrow Gurney reservoir, known locally as Barrow Tanks, a popular fishing lake near Bristol, North Somerset
    Barrow Gurney reservoir ("Barrow Tanks"), a popular fishing lake near Bristol
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Three small concrete-walled drinking-water reservoirs at Barrow Gurney, twenty minutes from Bristol — the practical after-work fly water and, by some weeks, the first reservoir of the year. Tank No. 3 is the fly-only trout reservoir, stocked with rainbow and brown trout by Bristol Water; No. 1 is the coarse water. The fishing is short-session in character: a square, exposed sheet of water that swings hard on wind direction and water temperature, with fish that move through the day. Day permits and season permits through Bristol Water Fisheries; opens in late February, ahead of both Chew and Blagdon. Not the romantic option — but the right answer when you have three hours, no urge to spend two of them in the car, and a need to feel a trout pull line.

  • Reservoir
  • Limestone
Why this score
  • High temperatures may push fish deeper and reduce surface activity.
  • Damsel Nymph is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout late February → mid-November
Related guides
Big Stillwater Playbookreservoir tacticsReservoir Entomologymatching the hatchThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts