Picturesque Dartmoor granite reservoir managed by South West Lakes Trust; bank fly fishing for stocked rainbow and blue trout up to 5lb plus wild brown trout. One of the most tranquil natural venues in the South West.
- Reservoir
- Granite
Rules at a glance
- Free fishing
- Fly only
How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Conditions are not ideal but fishable at Burrator Reservoir. 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 Marabou Damsel (8-12) — 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 Marabou Damsel (8-12) — 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
Fish early and late, try deeper during the heat of the day with a fast-sinking line.
Watch for
Watch for Silverhorn towards evening — this could be the best window of the day.
Bank
Bank-only venue. Fish from accessible margins, points, weed edges, and inflows.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
See the full sub-surface read with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 4 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
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
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 Burrator Reservoir's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with cloud skies.
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
Burrator Terrain map
About this water
Why this score
- Buzzers 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
Burrator Reservoir
Picturesque Dartmoor granite reservoir managed by South West Lakes Trust; bank fly fishing for stocked rainbow and blue trout up to 5lb plus wild brown trout.
How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Conditions are not ideal but fishable at Burrator Reservoir. 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 Marabou Damsel (8-12) — 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 Marabou Damsel (8-12) — 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
Fish early and late, try deeper during the heat of the day with a fast-sinking line.
Watch for
Watch for Silverhorn towards evening — this could be the best window of the day.
Bank
Bank-only venue. Fish from accessible margins, points, weed edges, and inflows.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
See the full sub-surface read with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 4 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
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
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 Burrator Reservoir's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with cloud skies.
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
Burrator Terrain map
About this water
Picturesque Dartmoor granite reservoir managed by South West Lakes Trust; bank fly fishing for stocked rainbow and blue trout up to 5lb plus wild brown trout. One of the most tranquil natural venues in the South West.
- Reservoir
- Granite
Why this score
- Buzzers 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