Stillwater · Sandstone · South West / Somerset

Clatworthy Reservoir

Clatworthy Reservoir terrain map

A small Somerset reservoir tucked into the Brendon Hills, where the coombes hold the water close and the coves give it the bay-and-headland structure that rewards exploratory boat fishing.

Fair · Rainbow
Marabou Damsel · 8-12
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
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.
46% confidence
limited data
What moved it
  • WindNW 19 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
MD
Marabou Damsel8-12
Retrieve, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Gentle breeze
NW 19 km/h
N
NW
from the north-west
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp—
Air temp25°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1018 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Conditions are not ideal but fishable at Clatworthy 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 Booby (8-10) on a fast strip on floating line or static on sinking. 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. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Booby (8-10) on a fast strip on floating line or static on sinking. 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. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.

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.

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

See the full sub-surface read with Pro.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 4 with Pro.

Start free trial

14-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
49%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp25%

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

Other water nearby · 5
Wimbleball Lake
7.0 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
River Tone
12 km
Brown trout
Exe Valley Fly Fishing
13 km
Rainbow trout
Hawkridge Reservoir
18 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Hawkridge Fishery
18 km
Rainbow trout
About this water

A small Somerset reservoir tucked into the Brendon Hills, where the coombes hold the water close and the coves give it the bay-and-headland structure that rewards exploratory boat fishing. Cruising rainbows are the signature — fish that quarter the margins and cove mouths rather than milling in open water, and on the right evening they'll take a dry fly from the surface without a second look. Ten boats available, with bank fishing on the dam and accessible end. Stocked and managed by South West Lakes Trust with enough wild character to keep things honest.

  • Reservoir
  • Sandstone
Why this score
  • Buzzers are in their seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Big Stillwater Playbookreservoir tacticsReservoir Entomologymatching the hatchThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations