Stillwater · Chalk · East Midlands / Lincolnshire

Otby Trout Lake

Otby Trout Lake terrain map

Six-acre stream-fed fly-only trout lake in the Lincolnshire Wolds near Walesby/Market Rasen, well stocked with rainbow and brown trout.

Fair · Rainbow
Buzzer · 12-14
Fairlive now
Good summer conditions for Otby Trout Lake
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.
61% confidence

Otby Trout Lake is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindNW 16 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
Buzzer
Buzzer12-14
Washing-line, in the film
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Gentle breeze
NW 16 km/h
N
NW
from the north-west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp
Air temp28°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1016 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 Otby Trout Lake. 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. When no hatch is visible, a buzzer team — black stripped quill on the point, attractor or pearl-rib on the top dropper — is the default starting point on any UK stillwater.
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. When no hatch is visible, a buzzer team — black stripped quill on the point, attractor or pearl-rib on the top dropper — is the default starting point on any UK stillwater.

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 fishing near inflows, dam walls, and weed beds. Move to find feeding fish.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

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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
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 Otby Trout Lake's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with cloud skies.

Other water nearby · 3
About this water

Six-acre stream-fed fly-only trout lake in the Lincolnshire Wolds near Walesby/Market Rasen, well stocked with rainbow and brown trout. Bank and boat fishing (boat hire ~£1.50/hour), day and season tickets, season April-October.

  • Fishery
  • Chalk
Why this score
  • summer conditions with overcast skies and breezy wind.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 April30 September
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Permits & access