Stillwater · Limestone · South West / Somerset

Barrow Tanks

Barrow Gurney reservoir, known locally as Barrow Tanks, a popular fishing lake near Bristol, North Somerset
Fair · Rainbow
Buzzer · 12-14
Fairlive now
Good summer conditions for Barrow Tanks
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.
62% confidence

Barrow Tanks is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindW 22 km/hModerate breeze
Today's fly
Buzzer
Buzzer12-14
Washing-line, in the film
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Moderate breeze
W 22 km/h
N
W
from the west
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp—
Air temp25°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1018 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

Head to
East bank

A W wind today is pushing food and drift lanes toward East bank. Fish stack progressively at the windward bank — work the exposed shore toward the sheltered end.

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

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

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 4 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
49%
Cloud50%
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
Why this score
  • Buzzers are in their 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