Freestone · Limestone · Cumbria / Eden Valley, GB-ENG

River Eden

The River Eden flowing through Appleby-in-Westmorland in summer with tree-lined banks and clear water.
Prime · Sea Trout
Black & Silver Tube · 1-2 inch
Primelive now
Prime conditions — go now
Low and clear — careful approach country. Cover the water properly, fish each lie once.
90% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.38 mLast reading 2h ago
  • Water temp14.6°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
BS
Black & Silver Tube1-2 inch
In deep pools and dark water, silhouette and contrast do the work colour cannot. A fly that reads as black against depth is enough. Fish it broadside, hold the swing, let it hang at the dangle — that is when the best fish take.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.38 m
Last reading 2h ago
Water temp14.6°C
ClarityClear
Weather13°C
WindNW 12 km/h
Pressure1020 hPa
Rain · recent0.5 mm
Rain · ahead8.5 mm

The nearest gauge doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

Water temperature for Sea Trout
Ideal
15°C est.ideal 8–15°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Sea Trout
When
From dusk into the first half of the night.
Where
Deeper pools and slower glides · hold water and current seams.
Method
Fish dark patterns on a sink-tip or lightly sunk line, especially near structure.
Kit
10 ft #6/7 rod, floating line with a sink-tip option, 8–10 lb fluoro tippet for the swing.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though insect activity could be better. ⏰ Sea trout become most active after dark, but this stretch closes at 20:28 — before that window fully opens. Fish hard in the last legal hour: overcast skies and warm evenings can bring fish on early even in fading light.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6am

Hatch predictions

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Grayling seasonSeason
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Sea Trout fly box
Local classics: Grey Wulff·Pheasant Tail Nymph·Red Tag
BS
Black & Silver TubeTop
1-2 inch · Tube
In deep pools and dark water, silhouette and contrast do the work colour cannot. A fly that reads as black against depth is enough. Fish it broadside, hold the swing, let it hang at the dangle — that is when the best fish take.
SF
Snake Fly (Black)
2-4 inch · Streamer
A mobile eel-like profile that undulates through deep pools — effective when sea trout are lying deep and not responding to conventional wets.
Beats · 3
How to fish the Eden — association waterAccess varies
The Eden is one of England's most natural salmon, sea trout, trout and grayling rivers, and access is mostly through local angling associations rather than private agents.
Visit official site ↗
Penrith Angling Association waterAccess varies
Penrith AA controls over forty miles of fishing across the Eden, Eamont, Lowther, Petteril, Lyvennet, Leith and several becks — predominantly wild brown trout and grayling, with salmon and sea trout encountered occasionally.
Visit official site ↗
Appleby Angling Association waterAccess varies
Appleby AA controls around twenty miles of the Eden and Lyvennet, with trout and grayling the mainstay and a near year-round fishery when the two seasons are combined.
Visit official site ↗
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
River Irthing
9.0 km
Brown trout · Grayling
River Eamont
26 km
Brown trout · Grayling
Border Esk
39 km
82
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Annan
41 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Tyne
42 km
0
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Gallery · 6
  1. The River Eden flowing through Appleby-in-Westmorland in summer with tree-lined banks and clear water.
    The River Eden, Appleby
  2. The River Eden flowing slowly through the sandstone valley at Armathwaite, wooded banks in summer.
    River Eden at Armathwaite
  3. A placid wide reach of the River Eden through floodplain fields between Lazonby and Armathwaite near Kirkoswald.
    Eden below Kirkoswald
  4. The River Eden in May near Kirkoswald, a wide channel flanked by spring-green vegetation.
    River Eden near Kirkoswald
  5. The River Eden viewed from Eden Bridge at Temple Sowerby in late summer, the clear channel prominent.
    River Eden from Eden Bridge, Temple Sowerby
  6. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Moderate
  • Chemical: Fail
What this classification means

EA waterbody 'Eden - Eamont to tidal' (GB102076073940) — the lower Eden main stem (Lazonby, Kirkoswald, Armathwaite). Latest EA data (Cycle 3, 2022): Moderate ecological status (downgraded from Good in 2019; fish failure under investigation). Chemical 'Fail' reflects the England-wide ubiquitous-substance failure (mercury and PBDE in biota); the 2022 cycle itself records chemical as 'does not require assessment'. Corrected 2026-06-18 from GB102076071020, which is the River Eamont (an Eden tributary), not the main stem; ecological status was also wrong (recorded Good, actually Moderate).

EA (England) · GB102076073940

Why this score · for Sea Trout
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity8518% weight
  • Feeding Time8013% weight
  • Pressure857% weight
  • Insect activity6112% weight
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 15 January → 14 October
  • Trout 22 March → 30 September
  • Grayling 16 June → 14 March

    Statutory window is 16 June – 14 March, but Eden clubs typically sell grayling as a winter product from 1 October. Appleby AA and Brampton AA (Irthing) both list grayling from 1 October to mid-March. Check association rules for methods and access.

    Legally open from 16 June, but access is typically sold from 1 October.

    Prime sport 1 October → 28 February

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Salmon: Negligible (2026) — EA 2024 Salmon Stocks Assessment classifies this river 'at risk' — egg deposition below Conservation Limit. Conservation priority; not a salmon fishing destination. Cumbria's Eden has shown some recent improvement but remains at risk.

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