Spate · Limestone · Lancashire / Yorkshire Dales, GB-ENG

River Ribble

The River Ribble flowing through open countryside at Settle with a stony riverbed in low summer water.
Marginal · Sea Trout
Black & Silver Tube · 1-2 inch
Marginallive now
Marginal — persistence required
River high but settled. A short window at best — fish the sure lies and move on.
65% confidence
What moved it
  • Level4.50 mDropping in the last 6h
  • Water temp17.3°C
  • ClarityVery colouredColouring up
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
Rising
4.50 m
Dropping in the last 6h
Water temp17.3°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather17°C
WindNW 17 km/h
Pressure1020 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead0.3 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
Warm — slow
17°C est.ideal 8–15°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Sea Trout
When
Night fishing from full dark when water rises above 13°C. June through September. Settled overcast nights are classic; stocks variable through recent decades.
Where
Lower Ribble pool tails and glides below Mitton. Walk the water in daylight before fishing it at night.
Method
Across-and-down on a floating line with a small wet — Medicine, Teal Blue and Silver, Stoat's Tail. Steady swing through the tail-outs, never hurry.
Kit
10 ft #6/7, floating line, 8 to 10 lb fluoro tippet. Spare leader on a wrist spool. Headlamp sparingly.
Why this works
Poor — barometric pressure is working for you, but time of day is the limiting factor today. ⏰ Sea trout become most active after dark, but this stretch closes at 20:22 — 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

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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
1
Sea trout runRun
1
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
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Sea Trout fly box
Local classics: March Brown·Waterhen Bloa·Pheasant Tail Nymph
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.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 3
River Lune
44 km
10
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Hodder
7.0 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Wharfe
47 km
Brown trout · Grayling
Gallery · 6
  1. The River Ribble flowing through open countryside at Settle with a stony riverbed in low summer water.
    The River Ribble at Settle
  2. Wide view of the River Ribble at Ribchester showing gravelly shallows and summer low-water riffles.
    The River Ribble, Ribchester
  3. The River Ribble running over limestone ledges and shingle at Settle with the Dales skyline behind.
    The River Ribble at Settle
  4. Clear limestone-green pool and exposed bedrock at Queen's Rock on the River Ribble above Settle.
    Queen's Rock, River Ribble, Settle
  5. The River Ribble in full spate with brown peaty flood water over boulders near Settle.
    The River Ribble in spate, Settle
  6. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Moderate
  • Chemical: Unknown

EA (England) · UKGB112071065614

Why this score · for Sea Trout
  • Temperature2928% weight
  • Flow3022% weight
  • Clarity4518% weight
  • Feeding Time2513% weight
  • Pressure857% weight
  • Insect activity4512% weight
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 1 February → 31 October
  • Sea trout 3 April → 31 October
  • Trout 22 March → 30 September
  • Grayling 16 June → 14 March

    Statutory window is 16 June – 14 March. Ribble Trust Mitton beat separates game angling (15 March – 31 October) from coarse and grayling (1 November – 14 March). Treat November to mid-March as the working access default on association water.

    Fished once the trout season is over — access typically from 1 November.

    Prime sport 1 November → 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. Ribble salmon catches collapsed through the 2020s.

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