A 105-acre, 90ft-deep fly-only bank-fished moorland reservoir near Masham, stocked with rainbow trout from nearby Swinton Trout Farm. A Trout Masters water that produces fish over 10lb; reopened March 2025 under new management.
- Reservoir
- Sandstone
How to fish it · for rainbow
When
March to early January (closed early Jan to mid Feb)
Where
Start with Pheasant Tail Nymph (12-16) — on the point — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. Evening can produce explosive surface takes — try a foam beetle or booby on a long leader. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Pheasant Tail Nymph (12-16) — on the point — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. Evening can produce explosive surface takes — try a foam beetle or booby on a long leader. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.
Plan B
If the main plan stalls, drop to a size 14–16 midge — switch to a washing-line or suspender rig and change drift line before you change food group.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Bank, sheltered shores
In wind, bank fish the lee shore — boats can anchor in productive areas if conditions allow.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
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
41%
Cloud70%
Wind30%
Temp25%
Conditions are away from this venue's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with cloud skies.
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
About this water
Why this score
- Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 March → 10 January
Related guides
Booking & contacts
Leighton Reservoir
Google Places
A 105-acre, 90ft-deep fly-only bank-fished moorland reservoir near Masham, stocked with rainbow trout from nearby Swinton Trout Farm.
How to fish it · for rainbow
When
March to early January (closed early Jan to mid Feb)
Where
Start with Pheasant Tail Nymph (12-16) — on the point — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. Evening can produce explosive surface takes — try a foam beetle or booby on a long leader. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Pheasant Tail Nymph (12-16) — on the point — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. Evening can produce explosive surface takes — try a foam beetle or booby on a long leader. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses.
Plan B
If the main plan stalls, drop to a size 14–16 midge — switch to a washing-line or suspender rig and change drift line before you change food group.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Bank, sheltered shores
In wind, bank fish the lee shore — boats can anchor in productive areas if conditions allow.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
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
41%
Cloud70%
Wind30%
Temp25%
Conditions are away from this venue's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with cloud skies.
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
About this water
A 105-acre, 90ft-deep fly-only bank-fished moorland reservoir near Masham, stocked with rainbow trout from nearby Swinton Trout Farm. A Trout Masters water that produces fish over 10lb; reopened March 2025 under new management.
- Reservoir
- Sandstone
Why this score
- Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 March → 10 January
Related guides
Booking & contacts