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
Rules at a glance
- Free fishing
- Fly only
Head to
Wind driftSE wind
North-western end
A southeasterly has held for 6 hours at much the same temperature as the 16°C water. No thermal steer either way, but the drift still stacks food against the north-western end — the bank it is blowing into — so start there. This reads the upper water, though — a bottom bait at range feels it far less than a floater or a fish in the margins. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.
How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
March to early January (closed early Jan to mid Feb)
Where
Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. 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 Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. 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
Watch for Caperer 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
Top nymph shown — see all 4 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · September 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
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
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
45%
Cloud50%
Wind30%
Temp60%
Conditions are away from Leighton Reservoir'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.
- Reservoirs of this kind fish well at this time of year.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 1 March → 10 January
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Boards & regulators
Leighton Reservoir
A 105-acre, 90ft-deep fly-only bank-fished moorland reservoir near Masham, stocked with rainbow trout from nearby Swinton Trout Farm.
Head to
Wind driftSE wind
North-western end
A southeasterly has held for 6 hours at much the same temperature as the 16°C water. No thermal steer either way, but the drift still stacks food against the north-western end — the bank it is blowing into — so start there. This reads the upper water, though — a bottom bait at range feels it far less than a floater or a fish in the margins. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.
How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
March to early January (closed early Jan to mid Feb)
Where
Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. 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 Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. 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
Watch for Caperer 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
Top nymph shown — see all 4 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · September 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
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
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
45%
Cloud50%
Wind30%
Temp60%
Conditions are away from Leighton Reservoir'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.
- Reservoirs of this kind fish well at this time of year.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 1 March → 10 January
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Boards & regulators