Lowland · Mixed · Yorkshire / Vale of Pickering

River Derwent (Yorkshire)

A long, gentle Yorkshire river rising on the North York Moors above Scarborough and curving inland — the Sea Cut diverts its upper flood water to the coast — before meandering slowly through the Vale of Pickering past Malton and Stamford Bridge to join the Ouse at Barmby-on-the-Marsh.

Prime · Barbel
Primelive now
About as good as it gets
Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
65% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelDry recentlyNo gauge reading
  • Water temp20.6°C
  • ClarityClear
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp20.6°C
ClarityClear
Weather20°C
WindSW 27 km/h
Pressure1006 hPa
Rain · recent0.1 mm
Rain · ahead1.5 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Water temperature for Barbel
Ideal
21°C est.ideal 1624°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Barbel
When
Trout: late spring to early autumn. Grayling: October to December (club season closes 31 Dec).
Where
A long, gentle Yorkshire river rising on the North York Moors above Scarborough and curving inland — the Sea Cut diverts its upper flood water to the coast —…
Why this works
Barbel: comfort conditions look perfect. Stable flow — fishable but not the prime trigger.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6pm

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 5 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 2 with Pro.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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
Terrestrial BeetlesHatch
2
3
3
2
Blue Winged OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1

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

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Club-controlled game water; day-ticket and membership access varies by beat
  • Grayling club season closes 31 December (earlier than the statutory 14 March)
  • Check the controlling club before travelling.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
About this water

A long, gentle Yorkshire river rising on the North York Moors above Scarborough and curving inland — the Sea Cut diverts its upper flood water to the coast — before meandering slowly through the Vale of Pickering past Malton and Stamford Bridge to join the Ouse at Barmby-on-the-Marsh. The famous game water is the middle river around Malton, Kirkham and Buttercrambe: clear, weedy, unhurried glides over a mixed limestone-and-moorland catchment that grow wild brown trout and an exceptional head of grayling. It fishes as a classic dry-fly and North Country spider river in summer, and comes into its own for grayling from autumn — though the club season closes earlier than the statutory date, so time a winter visit carefully. Slow to rise and slow to fall given its lowland length.

  • River
  • Mixed
The full read · show the working · for Barbel · confidence 65%
Perfect · river comfort — temperature and flow led
Water temperatureWater temp 20.6°C — prime band for barbel.
FlowStable flow — fishable but not the prime trigger.
LightMixed light — workable.
SeasonPrime month for this species.
Water clarityWater clarity clear — read accordingly for barbel.
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 25 March30 September
  • Grayling 16 June14 March

    Statutory grayling season is 16 June – 14 March, but the controlling clubs close grayling fishing on 31 December — earlier than the statutory date. Plan a winter grayling visit before the turn of the year, and confirm current club rules before travelling.

    Club water closes 31 December — earlier than the legal 14 March.

    Prime sport 1 October → 31 December

Related guides
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