The uppermost of the Derwent Valley chain — remote and atmospheric. Bank fishing for stocked rainbows and wild browns. Limited access compared to Ladybower and Derwent below. The genuine wilderness setting rewards effort. No boats.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
How to fish it · for rainbow
When
The buzzer is on at Howden Reservoir. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently. Evening can bring a surface rise — have a dry fly or emerger ready.
Where
Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
Plan B
If the main plan stalls, drop to a size 14–16 midge — switch to a washing-line or suspender rig and try different depths 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
Bank fishing near inflows, dam walls, and weed beds. Move to find feeding fish.
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
1
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
91%
Cloud70%
Wind100%
Temp100%
Conditions are ideal for Howden Reservoir — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
About this water
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Booking & contacts
Howden Reservoir
Google Places
The uppermost of the Derwent Valley chain — remote and atmospheric.
How to fish it · for rainbow
When
The buzzer is on at Howden Reservoir. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently. Evening can bring a surface rise — have a dry fly or emerger ready.
Where
Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Marabou Damsel (8-12) — on the point. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
Plan B
If the main plan stalls, drop to a size 14–16 midge — switch to a washing-line or suspender rig and try different depths 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
Bank fishing near inflows, dam walls, and weed beds. Move to find feeding fish.
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
1
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
91%
Cloud70%
Wind100%
Temp100%
Conditions are ideal for Howden Reservoir — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
About this water
The uppermost of the Derwent Valley chain — remote and atmospheric. Bank fishing for stocked rainbows and wild browns. Limited access compared to Ladybower and Derwent below. The genuine wilderness setting rewards effort. No boats.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Booking & contacts