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 Diawl Bach (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper. 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 Diawl Bach (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper. 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
Fish early and late, try deeper during the heat of the day with a fast-sinking line.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Either bank or boat
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
See the full sub-surface read with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · July 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
10-14 · Gammarus Scud
Washing-line, sub-surface
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
73%
Cloud50%
Wind100%
Temp60%
A good match for Leighton Reservoir — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
Other water nearby · 5
About this water
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 1 March → 10 January
Related guides
Booking & contacts
Leighton Reservoir
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 Diawl Bach (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper. 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 Diawl Bach (12-14) — on the bob / top dropper. 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
Fish early and late, try deeper during the heat of the day with a fast-sinking line.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Either bank or boat
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
See the full sub-surface read with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · July 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
10-14 · Gammarus Scud
Washing-line, sub-surface
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
73%
Cloud50%
Wind100%
Temp60%
A good match for Leighton Reservoir — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
Other water nearby · 5
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 (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 1 March → 10 January
Related guides
Booking & contacts