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.
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
44% confidence — limited data
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
W 20 km/h
Moderate breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
10°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
1011 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for rainbow trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
March to early January (closed early Jan to mid Feb)
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Pheasant Tail Nymph on the bob and Diawl Bach on the point.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Pheasant Tail Nymph on the bob and Diawl Bach on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Gray DrakeHatch
2
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
6 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
About this water
Leighton Fly Fishing, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedLeighton Fly Fishing · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
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
Leighton Fly Fishing · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Leighton Fly Fishing · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
Leighton Fly Fishing
A 105-acre, 90ft-deep fly-only bank-fished moorland reservoir near Masham, stocked with rainbow trout from nearby Swinton Trout Farm.
Species
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
44% confidence — limited data
Conditions
Wind
W 20 km/h
Moderate breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
10°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
1011 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
54%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp25%
A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
March to early January (closed early Jan to mid Feb)
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Pheasant Tail Nymph on the bob and Diawl Bach on the point.
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Pheasant Tail Nymph on the bob and Diawl Bach on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Why this score
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Gray DrakeHatch
2
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Directions
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
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
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.
Other water nearby · 5
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