Spate · Mixed · Lancashire / Cumbria, GB-ENG

River Lune

The River Lune flowing through the valley at Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, near the Lancashire border.

The Lune is one of the great Lancashire salmon and sea-trout rivers — running 53 miles from Howgill Fell headwaters through Tebay, Killington, Kirkby Lonsdale and Hornby down to Lancaster and the Irish Sea.

Marginal · Atlantic Salmon
Cascade · size 8–12 doubles or small tube
Marginal — persistence required
River lifting fast on the rain. A short window at best — fish the sure lies and move on.
40% confidence
limited data
What moved it
  • Level1.10 mLifting fast
  • Water temp10.8°C
  • ClarityVery colouredColouring up
Today's fly
Cascade
Cascadesize 8–12 doubles or small tube
The Lune's universal salmon and sea-trout fly. A 53-mile limestone and moorland river with strong runs of both species; Cascade covers the broadest range of conditions on any given day.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Rising
1.10 m
Lifting fast
Water temp10.8°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather11°C
WindW 23 km/h
Pressure1021 hPa
Rain · recent14.8 mm
Rain · ahead0.3 mm

The nearest gauge is at Skerton Weir (Lancaster). It doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Ideal
11°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
Morning into early afternoon.
Where
Pool tails, steadier runs, and any water with pace.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.
Kit
13 ft #8/9 double-hander in spate, 10 ft #8 single in low water. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12–15 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Poor — water temperature is working for you, but water clarity is the limiting factor today.
Likely species
Stoneflies
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 11 active hatches hour by hour as a supporter.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · October highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Sea trout runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Autumn DunHatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box

Ally's Shrimp variants — fished swing

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • EA NW byelaws apply
  • LSTAA membership covers most main-river beats; check booking.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
River Hodder
40 km
30
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Ure
34 km
Brown trout · Grayling
River Ribble
44 km
Brown trout · Grayling · Salmon
River Swale
47 km
Brown trout · Grayling
River Eamont
50 km
Brown trout · Grayling
Gallery · 2
  1. The River Lune flowing through the valley at Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, near the Lancashire border.
    The River Lune at Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria.
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

The Lune is one of the great Lancashire salmon and sea-trout rivers — running 53 miles from Howgill Fell headwaters through Tebay, Killington, Kirkby Lonsdale and Hornby down to Lancaster and the Irish Sea. Mixed geology creates strong spate response then long, fishable dropping water. Atlantic salmon, prolific sea trout, and brown trout (with grayling on some beats). Lune Salmon and Trout Anglers' Association manages much of the river; private beats and fishery hotels add coverage. Atlantic salmon are assessed by the Environment Agency against each river's Conservation Limit — many principal rivers are classed 'at risk' with mandatory catch-and-release byelaws; check current rules before fishing.

Sea trout here

Summer-autumn runs (June–September), nocturnal peak season pattern

  • Mixed
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Good
Water quality details
  • Dissolved oxygen: High
  • Ammonia (Phys-Chem): High
  • pH: High
  • Phosphate: High
  • Temperature: High

EA (England) · GB112072071690

Why this score · for Atlantic Salmon
  • Temperature10030% weight
  • Flow8025% weight
  • Clarity1520% weight
  • Feeding Time9015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 1 February → 31 October
  • Sea trout 15 March → 31 October
  • Trout 22 March → 7 October

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Related guides
Atlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsYorkshire & SpidersNorth Country methodsTrout Near Londonaccess guide
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts