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.

Prime · Atlantic Salmon
Cascade · size 8–12 doubles or small tube
Primelive now
Prime conditions — go now
River dropping into shape after a lift. Classic taking window — fish through the heads and tails.
75% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.81 mDropping after lift
  • Water temp16.9°C
  • ClaritySlightly colouredClearing
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
Steady
0.81 m
Dropping after lift
Water temp16.9°C
ClaritySlightly coloured
Weather17°C
WindW 8 km/h
Pressure1021 hPa
Rain · recent8.1 mm
Rain · ahead13.4 mm

The nearest gauge doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Warm — slow
17°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
Morning and evening are prime, but midday can still produce if there's cloud cover or a breeze to ruffle the surface. Overcast days fish well all day in summer.
Where
Fish the full pool systematically — start at the head, two steps between each cast, work through to the tail. Pay special attention to the classic taking lies: pool heads where current enters, tails where it shallows, and seams alongside faster water.
Method
Lively swing near the surface. Floating line, the fly fishing in the top 12 inches. The fly should look alive — a small mend to accelerate at the right moment can trigger a snapping take.. Floating line. Small-medium: size 8-12. Match temperature and water colour — go smaller if clear, bigger if any colour.
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
The river is in textbook shape. River dropping nicely into shape after a lift — textbook conditions. Clearing nicely — classic taking conditions. 16.9°C — close to ideal for autumn salmon. This is the window experienced salmon anglers wait for — if you can get to the river, go now.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 11am

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 12 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)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 4 as a supporter.

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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 · September 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 Ure
33 km
Brown trout · Grayling
River Hodder
40 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Ribble
44 km
Brown trout · Grayling · Salmon
River Lune (Teesdale)
46 km
Brown trout · Grayling
River Swale
47 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

The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 75%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightMedium Ideal+4.1
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftDropping Nicely Into Shape+4.5
Water temperatureCool To Moderate+3.5
Time in seasonLate Season+0.6
ClarityClearing+2.4
Hydrology base15.1
Rules that fired
Clearing After Spate Bonus+1
Will they take?Willingcaps the band

Fish should be willing to take — clearing, stained water.

Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
What would change the calculation
No prolonged stable spell before the current rise.
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