Spate · Mixed · Lancashire / Cumbria

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.

Good · Atlantic Salmon
Cascade · size 8–12 doubles or small tube
Goodlive now
A good day — worth the effort
Low and clear — careful approach country. Small, sparse flies, long leader, careful approach.
75% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.30 m
  • Water temp17.5°C
  • ClarityClear
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
0.30 m
Water temp17.5°C
ClarityClear
Weather16°C
WindW 19 km/h
Pressure1015 hPa
Rain · recent1.3 mm
Rain · ahead3.9 mm

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Warm — slow
18°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
Early morning and late evening are best by far. Low, clear water makes fish spooky in daylight. The first and last hour of light are worth more than the entire middle of the day.
Where
Fish are concentrated in the deeper pools and under any available cover. Focus on the deepest lies — pool hearts and tail croys. Approach very carefully, avoid silhouetting yourself against the sky. Dawn and dusk are your windows.
Method
Surface or just sub-surface. Consider a riffling hitch or Portland hitch to skate the fly across the surface — devastating in warm, low water. Alternatively, dead-drift a small fly upstream like a nymph.. Floating line. Tiny: size 12-16 singles or doubles, hitch tubes. Ultra-discreet presentation for spooky fish in warm, clear 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
Conditions are favourable — this is a day to be on the water. Peak summer — grilse and summer salmon are active and willing. Small flies, lightly dressed, fished with purpose. No historical catch data available for this river — prediction based on current conditions only.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 7 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 2 with Pro.

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalModerate confidence

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

Through the year
0–3 scale · July 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
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box
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
The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 75%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightVery Low-4.1
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftDropping Too Far Towards Low Clear+1.1
Water temperatureCool To Moderate+3.5
Time in seasonSummer Peak Window+1.3
ClarityClearing+2.4
Hydrology base4.2
Will they take?Neutralcaps the band

Taking mood is fair — clearing, stained water, very low flow.

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