Spate · Limestone · Lancashire / Yorkshire Dales

River Ribble

The River Ribble flowing through open countryside at Settle with a stony riverbed in low summer water.
Contributor photo

The River Ribble at Settle

Ian Greig - CC BY-SA 2.0

Fine Lancashire spate river rising in the Yorkshire Dales near Ribblehead — classic northern character with limestone substrate, fast riffles, and excellent hatches (March Browns, olives, sedges, grannom caddis in April).

Fair · Sea Trout
Black & Silver Tube · 1-2 inch
Fairlive now
Decent — worth a look
River lifting fast on the rain. Wait for the rise to peak before settling on a beat.
65% confidence
What moved it
  • Level2.65 mLifting fast
  • Water temp14.2°C
  • ClarityVery colouredColouring up
Today’s fly
BS
Black & Silver Tube1-2 inch
In deep pools and dark water, silhouette and contrast do the work colour cannot. A fly that reads as black against depth is enough. Fish it broadside, hold the swing, let it hang at the dangle — that is when the best fish take.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Rising
2.65 m
Lifting fast
Water temp14.2°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather13°C
WindSW 6 km/h
Pressure1021 hPa
Rain · recent0.1 mm
Rain · ahead8.8 mm

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

Water temperature for sea trout
Ideal
14°C est.ideal 8–15°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for sea trout
When
Night fishing from full dark when water rises above 13°C. June through September. Settled overcast nights are classic; stocks variable through recent decades.
Where
Lower Ribble pool tails and glides below Mitton. Walk the water in daylight before fishing it at night.
Method
Across-and-down on a floating line with a small wet — Medicine, Teal Blue and Silver, Stoat's Tail. Steady swing through the tail-outs, never hurry.
Kit
10 ft #6/7, floating line, 8 to 10 lb fluoro tippet. Spare leader on a wrist spool. Headlamp sparingly.
Why this works
Fair — water temperature is working for you, but river flow is the limiting factor today. ⏰ Sea trout become most active from an hour before dusk. This stretch closes at 21:38 — your legal window captures the start of the best fishing. Fish the last 90 minutes hard. Overcast evenings extend the effective window.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 5 active hatches hour by hour 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
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Grayling seasonSeason
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
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
Sea Trout fly box
BS
Black & Silver TubeTop
1-2 inch · Tube
In deep pools and dark water, silhouette and contrast do the work colour cannot. A fly that reads as black against depth is enough. Fish it broadside, hold the swing, let it hang at the dangle — that is when the best fish take.
SF
Snake Fly (Black)
2-4 inch · Streamer
A mobile eel-like profile that undulates through deep pools — effective when sea trout are lying deep and not responding to conventional wets.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 3
River Hodder
7.0 km
85
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Lune
44 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Wharfe
47 km
Brown trout · Grayling
Gallery · 6
  1. The River Ribble flowing through open countryside at Settle with a stony riverbed in low summer water.
    The River Ribble at Settle
  2. Wide view of the River Ribble at Ribchester showing gravelly shallows and summer low-water riffles.
    The River Ribble, Ribchester
  3. The River Ribble running over limestone ledges and shingle at Settle with the Dales skyline behind.
    The River Ribble at Settle
  4. Clear limestone-green pool and exposed bedrock at Queen's Rock on the River Ribble above Settle.
    Queen's Rock, River Ribble, Settle
  5. The River Ribble in full spate with brown peaty flood water over boulders near Settle.
    The River Ribble in spate, Settle
  6. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Fine Lancashire spate river rising in the Yorkshire Dales near Ribblehead — classic northern character with limestone substrate, fast riffles, and excellent hatches (March Browns, olives, sedges, grannom caddis in April). The upper Ribble above Settle is superb wild brown trout and grayling water. Salmon and sea trout run middle and lower reaches (significant recovery in recent years). Fish as it drops after rain — the Ribble responds quickly and produces best on falling water. Dry fly is productive when hatches are on; nymphing standard between. Long Ribble Fisheries Association and local clubs manage access; day tickets available. 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.

  • Limestone
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Moderate
  • Chemical: Unknown

EA (England) · UKGB112071065614

Why this score · for sea trout
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow3022% weight
  • Clarity4518% weight
  • Feeding Time4013% weight
  • Pressure857% weight
  • Insect activity3712% weight
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon1 February → 31 October
  • Sea trout3 April → 31 October
  • Trout22 March → 30 September
  • Grayling16 June → 14 March

Salmon: Negligible (2026) — EA 2024 Salmon Stocks Assessment classifies this river 'at risk' — egg deposition below Conservation Limit. Conservation priority; not a salmon fishing destination. Ribble salmon catches collapsed through the 2020s.

Related guides
Grayling Playbookgrayling tacticsYorkshire & SpidersNorth Country methodsTrout Near Londonaccess guide
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