Freestone · Limestone · Ryedale / North York Moors

River Rye

River Rye venue image
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Technical limestone river — clear alkaline water that demands the precision of a chalk stream with the fly choices of a northern river.

Species

A good day — worth the effort

Low and clear — careful approach country. Small and bright, long leader, careful approach.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for sea trout
Cool — slow
7°C est.ideal 8–15°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for sea trout
  • Temperature7428% weight
  • Flow6022% weight
  • Clarity8518% weight
  • Feeding Time5513% weight
  • Pressure857% weight
  • Prey Activity2812% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
7.1°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
8°C
Wind
SW 12 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1004 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
1.4 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

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

How to fish it · for sea trout
When
Sea trout run via the Derwent system — variable, peaking July to August. Night fishing where water rises above 13°C. Stocks slim; fish carefully if at all.
Where
Lower Rye pool tails through to the Derwent confluence. The Rye's sea trout pattern is small-river — short casts, careful approach.
Method
Across-and-down on a floating line with small wets. The Rye is small water — don't import big-river reflexes.
Kit
9 to 10 ft #6, floating line, 8 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Good conditions. Clarity is favourable (85), Prey activity is weakest (28). ⏰ Sea trout become most active after dark, but this stretch closes at 20:50 — before that window fully opens. Fish hard in the last legal hour: overcast skies and warm evenings can bring fish on early even in fading light.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Grayling seasonSeason
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1

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

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Directions
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About this water

Technical limestone river — clear alkaline water that demands the precision of a chalk stream with the fly choices of a northern river. Sight-fishing in shallow water where you can spot individual fish rising. Dry fly is primary when fish are up; spiders need to be smaller and sparser than on rougher water. Size matters here; #16–18 is standard. Less forgiving than the rougher Dales rivers but rewards technical excellence. Long-established club water (Ryedale Anglers) with some association stretches available.

  • Limestone
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 April → 30 September
  • Grayling16 June → 14 March
Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts