A group of reservoirs in Nidderdale (Fewston, Swinsty, Thruscross, Lindley Wood) managed for fly fishing. Bank and limited boat access. Stocked rainbows and wild browns in an attractive Yorkshire Dales setting. Managed by Yorkshire Water.
Rules at a glance
- Free fishing
Reasonable late spring fishing likely at Washburn Valley Fisheries
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
Current conditions suit Washburn Valley Fisheries well for late spring tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
59% confidence in this read
This is peak season for the venue, though today's conditions aren't quite ideal. Worth fishing — the timing is right even if the weather isn't perfect.
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
SW 13 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
9°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for rainbow trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
Current conditions suit Washburn Valley Fisheries well for late spring tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Bloodworm (10-14) — on the point. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Start with Bloodworm (10-14) — on the point. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
Plan B
If fish refuse on top, drop to a buzzer under an indicator at different depths.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Either bank or boat
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
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
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
6 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Cloud cover (mixed) suits the fishery well.
- Hawthorn Fly is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Detail · next 12h
Precipitation
The reading most likely to move tomorrow's verdict
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Washburn Valley Fisheries · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
Best for
- Yorkshire
- Travelling
- Bank
About this water
Washburn Valley Fisheries, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedWashburn Valley Fisheries · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
A group of reservoirs in Nidderdale (Fewston, Swinsty, Thruscross, Lindley Wood) managed for fly fishing. Bank and limited boat access. Stocked rainbows and wild browns in an attractive Yorkshire Dales setting. Managed by Yorkshire Water.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Washburn Valley Fisheries · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Washburn Valley Fisheries · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
Washburn Valley Fisheries
Terrain map
A group of reservoirs in Nidderdale (Fewston, Swinsty, Thruscross, Lindley Wood) managed for fly fishing.
Species
Reasonable late spring fishing likely at Washburn Valley Fisheries
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
Current conditions suit Washburn Valley Fisheries well for late spring tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
59% confidence in this read
This is peak season for the venue, though today's conditions aren't quite ideal. Worth fishing — the timing is right even if the weather isn't perfect.
Conditions
Wind
SW 13 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
9°C
Cloud
Broken
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
74%
Cloud100%
Wind65%
Temp60%
A good match for this venue — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
Current conditions suit Washburn Valley Fisheries well for late spring tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Bloodworm (10-14) — on the point. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Bloodworm (10-14) — on the point. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
Plan B
If fish refuse on top, drop to a buzzer under an indicator at different depths.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Either bank or boat
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Why this score
- Cloud cover (mixed) suits the fishery well.
- Hawthorn Fly is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
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
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Directions
About this water
A group of reservoirs in Nidderdale (Fewston, Swinsty, Thruscross, Lindley Wood) managed for fly fishing. Bank and limited boat access. Stocked rainbows and wild browns in an attractive Yorkshire Dales setting. Managed by Yorkshire Water.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
A group of reservoirs in Nidderdale (Fewston, Swinsty, Thruscross, Lindley Wood) managed for fly fishing. Bank and limited boat access. Stocked rainbows and wild browns in an attractive Yorkshire Dales setting. Managed by Yorkshire Water.
Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts