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Fishing Gouthwaite Reservoir: what the data says
312-acre lake near North Yorkshire. The lake tops out around 33 ft. These contours are modeled — built from the real shoreline and the water's maximum depth — so read them as a guide, never as navigation. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
The drawn water covers 311 acres wrapped in 4.9 miles of bank. A middling shoreline index (2) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. About 51% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone.
Brown Trout fishing at Gouthwaite Reservoir
The spring pattern is a shallow one: brown trout in 3 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 33 ft before dropping to 5 to 33 ft for winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in summer. Plan around after dark and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 10 to 33 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (15 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 33 ft | dawn | Break off the point (15 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
European Perch fishing at Gouthwaite Reservoir
Come spring, look for european perch tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 8 to 28 ft in summer and finish the year down in 12 to 33 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small crankbait (perch pattern) is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner #1-2 |
| Summer | 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small crankbait (perch pattern) |
| Fall | 10 to 33 ft | midday | Deep basin (28 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 12 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Tungsten jig + maggots, Small balance jig |
Northern Pike fishing at Gouthwaite Reservoir
Early season northern pike use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Summer is a 8 to 20 ft game here, winter a 5 to 15 ft one. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 4 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (15 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (15 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Arctic Char fishing at Gouthwaite Reservoir
In spring, arctic char run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 33 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 33 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 28 ft, rated prime for summer arctic char. Time it for early morning. You won't need more than a jigging spoon vertical or a tube jig (smelt) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (15 ft) | Small casting spoon (silver/orange), Jerkbait (small) |
| Summer | 10 to 33 ft | dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Jigging spoon vertical, Tube jig (smelt) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Break off the point (15 ft) | Casting spoon (orange/gold), Beadhead streamer |
| Winter | 8 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + plastic |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 28 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 15 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 8 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 4 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 4 ft
Common questions
How deep is Gouthwaite Reservoir?
Gouthwaite Reservoir is about 33 ft (10 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Gouthwaite Reservoir?
Anglers target northern pike, european perch, brown trout, arctic char on Gouthwaite Reservoir. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Where is the best fishing spot on Gouthwaite Reservoir?
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for european perch in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Gouthwaite Reservoir?
For brown trout, the summer bite is best in after dark and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Scar House Reservoir 6 mi · Malham Tarn 15 mi · Semer Water 17 mi · Gormire Lake 25 mi · Widdop Reservoir 26 mi · Stocks Reservoir 26 mi · White Holme Reservoir 32 mi · Balderhead Reservoir 33 mi · Grassholme Reservoir 35 mi · Selset Reservoir 35 mi · Sunbiggin Tarn 37 mi · Whinfell Tarn 40 mi
See how Gouthwaite Reservoir stacks up: best northern pike lakes in United Kingdom · best european perch lakes in United Kingdom · best brown trout lakes in United Kingdom · best arctic char lakes in United Kingdom
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