Chalk · Normandy / Eure (Risle, Charentonne, Andelle)

Normandy Chalk Streams (Private Estate Network)

A clear, gently flowing river passing an old stone mill building in a wooded Normandy valley.
Contributor photo

Industry

Jannis - CC BY-SA 2.0

Network of private Normandy chalk-stream estates on classical spring-fed water — Andelle, Arques, Durdent, Saâne, Scie tributaries and manor-house beats.

Marginal · Brown Trout
Spent Spinner · 16-20
Marginallive now
Slow going — pick your moments
River temperature is the limiting factor today, not the flow. Fish dawn or dusk if you go at all, and handle everything with extra care.
80% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelLight rain recentlyNo gauge reading
  • Water temp20.1°C
  • ClarityClear
Today’s fly
Spent Spinner
Spent Spinner16-20
Upstream dry
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Level
Light rain recently
No gauge reading
Water temp20.1°C
ClarityClear
Weather22°C
WindNE 15 km/h
Pressure1018 hPa
Rain · recent2.1 mm
Rain · ahead5.5 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Water temperature for brown trout
Warm — slow
20°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
⚠️ Water at 20.1°C — above the brown trout caution line (18°C). Fish dawn or dusk only. Land it fast, wet hands, no air shots. Otherwise poor — water clarity is in the right range.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 3 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

See the full sub-surface read with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 3 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
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Grayling seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Brown SedgeHatch
2
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Blue Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
2
Mayfly (Green Drake)Hatch
2
2

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

Ranked for today
Brown Trout fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • AAPPMA permits
  • Verify access on private beats.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Water here around 20°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.
Gallery · 2
  1. A clear, gently flowing river passing an old stone mill building in a wooded Normandy valley.
    Industry
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Network of private Normandy chalk-stream estates on classical spring-fed water — Andelle, Arques, Durdent, Saâne, Scie tributaries and manor-house beats. Stable temperature, prolific insect life, selective wild trout and grayling. Fly-only beats with size restrictions (typically 16–18). Small precise presentations required. Booking well in advance essential. Access restricted to private permits.

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

WFD classification · FRHR358

The full read · show the working · for brown trout · confidence 80%
How the 27 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature24 × 28%6.7
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time40 × 13%5.2
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity64 × 12%7.7
Limiting factor: Water temperature (20.1°C) is outside Brown Trout's preferred range (10–16°C)= 60
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitysurvey-backed invertebrate datasurvey
What would change the calculation
Cooler water — back toward the 10–16 °C ideal band — would lift the score and ease welfare.
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout2nd Saturday of March → 3rd Sunday of September
  • Grayling3rd Saturday of May → 31 December

    France national rule: grayling opens 3rd Saturday of May in all waters. In 2nd category waters, grayling remains open until 31 December. Departmental regulations may impose earlier closing dates. Always check the relevant département's 2026 arrêté préfectoral.

Related guides
Chalkstream Playbookchalk stream tacticsGrayling Playbookgrayling tacticsPyrenees PlaybookFrench rivers
Booking & contacts