Chalk Stream · Chalk · Dorset, GB-ENG

River Piddle

A weir on the River Piddle chalk stream near Trigon Farm, Dorset, with clear water flowing over the structure surrounded by rural countryside.
Today · Slow going — pick your moments
Coch-y-bonddu
Forecast · Today
Slow going — pick your moments
Slow going — pick your moments and do not force it.
45% projected
Today's fly
Coch-y-bonddu
Coch-y-bonddu
Conditions on the water · Today
Live gauge
Level
Rising
0.16 m
Lifting fast
Water temp16.0°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather18°C
WindN 30 km/h
Pressure1012 hPa
Rain · recent0.4 mm
Rain · ahead1.4 mm

The nearest gauge doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

Water temperature for Brown Trout
Ideal
16°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
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Likely species
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 16 Uhr

12 Uhr(now) — Daddy Long Legs

Stage: On emergersApproach: Emerger or dryActivity: 42%
Also:Pale Watery25%Cinnamon Sedge25%
Weather boost8 food groups active

Peak activity at 16 Uhr — Small Spurwing (Small Spurwing, Weather boost)

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 4 guilds as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 4 as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Grayling seasonSeason
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
Mayfly (Green Drake)Hatch
2
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Brown SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Fly box · Brown Trout
Local classics: Pheasant Tail Nymph·CDC Olive·Iron Blue Dun
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
  1. A weir on the River Piddle chalk stream near Trigon Farm, Dorset, with clear water flowing over the structure surrounded by rural countryside.
    The River Piddle near Trigon Farm, a chalk stream weir close to Wareham, Dorset.
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Moderate
Water quality details
  • Dissolved oxygen: High
  • Ammonia (Phys-Chem): High
  • pH: High
  • Phosphate: High
  • Temperature: High

EA (England) · GB108044010080

The full read · show the working · for Brown Trout · confidence 75%
How the 82 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature100 × 28%28.0
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time45 × 13%5.9
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity68 × 12%8.2
Conditions total= 82
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitysurvey-backed invertebrate datasurvey
What would change the calculation
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 April → 15 October
  • Grayling 16 June → 14 March

    Statutory window is 16 June – 14 March. Mostly private syndicate water — treat October to February as a provisional working default and confirm with the beat.

    Typically fished 1 October → 28 February.

    Prime sport 1 October → 28 February

Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts