Rules at a glance
- Free fishing
- Fly only
Water temperature for Sea Trout
Warm — slow17°C est.ideal 8–15°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Sea Trout
When
From dusk into the first half of the night.
Where
Deeper pools and slower glides · hold water and current seams.
Method
Fish dark patterns on a sink-tip or lightly sunk line, especially near structure.
Kit
10 ft #6/7 rod, floating line with a sink-tip option, 8–10 lb fluoro tippet for the swing.
Why this works
Poor — barometric pressure is working for you, but water temperature is the limiting factor today. ⏰ Sea trout become most active after dark, but this stretch closes at 19:51 — 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. ⏰ Sea trout become most active after dark, but this stretch closes at 19:48 — 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.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6am
Hatch predictions
Today's headline hatch shown — see all 10 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 3 with Pro.
Start free trial14-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 · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Autumn DunHatch
2
3
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Sea Trout fly box
Local classics: Half Stone·Beacon Beige·Pheasant Tail Nymph
Top
1-2 inch · Tube
In deep pools and dark water, silhouette and contrast do the work colour cannot. A fly that reads as black against depth is enough. Fish it broadside, hold the swing, let it hang at the dangle — that is when the best fish take.
2-4 inch · Streamer
A mobile eel-like profile that undulates through deep pools — effective when sea trout are lying deep and not responding to conventional wets.
Beats · 3
Half Moon water — SheepwashAccess varies
The Half Moon at Sheepwash has long held around seven miles of the Torridge for salmon, sea trout and brown trout, and is the classic visitor base on the river — day tickets are usually available alongside accommodation.
Visit official site ↗Torridge Rivers Association (day permits & river-wide)Access varies
The Torridge Rivers Association is the body of riparian owners and Torridge anglers safeguarding the river's ecology, and it lists several day permits for visiting anglers.
Visit official site ↗Westcountry Angling Passport beatsAccess varies
Sections of the Torridge are open through the Westcountry Angling Passport (now run via the FishPass app), the simplest no-booking visitor route into Devon's spate rivers.
Visit official site ↗What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
River Torridge Terrain map
Why this score · for Sea Trout
- Temperature1628% weight
- Flow5522% weight
- Clarity4518% weight
- Feeding Time5513% weight
- Pressure857% weight
- Insect activity5112% weight
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Salmon 1 March → 30 September
- Trout 15 March → 30 September
Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)
Salmon: Negligible (2026) — EA 2024 Salmon Stocks Assessment classifies the Torridge 'at risk' — egg deposition below Conservation Limit. C&R mandatory. Salmon numbers have fallen dramatically since the 1980s; the river is better known today for its sea trout fishing and as the Tarka country of Henry Williamson's classic novel.
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
River Torridge
Water temperature for Sea Trout
Warm — slow17°C est.ideal 8–15°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Sea Trout
When
From dusk into the first half of the night.
Where
Deeper pools and slower glides · hold water and current seams.
Method
Fish dark patterns on a sink-tip or lightly sunk line, especially near structure.
Kit
10 ft #6/7 rod, floating line with a sink-tip option, 8–10 lb fluoro tippet for the swing.
Why this works
Poor — barometric pressure is working for you, but water temperature is the limiting factor today. ⏰ Sea trout become most active after dark, but this stretch closes at 19:51 — 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. ⏰ Sea trout become most active after dark, but this stretch closes at 19:48 — 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.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6am
Hatch predictions
Today's headline hatch shown — see all 10 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 3 with Pro.
Start free trial14-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 · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Autumn DunHatch
2
3
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Sea Trout fly box
Local classics: Half Stone·Beacon Beige·Pheasant Tail Nymph
Top
1-2 inch · Tube
In deep pools and dark water, silhouette and contrast do the work colour cannot. A fly that reads as black against depth is enough. Fish it broadside, hold the swing, let it hang at the dangle — that is when the best fish take.
2-4 inch · Streamer
A mobile eel-like profile that undulates through deep pools — effective when sea trout are lying deep and not responding to conventional wets.
Beats · 3
Half Moon water — SheepwashAccess varies
The Half Moon at Sheepwash has long held around seven miles of the Torridge for salmon, sea trout and brown trout, and is the classic visitor base on the river — day tickets are usually available alongside accommodation.
Visit official site ↗Torridge Rivers Association (day permits & river-wide)Access varies
The Torridge Rivers Association is the body of riparian owners and Torridge anglers safeguarding the river's ecology, and it lists several day permits for visiting anglers.
Visit official site ↗Westcountry Angling Passport beatsAccess varies
Sections of the Torridge are open through the Westcountry Angling Passport (now run via the FishPass app), the simplest no-booking visitor route into Devon's spate rivers.
Visit official site ↗What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
River Torridge Terrain map
Why this score · for Sea Trout
- Temperature1628% weight
- Flow5522% weight
- Clarity4518% weight
- Feeding Time5513% weight
- Pressure857% weight
- Insect activity5112% weight
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Salmon 1 March → 30 September
- Trout 15 March → 30 September
Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)
Salmon: Negligible (2026) — EA 2024 Salmon Stocks Assessment classifies the Torridge 'at risk' — egg deposition below Conservation Limit. C&R mandatory. Salmon numbers have fallen dramatically since the 1980s; the river is better known today for its sea trout fishing and as the Tarka country of Henry Williamson's classic novel.
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts