A southeasterly has held for 9 hours, running warmer than the water (22°C air against 19°C water). Expect fish at the north-western end — the bank it is blowing into — where the drift piles food, colour and warmth together. This reads the upper water, though — a bottom bait at range feels it far less than a floater or a fish in the margins. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.
Start with Floating Fry (8-10) on a Fish as a single fly. 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.
A fry-imitating pattern stripped through the margins can save a blank in autumn.
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Bank fishing near inflows, dam walls, and weed beds. Move to find feeding fish.
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Conditions are away from Ashdown Forest Fly Fishery's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with cloud skies.
Terrain map
- autumn conditions with overcast skies and breezy wind.
- Trout 1 January → 31 December
Ashdown Forest Fly Fishery
A southeasterly has held for 9 hours, running warmer than the water (22°C air against 19°C water). Expect fish at the north-western end — the bank it is blowing into — where the drift piles food, colour and warmth together. This reads the upper water, though — a bottom bait at range feels it far less than a floater or a fish in the margins. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.
Start with Floating Fry (8-10) on a Fish as a single fly. 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.
A fry-imitating pattern stripped through the margins can save a blank in autumn.
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Bank fishing near inflows, dam walls, and weed beds. Move to find feeding fish.
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Conditions are away from Ashdown Forest Fly Fishery's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with cloud skies.
Terrain map
- autumn conditions with overcast skies and breezy wind.
- Trout 1 January → 31 December