A Devon-Dorset border river with a mix of chalk and freestone character. Wild brown trout, some salmon and sea trout. Less pressured than the famous chalk streams but with similar clarity in its spring-fed sections.
- Mixed
Rules at a glance
- Free fishing
- Fly only
A good day — worth the effort
Low and clear — careful approach country. Small and bright, long leader, careful approach.
75% confidence in this read
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
7.0°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
8°C
Wind
W 19 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1010 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.1 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
11.8 mm
Moderate rain · next 48h
Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.
How to fish · for sea trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
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
Good conditions. Clarity is favourable (85), Prey activity is weakest (28). ⏰ Sea trout become most active after dark, but this stretch closes at 20:36 — 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.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · May 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
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
1
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1
Blue Winged OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
6 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Detail · next 12h
Water temperature & rain
The two readings most likely to move the verdict
Water temperature for sea trout
Cool — slow7°C est.ideal 8–15°C
0°14°28°
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
6 factors, signed
- Temperature7228% weight
- Flow6022% weight
- Clarity8518% weight
- Feeding Time5513% weight
- Pressure857% weight
- Prey Activity2812% weight
About this water
River Axe, end to end
Field guide · contributor-editedRiver Axe · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
River Axe · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
River Axe · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Salmon1 March → 30 September
- Trout15 March → 30 September
Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)
Salmon: Negligible (2026) — EA 2024 Salmon Stocks Assessment classifies this river 'at risk' — egg deposition below Conservation Limit. Conservation priority; not a salmon fishing destination. The Devon Axe holds only marginal salmon numbers.
River Axe
Google Places
A Devon-Dorset border river with a mix of chalk and freestone character.
Species
A good day — worth the effort
Low and clear — careful approach country. Small and bright, long leader, careful approach.
75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for sea trout
Cool — slow7°C est.ideal 8–15°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for sea trout
- Temperature7228% weight
- Flow6022% weight
- Clarity8518% weight
- Feeding Time5513% weight
- Pressure857% weight
- Prey Activity2812% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
7.0°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
8°C
Wind
W 19 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1010 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.1 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
11.8 mm
Moderate rain · next 48h
Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.
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
Good conditions. Clarity is favourable (85), Prey activity is weakest (28). ⏰ Sea trout become most active after dark, but this stretch closes at 20:36 — 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.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May 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
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
1
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1
Blue Winged OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Directions
About this water
A Devon-Dorset border river with a mix of chalk and freestone character. Wild brown trout, some salmon and sea trout. Less pressured than the famous chalk streams but with similar clarity in its spring-fed sections.
- Mixed
Seasons & zones
- Salmon1 March → 30 September
- Trout15 March → 30 September
Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)
Salmon: Negligible (2026) — EA 2024 Salmon Stocks Assessment classifies this river 'at risk' — egg deposition below Conservation Limit. Conservation priority; not a salmon fishing destination. The Devon Axe holds only marginal salmon numbers.
Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts