Stillwater · Chalk · Welsh Marches / Herefordshire

Bigwell Fly Fishery

Bigwell Fly Fishery venue image
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Four spring-fed lakes in the Wye Valley on the England–Wales border.

Fair · Rainbow
Buzzer · 12-14
Fairlive now
Buzzer expected on Bigwell Fly Fishery
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
52% confidence
What moved it
  • WindW 8 km/hLight breeze
Today’s fly
Buzzer
Buzzer12-14
Washing-line, in the film
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Light breeze
W 8 km/h
N
W
from the west
WaveRipple
Water temp
Air temp14°C
CloudClear
Pressure1022 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for rainbow
When
The buzzer is on. Murrough may also come into play as the day warms. Drift conditions look good — cover the wind lanes.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Dry Fly on the bob and Terrestrial on the point. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Dry Fly on the bob and Terrestrial on the point. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.

Plan B

If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.

Watch for

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

Boat — drift

A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.

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
1
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1

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

Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
69%
Cloud70%
Wind100%
Temp25%

A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Four spring-fed lakes in the Wye Valley on the England–Wales border. Two crystal-clear chalk-fed waters (primary spring source) and two fed from overflow stream with wild brown trout influx. Specimen fish to 12 lb. Wheelchair accessible, cafe and fly shop on site. Stunning riverside location.

  • Chalk
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
  • Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Booking & contacts