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.
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
46% confidence — limited data
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
SW 11 km/h
Light breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
8°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
The hawthorn fly is on. 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 Emerger 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.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Dry Fly on the bob and Emerger 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
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
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
Trout seasonSeason
1
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
5 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
- Hawthorn Fly is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Detail · next 12h
Precipitation
The reading most likely to move tomorrow's verdict
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Bigwell Fly Fishery · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
Bigwell Fly Fishery, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedBigwell Fly Fishery · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
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
Bigwell Fly Fishery · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Bigwell Fly Fishery · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
Bigwell Fly Fishery
Google Places
Four spring-fed lakes in the Wye Valley on the England–Wales border.
Species
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
46% confidence — limited data
Conditions
Wind
SW 11 km/h
Light breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
8°C
Cloud
Clear
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
69%
Cloud70%
Wind100%
Temp25%
A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
The hawthorn fly is on. 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 Emerger 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.
Method
Method not yet authored.
Kit
Kit not yet authored.
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Dry Fly on the bob and Emerger 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
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
- Hawthorn Fly is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
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
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
Seasons & zones
- Trout1 April → 30 September
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
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.
Other water nearby · 5