Chalk Stream · Chalk · Wiltshire

River Bourne (Wiltshire)

River Bourne (Wiltshire) terrain map
Terrain map

The Wiltshire Bourne (Hampshire Avon tributary, distinct from the Hampshire Bourne) runs through Salisbury Plain country from Tidworth past Salisbury to join the Avon.

Poor · Brown Trout
Sherry Spinner · 14-16
Poorlive now
Not the day for it
Low and clear — careful approach country. A morning for the obvious fish only.
80% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.01 mLast reading 7h ago
  • Water temp20.9°C
  • ClarityVery colouredColouring up
Today’s fly
Sherry Spinner
Sherry Spinner14-16
Upstream dry, on top
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Rising
0.01 m
Last reading 7h ago
Water temp20.9°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather17°C
WindW 12 km/h
Pressure1022 hPa
Rain · recent0.7 mm
Rain · ahead0.0 mm

Live readings only. Trends shown where the gauge supports them.

Water temperature for brown trout
Warm — slow
20.9°Cideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
⚠️ Water at 20.9°C — above the brown trout caution line (18°C). Fish dawn or dusk only. Land it fast, wet hands, no air shots. Otherwise poor — barometric pressure is in the right range.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 3 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalModerate confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

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
Brown SedgeHatch
2
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Blue Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
2
Mayfly (Green Drake)Hatch
2
2

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

Ranked for today
Brown Trout fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Private syndicate
  • Salisbury Estate offers limited access.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Water here at 20.9°C. Nothing cooler within range.
About this water

The Wiltshire Bourne (Hampshire Avon tributary, distinct from the Hampshire Bourne) runs through Salisbury Plain country from Tidworth past Salisbury to join the Avon. Classic Wessex chalk stream — stable flows, technical clear water, wild brown trout. Mostly private syndicate water but the Salisbury area sometimes offers limited day tickets via Salisbury Estate or local clubs.

  • Chalk
The full read · show the working · for brown trout · confidence 80%
How the 22 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature15 × 28%4.2
Flow55 × 22%12.1
Clarity15 × 18%2.7
Feeding Time60 × 13%7.8
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity41 × 12%4.9
Limiting factor: Water temperature (20.9°C) is outside Brown Trout's preferred range (10–16°C)= 37
Can you trust it?
Water temperaturelive gauge readinggauge
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitysurvey-backed invertebrate datasurvey
What would change the calculation
Cooler water — back toward the 10–16 °C ideal band — would lift the score and ease welfare.
A drop and clear would lift the flow and clarity scores.
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Chalkstream Playbookchalk stream tacticsTrout Near Londonaccess guideEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts