Spate · Granite · Cornwall, GB-ENG

River Camel

Photo of River Camel

The Camel is Cornwall's signature salmon and sea-trout river, draining Bodmin Moor's granite headwaters down through Camelford and Bodmin to the estuary at Padstow.

Today · Decent — worth a look
Black Gnat
Forecast · Today
Decent — worth a look
A patient day. Cover water properly.
50% projected
Today's fly
Black Gnat
Black Gnat
Conditions on the water · Today
Live gauge
Level
Falling
0.15 m
Dropping after lift
Water temp17.3°C
ClarityClearing
Weather19°C
WindN 20 km/h
Pressure1023 hPa
Rain · recent0.5 mm
Rain · ahead5.7 mm

The nearest gauge doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Warm — slow
17°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
Morning into early afternoon.
Where
Pool tails, steadier runs, and any water with pace.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.
Kit
13 ft #8/9 double-hander in spate, 10 ft #8 single in low water. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12–15 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Good conditions based on river hydrology and migration patterns.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 12pm

12pm(now) — Heather Fly

Stage: Terrestrials on topApproach: Dry flyActivity: 95%
Also:Reed Smut74%Cinnamon Sedge37%Autumn Dun32%
Peak emergence windowWeather boost9 food groups active

Peak activity at 12pm — Heather Fly (Heather Fly, Peak emergence window)

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 3 as a supporter.

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence

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

Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Sea trout runRun
1
2
2
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Autumn DunHatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box

Shrimp fly theme — fished swing, wet_fly_swing

Beats · 1
Wadebridge & District AA — visitor accessAccess varies
Wadebridge controls ten miles of the Camel and one mile of the Allen.
Visit official site ↗
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • EA SW byelaws apply
  • Mandatory C&R for salmon
  • Camel Fisheries Association controls most water; check current permit conditions.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
River Fowey
17 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
The Arundell Arms Hotel & Fishery
33 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Inny
37 km
Brown trout · Sea trout · Salmon
River Tamar
39 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Lynher
39 km
66
Brown trout · Sea trout · Salmon
Gallery · 2
  1. Photo of River Camel
    River Camel
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

The Camel is Cornwall's signature salmon and sea-trout river, draining Bodmin Moor's granite headwaters down through Camelford and Bodmin to the estuary at Padstow. Spate-driven granite water — quick to rise, quick to clear, with strong autumn salmon runs and superb summer sea-trout (peal). The Camel Fisheries Association manages most of the freshwater main-river fishing through season tickets and limited day permits. Wild brown trout in the upper reaches, sea trout dominate from June. Atlantic salmon are assessed by the Environment Agency against each river's Conservation Limit — many principal rivers are classed 'at risk' with mandatory catch-and-release byelaws; check current rules before fishing.

Sea trout here

Summer-autumn runs (June–September), nocturnal peak season pattern

  • Granite
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Good
Water quality details
  • Dissolved oxygen: High
  • Ammonia (Phys-Chem): High
  • pH: High
  • Phosphate: Good
  • Temperature: High
  • Physico-chemical quality elements: Good
  • Chemical: Does not require assessment

EA (England) · GB108049007060

Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 1 April → 15 December
  • Sea trout 1 April → 30 September
  • Trout 15 March → 30 September

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Related guides
Atlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsYorkshire & SpidersNorth Country methodsTrout Near Londonaccess guide
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts