Chalk Stream · Limestone · Gloucestershire (Cotswolds), GB-ENG

River Coln

A clear chalk stream, the River Coln, with visible gravel bed and weed, flowing under an arched footbridge lined with willows.

The Coln runs through some of the prettiest Cotswold villages — Withington, Fosse Bridge, Bibury, Fairford — to join the Thames near Lechlade.

Prime · Brown Trout
CDC F-Fly · 18-20
Primelive now
About as good as it gets
Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
75% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.43 mLast reading 12h ago
  • Water temp15.9°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
CDC F-Fly
CDC F-Fly18-20
Upstream dry, on top
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.43 m
Last reading 12h ago
Water temp15.9°C
ClarityClear
Weather16°C
WindN 19 km/h
Pressure1018 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead0.0 mm

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

Water temperature for Brown Trout
Ideal
16°C est.ideal 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
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 8 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 3 with Pro.

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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 · August 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

The heartland of English dry fly fishing. Upstream dry fly and emerger presentation dominates. Nymphing restricted or discouraged on many beats. Gin-clear alkaline water, prolific weed growth, educated wild brown trout. Precise imitation and delicate presentation are paramount.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Bibury Trout Farm day tickets cover the famous beat
  • Other beats syndicate.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Great Burrows Trout Fishery
1.0 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Lechlade & Bushyleaze Trout Fisheries
11 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
River Leach
13 km
Brown trout
River Windrush
14 km
Brown trout · Grayling
Witcombe Waters Trout Fishery
22 km
Rainbow trout
Gallery · 2
  1. A clear chalk stream, the River Coln, with visible gravel bed and weed, flowing under an arched footbridge lined with willows.
    River Coln, Bibury
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

The Coln runs through some of the prettiest Cotswold villages — Withington, Fosse Bridge, Bibury, Fairford — to join the Thames near Lechlade. The Bibury beat is famously associated with Bibury Trout Farm and the village's chalk-stream identity. Mixed wild and stocked brown trout, grayling on some beats. Mostly private but Bibury area accessible via the trout farm structure.

  • Limestone
The full read · show the working · for Brown Trout · confidence 75%
How the 81 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature100 × 28%28.0
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time45 × 13%5.9
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity61 × 12%7.3
Conditions total= 82
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitysurvey-backed invertebrate datasurvey
What would change the calculation
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Chalkstream Playbookchalk stream tacticsGrayling Playbookgrayling tacticsTrout Near Londonaccess guide
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts