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.

Tomorrow · Closed season
Pink Shrimp
Forecast · Tomorrow
Closed season
Out of season. Try elsewhere.
45% projected
Today's fly
Pink Shrimp
Pink Shrimp
Conditions on the water · Tomorrow
Live gauge
Level
Rising
0.42 m
Lifting fast
Water temp15.1°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather18°C
WindN 25 km/h
Pressure1011 hPa
Rain · recent0.3 mm
Rain · ahead0.2 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
15°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 — conditions well-balanced, with water temperature particularly in your favour.
Likely species
Mayflies
Stoneflies
Caddisflies
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · tomorrowPeak at 4pm

12pm(now) — Daddy Long Legs

Stage: On emergersApproach: Emerger or dryActivity: 42%
Also:Pale Watery28%Cinnamon Sedge26%
Weather boost8 food groups active

Peak activity at 4pm — Small Spurwing (Small Spurwing, Weather boost)

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 3 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 4 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
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Mayfly (Green Drake)Hatch
2
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Brown SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
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
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Poor
Water quality details
  • Dissolved oxygen: High
  • Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): High
  • Ammonia (Phys-Chem): High
  • pH: High
  • Phosphate: Good
  • Temperature: High

EA (England) · GB106039029992

The full read · show the working · for Brown Trout · confidence 90%
How the 87 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature100 × 28%28.0
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time70 × 13%9.1
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity77 × 12%9.2
Conditions total= 87
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitysurvey-backed invertebrate datasurvey
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Chalkstream Playbooklimestone spring creek — same tacticsGrayling Playbookgrayling tacticsTrout Near Londonaccess guide
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts