Spate · Mixed · Northumberland

River Coquet

The River Coquet flowing through Rothbury, Northumberland

The Coquet rises high in the Cheviot Hills above Alwinton and runs east through Rothbury and Morwick to reach the North Sea at Warkworth.

Good · Atlantic Salmon
Cascade · size 10–12 doubles or small tube
Goodlive now
A good day — worth the effort
River lifting fast on the rain. Fish are running but seldom taking on rising water. Mark the lies now, fish hard once it drops.
75% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.24 mLifting fast
  • Water temp17.1°C
  • ClarityVery colouredColouring up
Today's fly
Cascade
Cascadesize 10–12 doubles or small tube
Standard Coquet all-rounder for salmon and sea trout. Cheviot spate character means the river responds quickly to rain; Cascade on a dropping river is a reliable first choice.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Rising
0.24 m
Lifting fast
Water temp17.1°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather15°C
WindW 25 km/h
Pressure1010 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead7.8 mm

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Warm — slow
17°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
Early morning and late evening are best by far. Low, clear water makes fish spooky in daylight. The first and last hour of light are worth more than the entire middle of the day.
Where
Fish are concentrated in the deeper pools and under any available cover. Focus on the deepest lies — pool hearts and tail croys. Approach very carefully, avoid silhouetting yourself against the sky. Dawn and dusk are your windows.
Method
Surface or just sub-surface. Consider a riffling hitch or Portland hitch to skate the fly across the surface — devastating in warm, low water. Alternatively, dead-drift a small fly upstream like a nymph.. Floating line. Tiny: size 12-16 singles or doubles, hitch tubes. Ultra-discreet presentation for spooky fish in warm, clear 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
Conditions are favourable — this is a day to be on the water. Peak summer — grilse and summer salmon are active and willing. Small flies, lightly dressed, fished with purpose. No historical catch data available for this river — prediction based on current conditions only.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

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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
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Sea trout runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • EA Northumbria byelaws; mandatory C&R on salmon before 16 June
  • NAF day tickets cover most public water; some private beats
  • Confirm current EA salmon byelaw rules annually.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 4
River Tyne
38 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Teviot
46 km
Brown trout · Grayling · Atlantic salmon
Tweed
48 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Blackadder Water
57 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 2
  1. The River Coquet flowing through Rothbury, Northumberland
    River Coquet at Rothbury, Northumberland
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

The Coquet rises high in the Cheviot Hills above Alwinton and runs east through Rothbury and Morwick to reach the North Sea at Warkworth. Cheviot foothill spate water with mixed fast pools, gravel runs, and slower middle reaches. Atlantic salmon, sea trout and brown trout all present in fishable numbers — the Coquet is one of north-east England's better salmon rivers and is regularly stocked with smolts under the Coquet Hatchery programme. Mostly Northumberland Anglers' Federation water with day permits available; some beats private. 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.

  • Mixed
The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 75%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightVery Low-3.7
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftStill Rising Hard-0.6
Water temperatureCool To Moderate+3.5
Time in seasonSummer Peak Window+1.3
ClarityClearing+2.4
Hydrology base2.9
Will they take?Neutralcaps the band

Taking mood is fair — clearing, stained water, very low flow.

Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
What would change the calculation
No prolonged stable spell before the current rise.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 1 February → 31 October
  • Sea trout 1 April → 31 October
  • Trout 22 March → 30 September

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

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