Spate · Mixed · Northumberland, GB-ENG

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.

Tomorrow · Marginal — persistence required
Pheasant Tail Nymph
Forecast · Tomorrow
Marginal — persistence required
A short window at best — fish the sure lies and move on.
40% projected
Today's fly
Pheasant Tail Nymph
Pheasant Tail Nymph
Conditions on the water · Tomorrow
Live gauge
Level
Rising
0.36 m
Lifting fast
Water temp9.1°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather6°C
WindN 27 km/h
Pressure994 hPa
Rain · recent7.0 mm
Rain · ahead1.0 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
Cool — slow
9°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
All day is fishable. Peaks around mid-morning (10-12) and late afternoon (4-6pm). A change in light — cloud passing over the sun, or the first shadow reaching the water — can trigger a take.
Where
River starting to fall after a lift — fish are moving and settling. Target the heads of pools where fresh runners stop first. Working downstream through the pool systematically will find fish.
Method
Steady, controlled swing. Moderate mending to keep the fly broadside and swimming at a measured pace. Not too fast, not too slow. Let the pool dictate the speed.. Intermediate or slow sink-tip. Medium: ½-1 inch tubes or size 6-10 doubles. Balancing depth with not being too aggressive.
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
The signs are strong. Water starting to fall after a rise — early stages of coming into shape. Still coloured but fining — improving conditions. 9.5°C — in the ideal taking range for autumn salmon. Conditions are moving in the right direction and should be fishable soon if not already.
Likely species
Stoneflies
Caddisflies
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · tomorrowPeak at 1pm

12pm(now) — Autumn Needle Fly

Stage: Creeping nymphsApproach: Heavy nymphActivity: 40%
Also:Iron Blue37%
Peak emergence window3 food groups active

Peak activity at 1pm — Iron Blue (Iron Blue, 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

Supporters see what else is on the menu.

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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 · October 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
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

Ally's Shrimp variants — fished swing

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
85
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Teviot
46 km
74
Brown trout · Grayling · Atlantic salmon
Tweed
48 km
74
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.

Sea trout here

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

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

EA (England) · GB103022076691

The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 75%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightLow But Fishable-1.2
Recent riseStrong Recent Rise After Low Or Stale+9.8
Falling after liftFalling Slightly After Lift+3.4
Water temperatureCool To Moderate+3.5
Time in seasonLate Season+0.6
ClarityClearing+2.4
Hydrology base18.5
Rules that fired
Rise Plus Good Temp Bonus+0.75
Will they take?Willingcaps the band

Fish should be willing to take — clearing, stained water, fresh fish moving on the lift.

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
Booking & contacts