Spate · Granite · Devon

River Dart

River Dart venue image
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A Dartmoor river of real character — the East and West Dart meet at Dartmeet in classic moorland scenery.

Species

Decent — worth a look

Low and clear — careful approach country. Low water tactics — small singles, riffling hitch in the smooth glides.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for sea trout
Cool — slow
7°C est.ideal 8–15°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for sea trout
  • Temperature6928% weight
  • Flow6022% weight
  • Clarity8518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure857% weight
  • Prey Activity3512% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
6.9°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
8°C
Wind
W 16 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1010 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
13.1 mm
Moderate rain · next 48h

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

How to fish it · for sea trout
When
From dusk into the first half of the night.
Where
Deeper pools and slower glides · hold water and current seams.
Method
Fish dark patterns on a sink-tip or lightly sunk line, especially near structure.
Kit
10 ft #6/7 rod, floating line with a sink-tip option, 8–10 lb fluoro tippet for the swing.
Why this works
Good conditions. Clarity is favourable (85), Prey activity is weakest (35). ⏰ Sea trout become most active after dark, but this stretch closes at 20:38 — before that window fully opens. Fish hard in the last legal hour: overcast skies and warm evenings can bring fish on early even in fading light.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2
Yellow SallyHatch
2
3
2

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

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Directions
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About this water

A Dartmoor river of real character — the East and West Dart meet at Dartmeet in classic moorland scenery. Granite-bedded with wild brown trout in the upper reaches and salmon and sea trout lower down. Fast, rocky water that rewards nymph and wet fly.

  • Granite
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon1 March → 30 September
  • Trout15 March → 30 September

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Salmon: Negligible (2026) — EA 2024 Salmon Stocks Assessment classifies this river 'at risk' — egg deposition below Conservation Limit. Conservation priority; not a salmon fishing destination. The Dart has lost most of its salmon run over the past two decades.

Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts