Devon's premier salmon river, rising on Exmoor and flowing through Tiverton and Exeter to the sea. Spring salmon from February, with sea trout and wild brown trout throughout. The upper Exe on Exmoor is excellent spate river trout water.
- Mixed
Rules at a glance
- Free fishing
- Fly only
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
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
6.8°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
10.4 mm
Moderate rain · next 48h
Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.
How to fish · for sea trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
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 (25). ⏰ Sea trout become most active after dark, but this stretch closes at 20:39 — 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.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
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
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.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
6 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Detail · next 12h
Water temperature & rain
The two readings most likely to move the verdict
Water temperature for sea trout
Cool — slow7°C est.ideal 8–15°C
0°14°28°
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
6 factors, signed
- Temperature6628% weight
- Flow6022% weight
- Clarity8518% weight
- Feeding Time5513% weight
- Pressure857% weight
- Prey Activity2512% weight
About this water
River Exe, end to end
Field guide · contributor-editedRiver Exe · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
River Exe · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
River Exe · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Salmon14 February → 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. Devon's Exe has declined steadily; rod catches at historic lows.
River Exe
Google Places
Devon's premier salmon river, rising on Exmoor and flowing through Tiverton and Exeter to the sea.
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 — slow7°C est.ideal 8–15°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for sea trout
- Temperature6628% weight
- Flow6022% weight
- Clarity8518% weight
- Feeding Time5513% weight
- Pressure857% weight
- Prey Activity2512% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
6.8°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
10.4 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 (25). ⏰ Sea trout become most active after dark, but this stretch closes at 20:39 — 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
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
Terrain map
Directions
About this water
Devon's premier salmon river, rising on Exmoor and flowing through Tiverton and Exeter to the sea. Spring salmon from February, with sea trout and wild brown trout throughout. The upper Exe on Exmoor is excellent spate river trout water.
- Mixed
Seasons & zones
- Salmon14 February → 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. Devon's Exe has declined steadily; rod catches at historic lows.
Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts