Spate · Mixed · Somerset

River Tone

Butterstone Loch terrain map
Terrain map

The Tone rises on the Brendon Hills above Wellington and runs through Taunton and the Somerset Levels to its junction with the Parrett near Burrow Bridge.

Species

A proper day on the water

Low and clear — careful approach country. Stay small, stay accurate.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Cool — slow
9°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature7528% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time7013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Insect activity4912% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
8.6°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
12°C
Wind
N 7 km/h
Light breeze
Pressure
1022 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
0.3 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

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

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
Good — water clarity is right today, though insect activity could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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.

Directions
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About this water

The Tone rises on the Brendon Hills above Wellington and runs through Taunton and the Somerset Levels to its junction with the Parrett near Burrow Bridge. The fly fishing is on the upper river above Wellington — modest wild brown trout water on Brendon Hills sandstone, with the kind of small-stream character that suits a quiet morning rather than a destination day. Below Taunton the river is dominated by coarse species and the slow, navigable lowland water of the Levels; fly fishing there is a niche. The upper Tone is worth knowing about for Somerset-based anglers who want a small wild-trout option without driving to Exmoor.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • Trout15 March → 30 September
Other water nearby · 5