Chalk Stream · Chalk · London, GB-ENG

River Wandle

River Wandle venue image

London's most famous urban chalkstream: a short, intimate, heavily restored river flowing from the chalk-fed headwaters around Croydon and Carshalton through Morden, Wimbledon and Wandsworth to the Thames.

Today · A proper day on the water
Coch-y-bonddu
Forecast · Today
A proper day on the water
A proper day for it. Work the seams with an upstream nymph, switch to the dry when they show.
80% projected
Today's fly
Coch-y-bonddu
Coch-y-bonddu
Conditions on the water · Today
Live gauge
Level
Rising
0.24 m
Lifting fast
Water temp16.7°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather20°C
WindN 15 km/h
Pressure1012 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead0.0 mm

The nearest gauge doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

Water temperature for Chub
Ideal
17°C est.ideal 14–22°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Chub
When
April to June for trout; autumn for chub and barbel
Where
London's most famous urban chalkstream: a short, intimate, heavily restored river flowing from the chalk-fed headwaters around Croydon and Carshalton through…
Why this works
Excellent — conditions well-balanced, with water temperature particularly in your favour.
Likely species
Stoneflies
Caddisflies
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6am

12pm(now) — Daddy Long Legs

Stage: On emergersApproach: Emerger or dryActivity: 35%
Also:Flying Ants29%Cinnamon Sedge22%
Weather boost9 food groups active

Peak activity at 6am — Daddy Long Legs (Daddy Long Legs, Weather boost)

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.

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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 · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Mayfly (Green Drake)Hatch
2
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Brown SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Chub fly box

Fish the Wandle for what it is — a compact urban stalking river, not a roomy dry-fly beat. Light tackle, short casts, small bugs, and the readiness to take your chance the moment a fish shows.

Local classics: Pheasant Tail Nymph·Hare's Ear
BW
Black Wooly Bugger
Hook 8–10 weighted · Fly
in season · matches water height · all-rounder
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Halliford Mere
17 km
Rainbow trout
River Mole (Surrey)
20 km
Brown trout
Coltsford Mill Trout Fishery
21 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout · Brook trout
Walthamstow Reservoirs
23 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Albury Estate Fisheries
29 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

London's most famous urban chalkstream: a short, intimate, heavily restored river flowing from the chalk-fed headwaters around Croydon and Carshalton through Morden, Wimbledon and Wandsworth to the Thames. Once written off as ecologically dead, it now supports brown trout again alongside a proper mixed coarse fishery. The appeal is not grand private-chalkstream elegance but close-quarters stalking, tricky little glides, undercut banks, bridge water, public-park access and a strong conservation story.

  • Chalk
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Moderate
  • Chemical: Does not require assessment
Water quality details
  • Dissolved oxygen: High
  • Ammonia (Phys-Chem): High
  • pH: High
  • Phosphate: Poor
  • Temperature: High

EA (England) · GB106039023460

The full read · show the working · for Chub · confidence 65%
Perfect · warmwater comfort — temperature and clarity led
Water temperatureWater temp 16.7°C — prime band for chub.
FlowStable flow — predictable holding lies.
SeasonPrime month for this species.
Water clarityWater clarity clear — read accordingly for chub.
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 April → 30 September
  • Coarse 16 June → 14 March
Related guides
Chalkstream Playbookchalk stream tacticsTrout Near Londonaccess guideEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts