Spate · Mixed · County Durham, GB-ENG

River Wear

The River Wear flowing through open countryside near Wolsingham, Weardale, with tree-lined banks and rippling shallows.

North-East England spate river rising in the Pennines above Weardale, flowing east through Durham city to the coast at Sunderland.

Tomorrow · Closed season
Partridge & Orange
Forecast · Tomorrow
Closed season
Out of season. File this water for the right month.
70% projected
Today's fly
Partridge & Orange
Partridge & Orange
Conditions on the water · Tomorrow
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.30 m
Water temp7.3°C
ClarityClear
Weather4°C
WindN 17 km/h
Pressure1012 hPa
Rain · recent0.3 mm
Rain · ahead6.9 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
7°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
Morning into early afternoon.
Where
Pool tails, steadier runs, and any water with pace.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.
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.
Likely species
Stoneflies
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · tomorrowPeak at 11am

12pm(now) — Autumn Needle Fly

Stage: Creeping nymphsApproach: Heavy nymphActivity: 71%
Also:Black Midge29%Autumn Olive25%
Peak emergence window5 food groups active

Peak activity at 11am — Autumn Needle Fly (Autumn Needle Fly, Peak emergence window)

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 4 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 · November 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
Grayling seasonSeason
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
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

A recovering north-eastern spate river with excellent wild trout and grayling in upper Weardale. Dry fly through the hatches, nymph between; the grayling keep you honest once the trout season shuts.

Local classics: Greenwell's Glory·Pheasant Tail Nymph·Red Tag
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
River Tyne
35 km
0
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Tees
34 km
Brown trout · Grayling · Salmon
River Lune (Teesdale)
37 km
Brown trout · Grayling
River Balder
38 km
Brown trout · Grayling
River Swale
50 km
Brown trout · Grayling
Gallery · 6
  1. The River Wear flowing through open countryside near Wolsingham, Weardale, with tree-lined banks and rippling shallows.
    River Wear near Wolsingham
  2. A wide, calm reach of the River Wear downstream from Wolsingham with wooded valley sides.
    River Wear downriver from Wolsingham
  3. The River Wear running through shallow gravel south of Frosterley under winter light.
    The River Wear south of Frosterley
  4. The River Wear sweeping through a broad meander downstream of Stanhope in low summer water.
    River Wear downstream from Stanhope
  5. The River Wear looking upstream from Newton Cap Bridge near Bishop Auckland, a broad pool with wooded banks in autumn.
    The River Wear from Newton Cap Bridge, Bishop Auckland
  6. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Upper Weardale is classic northern freestone — fast stony runs with wild brown trout. The middle river around Durham has recovering salmon and good grayling in the deeper pools below the weirs. Sea trout run from June. Fish counters at Framwellgate and Freemans Reach record upstream movement. Not as prolific as the Tyne for salmon but a genuine recovering system. Salmon peak Jul–Oct from counter data; the autumn run is notably later than the Tyne. Trout fishing in Weardale is the primary draw for most fly anglers. Through Durham city, the river is sensitive and largely held by Durham City Angling Club and other private rights — historic 'free fishing' references to Millburngate or Kepier Farm should not be relied on for current access. Contact DCAC before fishing the city stretch. 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: Moderate
Water quality details
  • Dissolved oxygen: High
  • Ammonia (Phys-Chem): High
  • pH: High
  • Phosphate: Moderate
  • Temperature: Good

EA (England) · GB103024077621

The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 75%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightMedium Ideal0.0
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftNot Applicable0.0
Water temperatureCool To Moderate0.0
Time in seasonOpening Period0.0
ClarityClearing0.0
Hydrology base0.0
Legal gate: Closed Out Of Season
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 1 February → 31 October
  • Sea trout 3 April → 31 October
  • Trout 22 March → 30 September
  • Grayling 16 June → 14 March

    Grayling present in the Wear, particularly upper Weardale. Statutory window is 16 June – 14 March; association water typically starts grayling from October. Check local DA rules.

    Legally open from 16 June, but access is typically sold from 1 October.

    Prime sport 1 October → 28 February

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Related guides
Atlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsGrayling Playbookgrayling tacticsYorkshire & SpidersNorth Country methods
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
At a glance

River Wear is a spate river in County Durham, England. It sits at about 81 m above sea level. The river is described as roughly 97 km long. Our data lists 4 species here, including brown trout, grayling and salmon. It is classed as a salmon river. The salmon season is recorded as running from 1 February to 31 October. The trout season is recorded as running from 22 March to 30 September. Best window recorded for anglers: April–June (spring), July–September (summer). Core methods listed: small double (salmon); upstream nymph; dry fly. Level and flow data for this water is linked from 1 gauge. Its Water Framework Directive ecological status is recorded as moderate. Nearby waters in our listings include River Tees at 34 km, River Tyne at 35 km and River Lune (Teesdale) at 37 km.