Chalk Stream · Limestone · Oxfordshire / Gloucestershire (Cotswolds), GB-ENG

River Windrush

River Windrush venue image

The Windrush flows from the Cotswold escarpment through Bourton-on-the-Water, Burford, Witney to join the Thames at Newbridge — 60 miles of Cotswold limestone-influenced chalk stream with strong character.

Good · Brown Trout
CDC F-Fly · 18-20
Goodlive now
A proper day on the water
Low and clear — careful approach country. Stay small, stay accurate.
90% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.27 mLast reading 2h ago
  • Water temp17.7°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
CDC F-Fly
CDC F-Fly18-20
Upstream dry, on top
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.27 m
Last reading 2h ago
Water temp17.7°C
ClarityClear
Weather22°C
WindNW 6 km/h
Pressure1019 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead0.6 mm

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

Water temperature for Brown Trout
Warm — slow
18°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
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 time of day could be better.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6am

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 8 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 3 with Pro.

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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 · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
Brown SedgeHatch
2
3
2
Large Cinnamon SedgeHatch
2
3
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Blue Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Brown Trout fly box

The heartland of English dry fly fishing. Upstream dry fly and emerger presentation dominates. Nymphing restricted or discouraged on many beats. Gin-clear alkaline water, prolific weed growth, educated wild brown trout. Precise imitation and delicate presentation are paramount.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Private; Cotswold fishery hotels offer access.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Lechlade & Bushyleaze Trout Fisheries
13 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
River Leach
13 km
16
Brown trout
River Coln
14 km
16
Brown trout · Grayling
Great Burrows Trout Fishery
15 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Salford Trout Lakes
18 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

The Windrush flows from the Cotswold escarpment through Bourton-on-the-Water, Burford, Witney to join the Thames at Newbridge — 60 miles of Cotswold limestone-influenced chalk stream with strong character. Wild and stocked brown trout, grayling. Mostly private but with various Cotswold fishery hotels offering managed access.

  • Limestone
The full read · show the working · for Brown Trout · confidence 90%
How the 74 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature62 × 28%17.4
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time60 × 13%7.8
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity67 × 12%8.0
Conditions total= 74
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitysurvey-backed invertebrate datasurvey
What would change the calculation
Cooler water — back toward the 10–16 °C ideal band — would lift the score and ease welfare.
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 April → 30 September
Related guides
Chalkstream Playbooklimestone spring creek — same tacticsGrayling Playbookgrayling tacticsTrout Near Londonaccess guide
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts