Chalk Stream · Chalk · Wiltshire, GB-ENG

River Wylye

Vintage black-and-white photograph of the River Wylye, with overhanging trees reflected in still water.

Beautiful Wiltshire chalk stream — smaller and more intimate than the Test, with classic chalk stream soul.

Tomorrow · About as good as it gets
Czech Nymph
Forecast · Tomorrow
About as good as it gets
On the feed top to bottom — start on the rises with a dry, drop a nymph if they stay down.
90% projected
Today's fly
Czech Nymph
Czech Nymph
Conditions on the water · Tomorrow
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.13 m
Water temp8.8°C
ClarityClear
Weather3°C
WindN 12 km/h
Pressure1015 hPa
Rain · recent3.4 mm
Rain · ahead3.4 mm

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

Water temperature for Grayling
Ideal
9°C est.ideal 4–14°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Grayling
When
Midday window — grayling feed best from late morning into early afternoon.
Where
Work runs and glides — grayling shoal in the bottom third of the water column.
Method
Tight-line nymph the bottom third with weighted patterns.
Kit
10 ft #3 rod, floating line, long leader to 4 lb fluoro for nymphs.
Why this works
Excellent — conditions well-balanced, with water temperature particularly in your favour. Grayling feeds actively in cold water — peak winter sport.
Likely species
Stoneflies
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · tomorrowPeak at 12pm

12pm(now) — Autumn Olive

Stage: On emergersApproach: Emerger or dryActivity: 47%
Also:Autumn Needle Fly36%Black Midge32%
Peak emergence window5 food groups active

Peak activity at 12pm — Autumn Olive (Autumn Olive, Peak emergence window)

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 3 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 3 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 · November highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Grayling seasonSeason
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
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
Grayling fly box

Chalk stream in miniature — shorter casts, more stalking, and rather less forgiveness. The steady clear flow is made for sight-fishing to a riser, so find your fish before you cast to it.

Local classics: Iron Blue Dun·Grey Wulff·Pheasant Tail Nymph
Beats · 3
How to fish the WylyeAccess varies
The Wylye is a classic Wiltshire chalk stream — a trout and grayling river, not a salmon river.
Wilton Fly Fishing Club waterAccess varies
The Wilton Fly Fishing Club, formed in 1876, holds just over seven miles of keepered chalk-stream fishing for wild brown trout and grayling, accessed through private gateways and paths for peace and seclusion.
Visit official site ↗
Langford Lakes day-ticket waterAccess varies
The most accessible Wylye fishing is the stretch at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's Langford Lakes nature reserve — around two-thirds of a kilometre of wild brown trout fishing in spring and summer and grayling through autumn and winter.
Visit official site ↗
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
River Bourne (Wiltshire)
11 km
Brown trout
Rockbourne Trout Fishery
14 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Avon Springs
15 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Damerham Trout Fisheries
16 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Holbury Lakes Trout Fishery
21 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Gallery · 2
  1. Vintage black-and-white photograph of the River Wylye, with overhanging trees reflected in still water.
    River Wylye near Warminster
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Clear water, weed channels, gravel runs, prolific hatches. Less pressured than famous Hampshire neighbours means you can breathe a bit. Mayfly in May is glorious; BWO fishing through autumn is consistent. Grayling are particularly good here in winter. Sight-fishing to rising fish in clear water; tight quarters demand accurate short casts. Mostly syndicate and club water, but the relative accessibility makes this a gem.

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

EA (England) · UKGB108043022550

The full read · show the working · for Grayling · confidence 90%
How the 85 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature100 × 28%28.0
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity85 × 18%15.3
Feeding Time80 × 13%10.4
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity66 × 12%7.9
Conditions total= 85
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitysurvey-backed invertebrate datasurvey
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 April → 15 October
  • Grayling 16 June → 14 March

    Statutory window is 16 June – 14 March. Wylye grayling booking data is limited — October to end of February is a safe provisional default. Always confirm with the beat.

    Typically fished 1 October → 28 February.

    Prime sport 1 October → 28 February

Related guides
Where to Fly Fish This Winterfeatured in this guideChalkstream Playbookchalk stream tacticsGrayling Playbookgrayling tactics
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations
  • Salisbury & District Angling Club
    Members only: no day tickets, join the club to fish here
At a glance

River Wylye is a chalk stream in Wiltshire, England. Its recorded elevation is about 146 m above sea level and the catchment geology is chalk. The river is described as roughly 35 km long. Our data lists brown trout and grayling here. The trout season is recorded as running from 1 April to 15 October. The grayling season is recorded as running from 16 June to 14 March. Best window recorded for anglers: May to September (trout), October to December (grayling). Core methods listed: upstream nymph; dry fly; fine tippet. Level and flow data for this water is linked from 2 gauges. Its Water Framework Directive ecological status is recorded as moderate. Nearby waters in our listings include River Bourne (Wiltshire) at 11 km, Rockbourne Trout Fishery at 14 km and Avon Springs at 15 km.