Chalk Stream · Chalk · Wiltshire

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.

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
  • Level0.18 mDropping in the last 6h
  • Water temp16.7°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
CDC F-Fly
CDC F-Fly18-20
Upstream dry, on top
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.18 m
Dropping in the last 6h
Water temp16.7°C
ClarityClear
Weather18°C
WindN 19 km/h
Pressure1017 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 Brown Trout
Warm — slow
17°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 · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 6 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 4 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 2 with Pro.

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalModerate 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
2
1
Grayling seasonSeason
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
Brown SedgeHatch
2
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
Mayfly (Green Drake)Hatch
2
2

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

Ranked for today
Brown Trout 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

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

EA (England) · UKGB108043022550

The full read · show the working · for Brown Trout · confidence 90%
How the 78 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature83 × 28%23.2
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time55 × 13%7.2
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity61 × 12%7.3
Conditions total= 78
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitysurvey-backed invertebrate datasurvey
What would change the calculation
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
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
Chalkstream Playbookchalk stream tacticsGrayling Playbookgrayling tacticsTrout Near Londonaccess guide
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations