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.

Prime · Brown Trout
Sawyer's Pheasant Tail Nymph · 16-18
Primelive now
About as good as it gets
Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
90% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.13 mLast reading 4h ago
  • Water temp15.2°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Sawyer's Pheasant Tail Nymph
Sawyer's Pheasant Tail Nymph16-18
Upstream, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.13 m
Last reading 4h ago
Water temp15.2°C
ClarityClear
Weather16°C
WindE 19 km/h
Pressure1015 hPa
Rain · recent0.7 mm
Rain · ahead6.1 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
Ideal
15°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
Excellent — conditions well-balanced, with water temperature particularly in your favour.
Likely species
Stoneflies
Caddisflies
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 12 active hatches hour by hour as a supporter.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Supporters see the full sub-surface read.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 4 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
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
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
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 Brown Trout · confidence 90%
How the 87 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature100 × 28%28.0
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time80 × 13%10.4
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity70 × 12%8.4
Conditions total= 87
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
Chalkstream Playbookchalk stream tacticsGrayling Playbookgrayling tacticsTrout Near Londonaccess guide
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations
  • Salisbury & District Angling Club
    Members only: no day tickets, join the club to fish here