Chalk Stream · Chalk · Wiltshire, GB-ENG

River Bourne (Wiltshire)

The River Bourne chalk stream flowing through Idmiston near Salisbury, Wiltshire
Today · Closed season
Pink Shrimp
Forecast · Today
Closed season
Out of season. Try elsewhere.
45% projected
Today's fly
Pink Shrimp
Pink Shrimp
Conditions on the water · Today
Live gauge
Level
Rising
0.70 m
Lifting fast
Water temp12.8°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather14°C
WindN 14 km/h
Pressure1023 hPa
Rain · recent2.0 mm
Rain · ahead0.2 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
13°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.
Likely species
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 18h

12h(now) — Black Gnat

Stage: On emergersApproach: Emerger or dryActivity: 31%
Also:Autumn Olive23%
Peak emergence window5 food groups active

Peak activity at 18h — Caperer (Caperer, 9 food groups active)

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 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 · October highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
1
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
Fly box · Brown Trout
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Private syndicate
  • Salisbury Estate offers limited access.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 5
River Wylye
11 km
82
Brown trout · Grayling
Avon Springs
8.0 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Amport Trout Fishery
12 km
Rainbow trout
River Test
16 km
Brown trout · Grayling
Holbury Lakes Trout Fishery
17 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Gallery · 2
  1. The River Bourne chalk stream flowing through Idmiston near Salisbury, Wiltshire
    River Bourne at Idmiston, Wiltshire
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Good
Water quality details
  • Dissolved oxygen: High
  • Ammonia (Phys-Chem): High
  • pH: High
  • Phosphate: Good
  • Temperature: High

EA (England) · GB108043022390

The full read · show the working · for Brown Trout · confidence 90%
How the 0 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 activity82 × 12%9.8
Conditions total= 89
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 → 30 September
Related guides
Chalkstream Playbookchalk stream tacticsTrout Near Londonaccess guideEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations
  • Salisbury & District Angling Club
    Members only: no day tickets, join the club to fish here