Spate · Granite · Devon / South Hams, GB-ENG

River Erme

The River Erme flowing through a wooded valley above Ivybridge, Devon
Prime · Sea Trout
Black & Silver Tube · 1-2 inch
Primelive now
Prime conditions — go now
River dropping into shape after a lift. Classic taking window — fish through the heads and tails.
90% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.34 mLifting fast
  • Water temp13.2°C
  • ClarityUnfishableColouring up
Today's fly
BS
Black & Silver Tube1-2 inch
In deep pools and dark water, silhouette and contrast do the work colour cannot. A fly that reads as black against depth is enough. Fish it broadside, hold the swing, let it hang at the dangle — that is when the best fish take.
Conditions on the water · Tomorrow
Live gauge
Level
Rising
0.34 m
Lifting fast
Water temp13.2°C
ClarityUnfishable
Weather15°C
WindN 27 km/h
Pressure1022 hPa
Rain · recent7.5 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 Sea Trout
Ideal
13°C est.ideal 8–15°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Sea Trout
When
From dusk into the first half of the night.
Where
Deeper pools and slower glides · hold water and current seams.
Method
Fish dark patterns on a sink-tip or lightly sunk line, especially near structure.
Kit
10 ft #6/7 rod, floating line with a sink-tip option, 8–10 lb fluoro tippet for the swing.
Why this works
Excellent — conditions well-balanced, with water temperature particularly in your favour.
Likely species
Stoneflies
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 18h

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

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

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Supporters see what else is on the menu.

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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
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Autumn DunHatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Fly box · Sea Trout
BS
Black & Silver TubeTop
1-2 inch · Tube
In deep pools and dark water, silhouette and contrast do the work colour cannot. A fly that reads as black against depth is enough. Fish it broadside, hold the swing, let it hang at the dangle — that is when the best fish take.
Medicine Fly
Medicine Fly
8-12 · Streamer
Slim and mobile — fished sunk through the pool when surface work is not producing. Consistently takes fish that will not come to the surface.
SF
Snake Fly (Black)
2-4 inch · Streamer
A mobile eel-like profile that undulates through deep pools — effective when sea trout are lying deep and not responding to conventional wets.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
River Yealm
3.0 km
Brown trout · Sea trout
Avon Dam Reservoir
4.0 km
Brown trout
Burrator Reservoir
11 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
River Plym
12 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Venford Reservoir
13 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 2
  1. The River Erme flowing through a wooded valley above Ivybridge, Devon
    The River Erme above Ivybridge, Devon
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Why this score · for Sea Trout
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity8518% weight
  • Feeding Time8013% weight
  • Pressure857% weight
  • Insect activity7512% weight
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 15 March → 30 September

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Related guides
Yorkshire & SpidersNorth Country methodsTrout Near Londonaccess guideEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts