Spate · Granite · Valais

Rhône Headwaters

Rhône Headwaters terrain map
Terrain map

Upper Rhône in Valais flowing from the Rhône glacier, glacially-influenced water turning milky in peak summer melt.

Poor · Brown Trout
Elk Hair Caddis · 12-16
Poorlive now
Not the day for it
River dropping into shape after a lift. Not much stacked in your favour today. Worth an hour if you are nearby, not worth the special trip.
55% confidence
What moved it
  • Level1756.32 mDropping after lift
  • Water temp17.2°C
  • ClarityUnfishableColouring up
Today’s fly
Elk Hair Caddis
Elk Hair Caddis12-16
Upstream dry
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
1756.32 m
Dropping after lift
Water temp17.2°C
ClarityUnfishable
Weather17°C
WindN 4 km/h
Pressure1023 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead20.6 mm

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

Water temperature for brown trout
Warm — slow
17°C est.ideal 1016°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
Very poor — river flow is working for you, but water clarity is the limiting factor today.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

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Evidence
ModelledModerate confidence

Modelled from regional ecology — no survey or occurrence data for this water yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2
Yellow SallyHatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Brown Trout fly box
SS
Small Streamer
6-10 · Pattern
Swing
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Têtes de bassin alpines du Valais
  • Patente (Valais) + permis de pêche requis
  • Accès isolé.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 3
About this water

Upper Rhône in Valais flowing from the Rhône glacier, glacially-influenced water turning milky in peak summer melt. Best in early season and autumn when the glacier calms. Wild brown trout in high alpine water.

  • Granite
The full read · show the working · for brown trout · confidence 55%
How the 0 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature72 × 28%20.2
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity0 × 18%0.0
Feeding Time60 × 13%7.8
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity45 × 12%5.4
Limiting factor: Water is unfishable — too coloured for Brown Trout= 57
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitymodelled from regional profilemodelled
What would change the calculation
A drop and clear would lift the flow and clarity scores.
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • TroutJune → 30 September
Related guides
Booking & contacts