Spate · Shale · Devon, GB-ENG

River Torridge

Photo of River Torridge
Good · Sea Trout
Black & Silver Tube · 1-2 inch
Goodlive now
A good day — worth the effort
Low and clear — careful approach country. Small, sparse flies, long leader, careful approach.
75% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.43 mLast reading 2h ago
  • Water temp13.9°C
  • ClarityClear
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
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.43 m
Last reading 2h ago
Water temp13.9°C
ClarityClear
Weather17°C
WindSW 15 km/h
Pressure1010 hPa
Rain · recent1.4 mm
Rain · ahead4.0 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
14°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
Good — water temperature is working for you, but time of day is the limiting factor today.
Likely species
Stoneflies
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 11h

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 2 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

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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
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
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
Local classics: Half Stone·Beacon Beige·Pheasant Tail Nymph
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.
Beats · 3
Half Moon water — SheepwashAccess varies
The Half Moon at Sheepwash has long held around seven miles of the Torridge for salmon, sea trout and brown trout, and is the classic visitor base on the river — day tickets are usually available alongside accommodation.
Visit official site ↗
Torridge Rivers Association (day permits & river-wide)Access varies
The Torridge Rivers Association is the body of riparian owners and Torridge anglers safeguarding the river's ecology, and it lists several day permits for visiting anglers.
Visit official site ↗
Westcountry Angling Passport beatsAccess varies
Sections of the Torridge are open through the Westcountry Angling Passport (now run via the FishPass app), the simplest no-booking visitor route into Devon's spate rivers.
Visit official site ↗
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
River Taw
12 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
River Teign
39 km
Brown trout · Sea trout · Salmon
River Tamar
40 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
East Lyn River
41 km
73
Brown trout · Sea trout · Salmon
River Exe
44 km
Brown trout · Grayling · Salmon
Gallery · 2
  1. Photo of River Torridge
    River Torridge
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Why this score · for Sea Trout
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity8518% weight
  • Feeding Time3013% weight
  • Pressure857% weight
  • Insect activity6212% weight
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 1 March → 30 September
  • Trout 15 March → 30 September

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Salmon: Negligible (2026) — EA 2024 Salmon Stocks Assessment classifies the Torridge 'at risk' — egg deposition below Conservation Limit. C&R mandatory. Salmon numbers have fallen dramatically since the 1980s; the river is better known today for its sea trout fishing and as the Tarka country of Henry Williamson's classic novel.

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