Spate · Shale · Devon

River Torridge

Photo of River Torridge
Poor · Brown Trout
CDC Emerger · 14-18
Poorlive now
Not the day for it
River temperature is the limiting factor today, not the flow. This is not the day to push it. Check the thermal advice above before you head out.
80% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.17 mLast reading 9h ago
  • Water temp21.9°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
CDC Emerger
CDC Emerger14-18
Upstream dry, in the film
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Falling
0.17 m
Last reading 9h ago
Water temp21.9°C
ClarityClear
Weather21°C
WindNW 14 km/h
Pressure1020 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 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 Brown Trout
Warm — slow
22°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
Water at 21.9°C — above the brown trout caution line (18°C). Fish dawn or dusk only. Land it fast, wet hands, no air shots.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6pm

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 6 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 2 with Pro.

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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 · August 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
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Brown Trout fly box
Local classics: Half Stone·Beacon Beige·Pheasant Tail Nymph
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
Water here around 22°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.
Gallery · 2
  1. Photo of River Torridge
    River Torridge
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
The full read · show the working · for Brown Trout · confidence 80%
How the 14 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature7 × 28%2.0
Flow95 × 22%20.9
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time65 × 13%8.5
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity54 × 12%6.5
Limiting factor: Water temperature (21.9°C) is outside Brown Trout's preferred range (10–16°C)= 61
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitysurvey-backed invertebrate datasurvey
What would change the calculation
Cooler water — back toward the 10–16 °C ideal band — would lift the score and ease welfare.
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
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
Booking & contacts