Chalk Stream · Chalk · Wiltshire

River Wylye

Vintage black-and-white photograph of the River Wylye, with overhanging trees reflected in still water.

Beautiful Wiltshire chalk stream — smaller and more intimate than the Test, with classic chalk stream soul.

Poor · Brown Trout
CDC F-Fly · 18-20
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
  • Level0.13 m
  • Water temp20.5°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
CDC F-Fly
CDC F-Fly18-20
Upstream dry, on top
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.13 m
Water temp20.5°C
ClarityClear
Weather31°C
WindS 20 km/h
Pressure1020 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead0.0 mm

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

Water temperature for Brown Trout
Warm — slow
21°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 20.5°C — above the brown trout caution line (18°C). Fish dawn or dusk only. Land it fast, wet hands, no air shots.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

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

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 3 with Pro.

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Updated 8 hours ago

Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Grayling seasonSeason
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
Brown SedgeHatch
2
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Blue Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
2
Mayfly (Green Drake)Hatch
2
2

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

Ranked for today
Brown Trout fly box

Chalk stream in miniature — shorter casts, more stalking, and rather less forgiveness. The steady clear flow is made for sight-fishing to a riser, so find your fish before you cast to it.

Local classics: Iron Blue Dun·Grey Wulff·Pheasant Tail Nymph
Beats · 3
How to fish the WylyeAccess varies
The Wylye is a classic Wiltshire chalk stream — a trout and grayling river, not a salmon river.
Wilton Fly Fishing Club waterAccess varies
The Wilton Fly Fishing Club, formed in 1876, holds just over seven miles of keepered chalk-stream fishing for wild brown trout and grayling, accessed through private gateways and paths for peace and seclusion.
Langford Lakes day-ticket waterAccess varies
The most accessible Wylye fishing is the stretch at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's Langford Lakes nature reserve — around two-thirds of a kilometre of wild brown trout fishing in spring and summer and grayling through autumn and winter.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Water here around 21°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.
Gallery · 2
  1. Vintage black-and-white photograph of the River Wylye, with overhanging trees reflected in still water.
    River Wylye near Warminster
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Beautiful Wiltshire chalk stream — smaller and more intimate than the Test, with classic chalk stream soul. Clear water, weed channels, gravel runs, prolific hatches. Less pressured than famous Hampshire neighbours means you can breathe a bit. Mayfly in May is glorious; BWO fishing through autumn is consistent. Grayling are particularly good here in winter. Sight-fishing to rising fish in clear water; tight quarters demand accurate short casts. Mostly syndicate and club water, but the relative accessibility makes this a gem.

  • Chalk
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Moderate
  • Chemical: Unknown

EA (England) · UKGB108043022550

The full read · show the working · for Brown Trout · confidence 80%
How the 24 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature19 × 28%5.3
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time55 × 13%7.2
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity63 × 12%7.6
Limiting factor: Water temperature (20.5°C) is outside Brown Trout's preferred range (10–16°C)= 60
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
  • Trout 1 April → 15 October
  • Grayling 16 June → 14 March

    Statutory window is 16 June – 14 March. Wylye grayling booking data is limited — October to end of February is a safe provisional default. Always confirm with the beat.

    Typically fished 1 October → 28 February.

    Prime sport 1 October → 28 February

Related guides
Chalkstream Playbookchalk stream tacticsGrayling Playbookgrayling tacticsTrout Near Londonaccess guide
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations