River Wharfe · hatch chart
Trout 3 April to 30 September; grayling 16 June to 14 March, which makes winter the local season
By month
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
| Month | Insect | Stage | Size | Time | Intensity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Midges (Chironomidae) | Larva and pupa | #18-22 | 11:00-15:00 | |
| Apr | Large Dark Olive (Baetis rhodani) | Dun | #14 | 13:00-16:00 | |
| May | Grannom caddis (Brachycentrus) | Adult | #14 | 12:00-16:00 | |
| Jun | Mayfly (Ephemera danica) | Dun | #10-12 | 11:00-16:00 | |
| Jul | Blue-Winged Olive (Serratella) | Dun at dusk | #16-18 | 19:30-22:00 | |
| Sep | Sedge caddis (various) | Adult, evening | #14-16 | 19:30-22:00 | |
| Nov | Grayling nymphs and shrimps | All stages | #14-18 | 11:00-15:00 | |
| Dec | Midges and small olives | Pupa and dun | #18-22 | 11:30-14:30 |
Flow and visibility
The upper Wharfe is steep and drains limestone, so it rises fast and clears fast: a heavy shower can put a metre on it in six hours and it can be fishable again the next morning. Winter spates are frequent but short, which is why grayling anglers here watch the gauge rather than the forecast. Below Wetherby the river is slower and more affected by long periods of rain.
The insect plate
