Durnford Fishery

Twenty two beats on the Little Durnford Estate, and the club’s finest asset. This is chalk stream fishing as it is usually pictured: mown paths, a waterside fringe left standing, a tally board where you pick your beat and then have it to yourself. The club office and workshops sit near the fishery, and the lower end is within walking distance of them; otherwise you drive up the valley and park at the Manor Bridge.

The beats vary a good deal and it pays to know which is which. Beats 1 and 2 are wading beats with good grayling and trout stocks. Beat 12 has deep runs, gravel flats and a churning hatch pool holding some big fish in difficult conditions, and needs wading to fish properly. Beats 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are slower with open casting and a good head of stock fish. Beat 18 is gravelly runs with a smaller hatch pool of its own. Beat 13 starts on the main river then turns into a long narrow carrier where accurate casting matters in any wind.

It is a premium stocked fishery that also holds a good head of wild fish, managed to a traditional chalk stream pattern. Dry fly is the method until 1 July, with nymphing permitted after. Beats 3 to 7 stay open for grayling from October. Beat 15 has disabled access to the river and is the one beat where a companion is allowed. Between the range of beats and the easy going, it suits anglers of most abilities.