River Itchen · Hampshire
Lower Bishopstoke Fishery
£100 today Up to 2 rods Season 3 Apr to 31 Oct
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Day tickets
Buy a ticket for a single day, with rates and dates further down.
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Catch and release
Fish are returned to the water.
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Bank fishing only
You fish from the bank, with no wading.
About Lower Bishopstoke Fishery
Half a mile of double-bank chalk stream on the lower River Itchen, just south of Bishopstoke in Hampshire, the Lower Bishopstoke Fishery runs through open wildflower meadows with the right bank fished exclusively and the left bank left entirely to nature. That undisturbed margin provides rich invertebrate habitat and juvenile fish cover, a deliberate choice that pays dividends in the quality of the rises you'll find. Sea trout run this lower section of the Itchen below Bishopstoke, and a short section of the old Itchen Navigation adds variety to the water types on offer.
Fly selection on the Itchen revolves around olives, caddis, terrestrials, and a prolific mayfly hatch. April opens with large dark olives, grannom caddis, and hawthorn; the mayfly follows from mid-May to early June; summer brings a variety of caddis, olives, and terrestrials. The beat is stocked regularly with brown trout and is rated beginner-friendly, making it a sound introduction to Itchen chalk stream fishing without sacrificing the chance of a genuine sea trout encounter. Sea trout are targeted after dark using downstream skated and surface patterns, from dusk to midnight. All fishing is catch and release, upstream dry fly and upstream natural nymph during daylight hours, with a maximum of two rods.
The season runs 3 April to 31 October. Day rod prices range from £100 during weed-cut periods to £120 in low season and £175 at peak. A rod of 8½ ft rated 3 to 5wt with a floating line and fine tippet down to 6x suits the river well. A fishing hut, benches at intervals along the bank, and a private car park are all on site.
How you can fish here
- Methods
- Fly Only
- Fly methods
- Dry Fly, Nymph
- Banks
- Bank fishing only, Double bank
Pricing and season
Indicative prices. They don't show whether a day is still free and other rates may apply, so confirm availability and the final price with whoever you book through before you travel.
Tickets
- Weed Cut Day ticket · to From £100. £100 for a single angler, £175 for two sharing the beat. One trout may be kept by each guest. Booking may be cancelled at short notice if weed cutting is required; refund or alternative date offered.
- £100 per day
- Low Season Day ticket · to From £120. £100 for a single angler, £175 for two sharing the beat. One trout may be kept by each guest.
- £120 per day
- High Season Day ticket · to From £175. £150 for a single angler, £270 for two sharing the beat. Two trout may be kept by each guest. Unlimited catch and release.
- £175 per day
Prices by date
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Day rate, hover a day for the ticket
How Lower Bishopstoke Fishery compares on the River Itchen
Typical, lowest and highest full-day rod, from 9 beats with published day rates
typical (median)
cheapest to dearest beat
this beat
Day tickets on the River Itchen run from £55 to £246. The typical full-day rate is around £150, peaking in April.
Compare with other riversFishing details
- Rods
- Up to 2
- Difficulty
- Beginner (1/5)
- Length
- 0.5 miles
- Water type
- Main river
Stocking and fish species
none stocking · Stocked regularly with triploid brown trout around the 2lb mark, sourced from Franklyns fish farm in Alresford on the same river system. Fish are tagged with numbered Floy Tags prefixed LBF.
Rules and policies
Catch & release
EA rod licence required
Dogs allowed
Ghillie available
Ghillie required
Season: 3 Apr to 31 Oct
Amenities
Fishing hut Benches at various points along the beat Private car park
Where you'll fish
Location
The beat's boundary, with parking where we have it.
50.97023, -1.33801
Conditions on the River Itchen
The river
A Hampshire chalk stream rising from springs near New Cheriton, the River Itchen runs 28 miles through the Hampshire Downs, collecting the River Alre and Candover Brook just west of Alresford before…
View the River Itchen guideFlies for this beat
Expected in November on the River Itchen
Typical months from the river’s hatch calendar, which applies along its whole length rather than to this beat. Not a live report.
We get a small commission if you buy through these links, and it costs you nothing extra. If the calendar has been useful and you feel like supporting an independent site, buying your flies this way is an easy way to do it.
Similar beats on the River Itchen
FishingBeats is an independent guide with no affiliation to the fisheries we list. Listings are editorial and unpaid, and are not supplied or approved by the fishery. See our listings policy. Listing details are compiled by FishingBeats and may change or contain mistakes. Some services, such as tuition, ghillies, or accommodation, may only apply to certain packages and not to standard day tickets. Always confirm pricing, fishing details, and what is included directly with the beat before you book. Spotted something wrong? Email hello@fishingbeats.com and we will correct it.
FAQ
Lower Bishopstoke Fishery FAQs
Practical questions anglers ask before fishing Lower Bishopstoke Fishery, from tickets to tactics.
01How many rods are allowed on Lower Bishopstoke Fishery at any one time?
Lower Bishopstoke Fishery allows a maximum of 2 rods at any one time.
02What species can I expect to catch on Lower Bishopstoke Fishery?
Lower Bishopstoke Fishery holds Chub, Barbel, Roach, Perch, Pike, Brown Trout, Grayling, Rainbow Trout, Sea Trout. The water is unstocked, relying entirely on the wild population.
03Do I need to wade, or can I fish from the bank?
Lower Bishopstoke Fishery is bank-fishing only — no wading is permitted.
04Is a ghillie available, and do I need one?
No ghillie service is listed for Lower Bishopstoke Fishery — contact the provider directly if you'd like informal guidance on your first visit.
05Where do I park, and how do I access the beat?
Private car park by the river, accessed from the bottom end of the beat. Always confirm access arrangements with the provider when you book.
06What tackle should I bring?
Lower Bishopstoke Fishery permits the following fly methods: dry_fly, nymph. The fly recommendations section on the Lower Bishopstoke Fishery page suggests the most effective patterns month by month.
07What happens if conditions are poor on the day I've booked?
River conditions can change quickly, especially after rain. Contact the provider as early as possible if you're concerned about Lower Bishopstoke Fishery — many are happy to offer an alternative date if the river is unfishable. Cancellation and rescheduling policies vary by provider; check the notes on the booking page or ask when you book.
08Are dogs allowed on the beat?
Dogs are not listed as permitted on Lower Bishopstoke Fishery. Check the Beat Rules section on the page or contact the provider before bringing a dog, as policies can vary by season and stretch of the River Itchen.
