River Anton
Upper Clatford
Verified beat. Information confirmed by FishingBeats.
Upper Clatford is a fishing beat on the River Anton. Day tickets from £75.
Pricing and season
Indicative prices only. This calendar does not show whether a beat is bookable or already booked out, and other prices may apply. Always confirm availability and the final price with the booking provider before you travel.
Price calendar
Fishing details
Upper Clatford at a glance
- Rods
- 1 – 2
- Difficulty
- Adventurer (3/5)
- Length
- 0.21 miles
- Water type
- tributary
Fishing methods
Fly methods
A short stretch of the River Anton — a classic Hampshire chalk stream and one of the four main tributaries to the River Test — the Upper Clatford beat sits in the Anton valley, 3.5 miles upstream from where the river meets the Test. At just over a fifth of a mile, this is an intimate piece of water, and its tributary character means the river here is narrow and intimate, with narrow, fast-flowing gravel sections home to feisty wild trout. The Pillhill Brook, the Anton's principal tributary, joins the river at Upper Clatford, adding extra flow and variety to the beat. Banks are kept clear for walkways while streamside vegetation is encouraged, and the surrounds are largely made up of pasture land and old English woodland that have remained relatively unchanged for generations.
The Anton is known for its prolific fly life and holds some very large wild brown trout and grayling. The beat is rated as adventurer difficulty — expect overhanging trees, tight casting angles, and fish that have seen pressure. The river flows crystal clear for almost the whole season, making it a genuine sight-fishery where you can target specific fish. Stocking is light, so the emphasis is on wild fish. Luscious beds of ranunculus support an abundance of fly life with good hatches visible almost year-round — mayfly brings the peak Mayfly Season rate in late May and early June, while small olives trickle off through mid-morning to mid-afternoon in autumn, and evening sedge hatches extend well into the summer months. Even in winter the river runs exceptionally clear, offering fine grayling fishing — challenging, but with a good population of big fish the rewards are worth the effort.
The beat takes one to two rods and is open from 30 April to 30 December, covering trout through to grayling season. Day tickets run from £75 in the grayling season to £284 during mayfly. Wading is permitted, though on a river this clear and compact it is rarely necessary. The Anton is easily accessed, under an hour's drive from Junction 12 on the M25, making it a practical day-trip destination from London or the wider south-east.
Stocking and fish species
Rules and policies
Where Upper Clatford is
The beat's boundary, with parking where we have it.
51.19551, -1.49131
The river
River
Rising at Anton Lakes Nature Reserve on the northern edge of Andover, the River Anton is a Hampshire chalk stream of around 8 miles. It flows south through the town before passing through the villages of Upper Clatford, Goodworth Clatford and Cottonworth, joining the River Test just below Chilbolton. The river's…
Flies for this beat
Expected in October on the River Anton
Typical months from the river’s hatch calendar, which applies along its whole length rather than to this beat. Not a live report.
Caperer
Sedge · #10-12
Kite's Imperial
Dry fly · #14-16
Daddy Long Legs
Terrestrial · #10-12
Sawyer's Killer Bug
Nymph · #12-16
The year ahead
Full calendarEvery hatch on the River Anton and the months it usually runs.
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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
Upper Clatford FAQs
Practical questions anglers ask before fishing Upper Clatford, from tickets to tactics.
