Fishing Beats on the River Anton
Browse 3 fishing beats available on the River Anton in Hampshire. Each beat lists current pricing, length, and difficulty. Read about the River Anton or switch to the River Anton map .
3 beats on the River Anton
Upper Clatford
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.
Westover Fishery Beat 1
Westover Fishery Beat 1 sits on the Westover Estate, which holds 2.3 miles of the River Anton — a chalk stream in Hampshire that rises in Andover and flows southwards for approximately eight miles to meet the River Test near Chilbolton. The estate's fishing runs through wide shallow sections and deep narrow cuts passing through old water meadows, and Beat 1 benefits from easy car access. The river here is compact enough that fishing is entirely from the bank, as a moderately competent fly fisher can reach any part of the river. The Anton at Westover is stocked with brown trout reared locally at the Houghton Club, alongside a good population of wild trout. The river is known for its prolific fly life — lush beds of ranunculus are shaped through the season and support an abundance of fly life, with good hatches visible almost year-round. Mayfly hatches start around 15th May and continue into the first week of June, while from mid-morning through to mid-afternoon small olives trickle off the surface later in the season, with sedge hatches continuing into the evenings. The main season runs from mid-April to the beginning of October, with upstream dry fly only until 30th June. A single-bank beat fished upstream on a dry fly, Beat 1 suits those new to chalk stream fishing — the open bank and clear, crystal water make it a fine sight-fishery where you can target specific fish. A 9ft rod in a 4- or 5-weight is ideal for the intimate scale of the Anton. A maximum of two rods per beat applies, keeping the water uncrowded. The river joins the Test near Chilbolton, placing this beat firmly in the heart of Hampshire chalk stream country.
Westover Fishery Carrier Beat
The Carrier Beat forms part of the Westover Fishery, which comprises 2.3 miles of the River Anton and about a mile of back-stream. The Anton is a Hampshire chalk stream that rises in Andover and flows southwards for approximately eight miles, passing through the villages of Upper Clatford, Goodworth Clatford and Cottonworth before meeting the Test just below Chilbolton — putting the fishery roughly two miles above that confluence. The carrier itself is a classic piece of chalk stream back-water: narrower and more intimate than the main river, with the clear, alkaline water and dense ranunculus beds typical of the Anton system. Exceptionally clean water rises from the chalk aquifer, and the rich weed growth supports a wide variety of insect life throughout the season. The Anton at Westover is stocked with brown trout reared locally at the Houghton Club, and there is also a good population of wild trout. The river is known for its prolific fly life, and during spring and summer the trout feed on floating insects that hatch throughout the day, creating consistent opportunities for the dry-fly angler. The main season runs from mid-April to the beginning of October, with upstream dry fly only until 30th June. The carrier's compact width and open banks make it well suited to beginners — a single-handed 8–9ft rod and a short, accurate cast will cover the water comfortably. Fishing is entirely from the bank, as the river is narrow enough to reach any lie without wading; wading would only muddy the clear water and damage the banks. Access is via the M3 and A303 west to Andover, leaving at the A3057 Stockbridge turning and heading south before turning into Goodworth Clatford. The river runs crystal clear for almost the whole season, making it a genuine sight-fishery where individual rising fish can be targeted. Anglers new to chalk stream fishing will find the carrier a forgiving introduction to upstream dry fly: open casting lanes, visible fish, and reliable daytime hatches from grannom in April through mayfly in May and blue-winged olive into autumn.