Day Tickets Under £200 on the River Itchen

Chalk stream fishing has a reputation for being expensive, and plenty of beats live up to it. These are the exceptions: a trout-season day ticket of £200 or less, with winter grayling days often cheaper still. Good water doesn't always come with a painful price tag.

7 beats match. Use the filters below to refine by price or availability, or switch to the map view to see locations.

7 beats on the River Itchen

Shawford Park
From £185
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Shawford Park

Shawford Park sits on the lower River Itchen in Hampshire, just south of Winchester, where the river heads south through a series of water meadows passing the village of Shawford. The beat covers 0.85 miles of main chalk stream — the Itchen is designated a Special Area of Conservation, renowned for its fast-flowing, clear water and prized for its brown trout and grayling fishing. Below Easton the river carries more commercial fisheries where trout are stocked, and Shawford Park is heavily stocked accordingly. Wading is permitted, which helps anglers work the water thoroughly on this single-bank stretch. The season runs 16 April to 2 October, targeting brown trout and grayling on dry fly and nymph. Dry fly only applies until mid-June — a rule that sharpens the focus during the most productive hatches. The Mayfly period typically begins around 15 May and is known as 'duffers fortnight', though the hatch can be early or late. The Itchen's steady flow and nutrient-rich water support a thriving ecosystem, and hatches of blue-winged olive and sedge are prolific, offering reliable dry fly action through summer and into September. As the season moves into mid-summer and river height drops, fish become noticeably spooky with angler pressure high on most beats. This beat is rated expert — the clarity of the water demands precise presentation and a careful upstream approach. The gin-clear water is a plus for the angler, but your approach needs to be silent and considered: if you can see the trout, they can see you. Up to four rods fish the beat, with day rod prices running from £185 in the late season to £371 during the Mayfly window. Dropping from the standard 9 ft 5-weight to a 10 ft 3-weight can make a significant difference in low summer flows. A fishing hut, WC and car parking are provided on site. Shawford station offers mainline services to London Waterloo, making the beat straightforwardly accessible for visiting anglers travelling without a car.

main river0.85 miles+3
Abbots Worthy
From £55
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Abbots Worthy

Sitting on the upper River Itchen just three miles north of Winchester, the Abbots Worthy beat offers around a third of a mile of single and double-bank chalk stream fly fishing on one of Hampshire's most historically significant stretches of water. John Keats walked these very water meadows in 1819, and the Itchen's clear flows and harvest-season landscapes are said to have inspired his ode *To Autumn*. The river here carries a main channel alongside a mill stream, with a chalk bottom, good ranunculus weed beds, and clear water that makes sight fishing the primary approach. Fishing is predominantly from the right bank looking upstream, though parts of the beat can be fished from both banks, and wading is possible in places. The beat holds grayling to over 3 lbs alongside a lightly supplemented wild brown trout population — above Easton, the upper Itchen is managed primarily for wild trout, and this beat reflects that ethos. Most of the River Itchen is managed as an SSSI, and catch and release is encouraged to preserve native brown trout. Fly life is good throughout the season, with reliable hatches of Iron Blue and Large Dark Olive in good numbers, and even the occasional Turkey Brown. May brings the first mayfly of the year, while mayfly hatches on the Itchen are generally lighter than on the Test — olives, sedge, and BWO carry the season through to autumn. The grayling fishing runs to 14 December, priced at £55 per rod. The beat suits one to three rods and is well set up for a day's independent fishing, with a fishing hut on site for lunch breaks and shelter, a feature of many chalk stream beats in this valley. Car parking is available on site. Access is straightforward via the A33, M3, and A34, and Winchester is reachable by train from London Waterloo — making this a practical day-trip destination from the capital as well as a natural base for exploring the wider Itchen valley.

main river0.33 miles+3
Kanara
From £114
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Kanara

Kanara is a well-established beat on the River Itchen, situated below Winchester near Otterbourne, with around 640 yards of double-bank chalk stream running downstream from the bridge on Kiln Lane. It sits roughly ten minutes south of Twyford and is easily reached from the M3 at Junction 12 — making it a practical day-trip from London in under two hours. The water combines a quick-flowing upper section with deeper, slower pools towards the bottom of the beat, and is largely a wading stretch that holds both stocked and wild brown trout alongside a noted winter grayling population. Hatches of blue-winged olive and sedge are prolific on the Itchen, providing reliable dry fly action across the season, while the mayfly — typically peaking in late May and early June — commands the highest day-rod prices here at £225. Summer rods are priced at £194, with grayling days available from £114 through the back end of the season to 30 November. The lower section is best fished over the left shoulder or with side and roll casts, and will test anyone without a solid command of their casting. There are some large-sized browns on the beat, so a strong leader is advisable, though wild browns and grayling are spread throughout and a light rod suits much of the fishing. The beat is rated expert — both the casting and the approach to shy fish in crystal-clear chalk stream water demand real experience. One to two rods fish the beat comfortably. The Itchen is the river where G.E.M. Skues developed the concept of nymph fishing, and that tradition of precise, technical fly fishing remains very much alive at Kanara. A fishing cabin and car parking are provided on site. A valid Environment Agency rod licence is required, and anglers should note that sea trout and salmon are present in the lower Itchen corridor — check beat-specific rules on retained fish and method restrictions before your visit.

main river0.48 miles+3
Breach Farm
From £75
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Breach Farm

South of Winchester, the Itchen flows through water meadow pastures — and Breach Farm sits squarely in this open, pastoral section of the river. The river here runs westerly through largely open ground before turning south past Winchester, giving the beat a wide, gliding character with few bankside obstructions to interfere with a back cast. Both banks are available, and the beat suits up to three rods without crowding. A short walk of around 200 yards from the car park brings you to a fishing shelter beside the water. Dry fly remains the most productive method on this stretch, with sensitive stocking programmes maintaining quality fishing for brown trout and grayling through the season, which runs from 16 April to 31 December. The open meadow setting means the Mayfly hatch — typically at its best through May — is well worth planning around, and insect hatches, particularly the blue-winged olive and sedge, are prolific and offer reliable dry fly action from early summer into autumn. Broadly speaking, the warmer months favour trout fishing while the cooler months shift focus to grayling, making Breach Farm a genuinely year-round proposition. The beat is rated as beginner-friendly, and the uncluttered banks make it a good choice for anglers still building their casting confidence. Traditional chalk stream dry fly patterns work well on the Itchen — sizes 18 and 20 in Medium Olive, Iron Blue, and Blue-Winged Olive duns, along with size 16 sedge patterns, will cover most situations. A 9-ft rod in a 4- or 5-weight is a sensible all-round choice. Wading is optional; if you do wade, chest waders and a buoyancy aid are advised. Day ticket prices run from £75 for grayling days to £165 in summer and £175 in the early season. On-site car parking and a fishing shelter are provided.

main river82 miles+3
From £100

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 3–5wt 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.

main river0.5 miles+3
From £87

Salmon Beat

One of three salmon beats on the Lower Itchen Fishery, this bank-only stretch of Hampshire chalk stream sits just one mile above the tidal limit, placing it squarely in the path of fresh-run fish moving upriver from Southampton Water. From June through to the end of September, sea-liced salmon enter the river on a daily basis, and grilse average an impressive 7 to 8 lb. Brown trout and sea trout round out the quarry, with the beat open from 1 March to 30 September on a fly-only, catch-and-release basis. The water is keepered specifically to suit salmon, with deep channels cut through beds of potamogeton and lies engineered using groynes and boulders on the riverbed. The clear chalk-filtered current means fish are often visible, and the induced-take method using a heavily weighted nymph has proven effective, with anglers describing the sight of a salmon chasing a nymph to the surface as "heart stopping." Insect hatches, particularly blue-winged olive and sedge, are prolific and support good dry fly sport for brown trout throughout the season, with the Grannom, Hawthorn and Mayfly following in succession through spring. Day tickets run from £87 per single rod in early spring to £167 in August and September, with season rod options also available. A total catch-and-release policy for salmon applies across the fishery. A ghillie service is available on request, tackle hire can be arranged, and a fishing lodge with kitchen, bankside huts and BBQ facilities are on hand. Disabled access is suitable throughout.

main riverfly only+1
From £184

Trout Beat

Part of the Lower Itchen Fishery in Hampshire, the Trout Beat offers bank-only fly fishing on a moderately stocked stretch of the River Itchen, one of England's finest chalk streams. Founded in 1954, the Lower Itchen Fishery comprises around 5,300 yards, making it the longest continuous stretch of the River Itchen in private ownership. The beat features classic chalk stream character: ranunculus weed cut in the traditional line-and-bar method, white water pools, riffled runs and deeper holding lies, with footbridges giving straightforward bank access throughout. The primary quarry is brown trout, with grayling present through the season and sea trout also available later in the season. Fishing is fly only, with both dry fly and nymph permitted. Insect hatches on the Itchen are prolific, particularly blue-winged olive and sedge, offering reliable dry fly action across the season. Opening in late April, the first hatches of the year include the large dark olive, grannom caddis and hawthorn, before the mayfly arrives in May, followed by blue-winged olive and medium olives through June. Mayfly hatches on the Itchen are generally lighter than on the River Test, so dry fly opportunities across the full season carry real weight. The beat is rated suitable for beginners, and the moderate stocking policy means fish are present throughout without the water feeling artificial. The season runs from 24 April to 7 October. Single rod days are priced at £184 outside the mayfly window and £199 during the peak period (7 May to 7 June); double rod bookings range from £308 to £328. Corporate entertainment for larger parties is a speciality of the fishery, with packages tailored to suit specific requirements. On-site facilities include a fishing lodge with a kitchen area, bankside huts and shelters, and a ghillie service. Tackle hire and gift vouchers are also available, and the beat has suitable disabled access.

main riverfly only+1

1 fishery on the River Itchen

From £87
2 beats

Lower Itchen Fishery

Sitting on the lower reaches of the River Itchen in Hampshire, Lower Itchen Fishery was founded in 1954 and covers approximately 5,300 yards, making it the longest continuous stretch of the River Itchen in private ownership. The fishery holds a single trout beat set within water meadows where insect hatches, particularly the blue-winged olive and sedge, are prolific, offering reliable dry fly action. The fishery's policy is to stock only brown trout and not rainbow trout, with stocked fish complementing the wild stock indigenous to the river. The average trout weighs just over 2 lbs, with fish between 3 and 5 lbs appearing later in the season, and the largest brown trout recorded on the fishery reached 8 lbs. Night-time sea trout fishing is available later in the season, together with grayling fishing through the winter months. Day tickets and memberships are both available, and the fishery offers tuition, equipment hire and a ghillie service for anglers who want on-the-water guidance. Corporate entertainment packages, tailored to suit specific requirements, are a speciality of the fishery. Facilities on site include a fishing lodge with a kitchen area, fishing huts and shelters along the bank, BBQ facilities, and disabled access, making Lower Itchen Fishery a practical and well-equipped base for a full day on one of Hampshire's most significant chalk streams.

Day ticketsTuition+1