Dog Friendly Fly Fishing on the River Itchen

Dog friendly fly fishing beats are the ones where the rules allow your dog on the bank, so a day on the river doesn't mean leaving them at home. Keep dogs on a lead or under close control near other anglers, livestock and nesting birds, and check the specific beat's rules before you go.

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4 beats on the River Itchen

Qing Ya Xi
From £211
Verified

Qing Ya Xi

Qing Ya Xi (pronounced "king-yah-zee") sits on the lower River Itchen at Brambridge, Hampshire, roughly six miles south of Winchester. The beat offers approximately 1,522 metres of double-bank fly fishing on the Itchen Navigation — a modified channel of the river and former canal running just over ten miles from Winchester to Southampton. The Itchen is classified as both a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), its clear waters, steady flow, and high levels of dissolved minerals creating a unique ecosystem that sustains an abundance of invertebrates. The beat divides into distinct sections: the top 200 metres of fast water offers what one member of the English Fly Fishing Team described as "possibly the best Grayling fishing in Hampshire"; the first sluice down to the old lock gates provides classic dry fly fishing, and the turning pool below provides gravel spawning grounds with an abundance of smaller trout, grayling, and salmon parr; below this lies a slower-flowing length where the larger fish abound and may still be caught when fish are proving challenging in the top two sections. Target species are brown trout, grayling, and — given the beat's proximity to tidal water — the occasional Atlantic salmon. The Navigation supports a wild population of brown trout together with good numbers of grayling, supplemented by regular and controlled stockings of brown trout sourced from local suppliers. April hatches include the Large Dark Olive, Grannom Caddis, and Hawthorn, with Mayfly from mid-May to early June. Blue-winged olive and sedge are prolific through summer, and September sees the return of the Large Dark Olive to close the season on 30 September. The open-banked calmer sections suit beginners well, with straightforward upstream presentation; the hatch pool and faster carrier will test more experienced rods. Up to three rods fish the beat, priced from £211 in summer, £245 in early season, and £358 during Mayfly. A fishing room with electricity, running water, WC, and car parking are on site. The beat sits within easy reach of Winchester (six miles) and Southampton (eight miles), with M3 junction 12 just 1.5 miles away and mainline trains to London Waterloo from nearby Shawford in around 70 minutes.

main river0.51 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.

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East Lodge Beat

Set just south of Twyford in Hampshire, East Lodge is a beat on the River Itchen with a fishing history stretching back to the 17th century. The estate water covers two miles of double-bank chalk stream, comprising both the main river and a fast-flowing side stream called Rosemary's Leat, which bisects the surrounding water meadows. The Itchen carries the highest conservation designations, being both a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), typifying the classic chalk river with only a narrow range of seasonal variation in physical and chemical characteristics — the water is naturally base-rich, of great clarity, and maintains a relatively constant temperature with dissolved oxygen levels at or near saturation. The water is varied and suits both novice and expert. The river is stocked with brown trout only, but also supports a very large population of wild trout and grayling, testament to the quality of habitat management on the beat. Insect hatches, particularly blue-winged olive and sedge, are prolific throughout the season, offering reliable dry fly action, while the mayfly period typically begins around 15 May and represents the most sought-after weeks on the water. As a general rule, warmer months favour trout fishing and the cooler months grayling. Mayfly hatches on the Itchen are generally lighter than on the River Test, but the river is well blessed with fly life throughout the season. The beat accommodates up to ten rods and is well set up for corporate and group days, with a fishing lodge, on-site catering, and equipment hire available — making it a practical choice for less experienced anglers coming to chalk stream fly fishing for the first time. The Itchen has its own place in fly fishing history: it was here that George Skues developed the principles of nymph fishing that remain central to the sport today. A 9 ft 5-weight is a sensible starting point; the gin-clear water rewards a careful, upstream approach — if you can see the trout, they can see you.

2 milesFly fishing+2

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.

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