Lower Itchen Fishery

River Itchen
Book now from £87

Lower Itchen Fishery is a fishery on the River Itchen. Below are the 2 beats available for booking, with pricing and access details.

Still fishing for pictures…

Contribute pictures

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.

Services & Amenities

Day Tickets
Membership
Club Water
Accommodation
Tuition
Equipment Hire

Amenities

fishing lodge with kitchen area fishing huts and shelters along the riverbank bbq facilities private track access to beats with parking beside each beat disabled access suitable ghillie service available tackle hire available gift vouchers available corporate event packages

Location

Lower Itchen Fishery, Gaters Mill, Mansbridge Road, West End, Southampton, SO18 3HW

Contact

Lower Itchen Fishery, Gaters Mill, Mansbridge Road, West End, Southampton, SO18 3HW
+44 23 8081 4389
info@itchen-fishing.net
itchen-fishing.co.uk

Get the newsletter

Exciting new features, fresh beats, season news, and chalk stream tips, straight to your inbox.

Follow on Instagram

Behind-the-scenes from England's chalk streams: beats, hatches, and the rivers we love.

Follow @fishingbeats

Beats at Lower Itchen Fishery

2 beats available

Each beat has its own access, pricing, and difficulty. Browse all beats on the River Itchen or compare on the River Itchen map .

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 river fly only +1
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 river fly only +1

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, access, and what is included directly with the fishery before you book. Spotted something wrong? Email hello@fishingbeats.com and we will correct it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the opening hours for Lower Itchen Fishery?
Opening hours are listed in the Contact Information section on the Lower Itchen Fishery page. Many chalk stream fisheries operate from first light to dusk — confirm exact hours with the fishery when you book.
Does Lower Itchen Fishery offer accommodation?
Lower Itchen Fishery does not currently list on-site accommodation. The surrounding area along the River Itchen has a range of options — the fishery can often suggest somewhere local when you book.
Can I buy a multi-day pass or season permit?
% if fishery.day_tickets_available and fishery.membership_available %}{{ fishery.name }} offers both day tickets and season membership — day tickets suit a single visit, while a membership gives regular access throughout the season. Contact the fishery for current prices.{% elsif fishery.membership_available %}{{ fishery.name }} is primarily membership water{% if fishery.river %} on the {{ fishery.river.name }}{% endif %} — contact the fishery to enquire about joining or waiting-list arrangements.{% elsif fishery.day_tickets_available %}{{ fishery.name }} offers day tickets; no season membership is currently listed. Check the beat pages for individual pricing, or contact the fishery for multi-day rates.{% else %}Ticket and membership options for {{ fishery.name }} are listed on the fishery page — contact the fishery directly for current availability and pricing.{% endif %}
Are beginners or less experienced anglers welcome?
Lower Itchen Fishery offers tuition — details are in the Services section on the fishery page, making it a good choice for anglers new to chalk stream fishing. Tackle hire is available, so you don't need to bring your own gear.
Is the fishery suitable for anglers with mobility difficulties?
Some beats at Lower Itchen Fishery have flat bank access that may suit anglers with limited mobility. Check the individual beat pages — those with disabled access are marked clearly. It's always worth calling ahead so they can make any practical arrangements.
What should I expect when I arrive?
On arrival at Lower Itchen Fishery, report to the fishery office or meet the keeper as instructed when you booked. You'll be shown to your beat, given any local rules specific to that stretch, and told about parking, facilities, and the finish time. Carry your EA rod licence and booking confirmation at all times.
Is club water available, or is it day ticket only?
Lower Itchen Fishery offers season membership rather than formal club arrangements — check the fishery page for details or contact them directly about the current season.