Manningford Trout Fishery

Manningford Trout Fishery sits at the top of the Hampshire Avon near Pewsey, in the Vale of Pewsey in Wiltshire. It has two trout lakes and 2.6 miles of single-bank river, and the family who run it have been farming trout in the south of England since 1976.

Manor Lake is the big one at four and a half acres, and every fish caught there is kept. Squires Lake is smaller, about 1.3 acres tucked into Squires Copse, and is the catch and release water. Both hold brown and rainbow trout stocked from around 3 lb to well over 18 lb. Lake tickets go by the number of fish, from two fish for £43 up to six for £67, and there are 10 to 40 fish season tickets for regulars.

The river is the upper Avon, where the chalk-fed East Avon gives it the clarity and fly life it is known for. Grannom, large dark olives and a long mayfly hatch carry the trout season from April, and grayling take over from autumn. A brown trout day is £60, or £40 for a half day, and a grayling day is £40. There is a fishing hut on the bank, and tuition and tackle hire if you need them.