Fly Fishing on the River Hampshire Avon

Avon Springs

Avon Springs sits beside the Hampshire Avon near Salisbury in Wiltshire, offering a mile of upper chalk stream river fishing on one of southern England's most characterful game rivers. The Hampshire Avon is fed by two headwater streams rising in the Vale of Pewsey — the East Avon from chalk and the West Avon from greensand — which means it sits slightly outside the strictest definition of a chalk stream, but persistent colour from early-season rain clears quickly, and from summer through to season's end the water clarity is comparable to many true chalk streams. The beat accommodates up to four rods and carries a high proportion of wild fish, alongside fish reared on site that are the progeny of the original Avon native strain. The target species are brown trout, rainbow trout, and grayling, with grayling running to 3 lb. Hatches are a genuine draw: early season brings grannom and large dark olives, while the mayfly (Greendrake) — once it starts — can continue for many weeks. The Avon and Wylye can carry mayfly hatching off into July, giving this beat an extended window for the classic dry fly. The river also sees hatches of damselfly and sedge throughout the season. The beat is rated as explorer-level — expect fish that have seen flies before and reward careful presentation. Dry fly only is in force until 1 June, after which traditional nymphs may be used. The season runs 13 April to 13 March, covering both the trout and grayling seasons. Day rod prices run from £71 in the grayling season to £130 during the mayfly window, with early and main season rods at £102 — accessible pricing for a well-managed chalk stream beat. A fishing hut and toilets are on site. The Hampshire Avon is around 90 minutes from London Waterloo to Salisbury, making Avon Springs a practical choice for anglers travelling from London or across the south.

Coombe Mill

Just under a mile of single-bank dry fly and nymph water on the Hampshire Avon, Coombe Mill sits on the upper chalk stream reach of this historic Wiltshire river. The Avon rises near the Wiltshire/Berkshire border and flows southward for over 40 miles, and for trout fishermen the pick of the beats are upstream of Salisbury, especially over Salisbury Plain — the country where Frank Sawyer keepered and developed the Pheasant Tail Nymph. One of the most varied chalk streams in the UK, with over 180 species of aquatic plant recorded, it also has one of the most diverse populations of fish, plant and wildlife. Persistent heavy rain early in the season can leave the river a little coloured, but it clears quickly, and from summer through to the end of the season the water clarity is comparable to that of many chalk streams. The beat targets wild brown trout and grayling on a fly-only, catch-and-release basis, rated as explorer-level water — expect fish that have seen pressure and reward careful presentation over brute-force casting. The trout season opens in time to catch hatches of grannom and large dark olives, and consistently good fly hatches — especially mayfly (Greendrake), which once started can continue for many weeks — make the Avon a firm favourite for fly fishermen. The classic Wessex chalk streams such as the Avon, Test and Itchen have mayfly hatches starting at the end of May and carrying on to early June. Blue-winged olives and sedges carry the fishing through summer and into autumn. Grayling in the Hampshire Avon are thought to be an original, native population, and on the chalk streams they are usually only targeted from October through to the end of December. The grayling season here runs to 30 December, making this a genuinely year-round beat. Up to three rods fish the bank simultaneously. Rods of between 7½ and 9 ft rated from 3# to 5# lines are the norm, with the longer and slightly heavier outfits suited to wider stretches of the Avon. A 9 ft leader is a sensible minimum. Day-rod pricing runs from £81 in the grayling season to £232 during the mayfly, with main-season days at £156. A fishing hut and toilets are on site. Wading is not permitted; all fishing is from the bank.

Upavon Farm

Upavon Farm sits right at the point where the two headwater streams of the Hampshire Avon converge, placing this 0.3-mile beat at the very top of the main river as it begins its chalk-filtered run southward across Salisbury Plain. To fish this stretch effectively, wading is required — the river here is intimate and heavily vegetated, demanding careful approach and precise presentation. One to two rods are accommodated, keeping the beat uncrowded. This challenging chalk stream offers the keen fly fisher a superb opportunity to fish for quality wild brown trout from April through to early October. From October, the focus shifts to wild grayling as they become more dominant throughout the winter months. The season runs from 14 April to 30 December on a strict catch-and-release, fly-only basis. Dry fly only applies until 30 June; nymphing is permitted thereafter, making the beat particularly well suited to targeting grayling on deep-sunk patterns through autumn and winter. The trout season opens in time to catch early hatches of grannom and large dark olives, and consistently good fly hatches — especially mayfly (greendrake) — make the Avon a firm favourite for fly fishermen. Olives, duns, spinners, caenis, and sedges feature throughout the season; on tippets of 3–6 lb, klinkhammers and parachute-hackled dries in sizes 16–20 work well. For trout fishermen, the pick of the Avon beats are upstream of Salisbury, especially over Salisbury Plain where Frank Sawyer — inventor of the Pheasant Tail Nymph — lived and keepered all his life. A rod between 7 ft and 8 ft 6 in (7 ft favoured) with a floating line rated #3/4/5 depending on wind conditions is recommended for the Upavon stretch. Day rod pricing runs from £74 in the grayling season to £111–£137 in peak summer, with toilet facilities on site. Upavon also hosts two local inns — the Ship and the Antelope — both within two minutes' walk, making it straightforward to base a day's fishing around the village. This is expert-level water: the clarity, the wading, and the dry-fly-only restriction through June demand experience, but the reward is access to some of the most historically significant wild-trout fishing on the upper Avon.

Wilsford Manor Estate Beat

The Wilsford Manor Estate beat offers approximately one mile of double-bank dry fly and nymph fishing on the Hampshire Avon, set in the Woodford Valley, upstream of Salisbury — the part of the river widely regarded as holding the best trout fishing on the Avon. The river runs wide for this stretch of the upper Avon, with some notably deep water that holds large fish. A former mill leat, naturally deep in places, with comprehensive bank restoration that has created additional holding pools. Brown trout range from small wild fish to genuine double-figure specimens, with the beat moderately stocked with fish of around 2lbs that grow quickly in these food-rich chalk stream waters. A strict catch-and-return policy for all fish above 15 inches means brown trout of 10lbs or more are not uncommon. Mayfly on this stretch are generally prolific and continue for a much longer period than on most rivers — typically from mid-May and often lasting through to the end of July. The season opens on 15 April in time for hatches of grannom and large dark olives, with consistently good fly life throughout. The beat suits beginners and developing anglers well: the double-bank access and varied water give plenty of room to work, and fish are visible and numerous. Fishing is available for a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 rods per day. The season runs from 15 April to 30 September, with fishing from 9am to 7pm. The riverbank fishing cabin provides indoor and outdoor seating, a barbecue, a well-stocked fridge, hot and cold drinks, satellite TV, and shelter from the weather, with lavatory and changing facilities in an adjoining hut. Parking is a short walk from the water.

Avon Beat

Avon Beat covers 3 miles of single-bank fly fishing on the , managed by Manningford Trout Fishery in Wiltshire. Below the confluence of the East and West Avon, the river runs through chalk down the valley, producing the clear, gravel-bedded water that defines this stretch. The beat fishes as a genuine chalk stream from early summer onwards, though persistent heavy rain early in the season can leave the river a little coloured; it clears quickly, and from summer through to the end of the season the water clarity is comparable to that of many chalk streams. The is fly-only water for Grayling, Brown Trout, open from 1 April to 30 September for trout. The season opens in time to meet hatches of grannom and large dark olives, and consistently good mayfly (Greendrake) hatches, which once started can continue for many weeks, make the river a firm favourite for fly fishermen. Wading is permitted, which helps on a single-bank beat of this length, and the difficulty rating suits an angler who is comfortable reading water independently and covering fish without a guide. The clarity of the water means that both trout and grayling fishing often involves sight fishing for individual fish. All fish are returned. Rules are straightforward: fly only, single hook to a maximum size 8, and a minimum leader of 6lb. Rods of between 7½ and 9 feet rated from 3 to 5 weight lines are the norm, with the longer and slightly heavier outfits suiting the wider stretches of the Avon. A fishing hut and toilets are available on the beat. Day tickets start at £60, with a half-day option also available. Grayling fishing is priced separately at £40 for a full day.

Heale House

Situated on the Heale Estate roughly three miles north of Salisbury, the Heale House beat occupies a single bank of the Hampshire Avon in the Woodford Valley, Wiltshire. The river here was restored by the addition of in-stream islands that created diverse flows, ranging from fast, narrow channels to deeper, wider sections. It is bank-only fishing throughout, with no wading permitted, and the character of the water rewards careful observation and precise presentation rather than distance casting. The beat sits in one of the better areas for mayfly hatches in the valley, and while lightly stocked with locally reared Avon brown trout, it holds a reasonable head of wild fish. The Avon's mayfly (Greendrake) hatch, once started, can continue for many weeks, and the Avon and Wylye can carry mayfly hatching well into July. Earlier in the season, grannom and large dark olives (LDO) are the first significant hatches, with olives, caddis and terrestrials carrying the fishing through summer. The beat is rated for more experienced anglers: fish here are selective, and working out what a rising fish is taking, then matching it precisely, is half the battle, as trout can lock onto a single species and refuse everything else. The season runs 15 April to 30 September, fly only, with dry fly and upstream nymph the permitted methods. Hooks should be de-barbed, and one brace may be retained per rod with others returned. A rod of between 8.5 and 9 feet rated for a 4 or 5 weight line suits the width of the Avon well, with a leader of at least nine feet to keep the tippet clear of the current seams this beat produces. The Hampshire Avon is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the Heale Estate stretch reflects that status in the quality of its riverine habitat and insect life.

Hampshire Avon

Manningford Trout Fishery

The Hampshire Avon rises from two headwater streams in the Vale of Pewsey, with the chalk-fed East Avon giving the upper river its characteristic clarity and a rich invertebrate life that sustains reliable fly hatches throughout the season. Grannom, large dark olives, and a prolonged mayfly hatch mark the trout season from April to mid-October, while grayling come into their own from autumn through to early March. Manningford Trout Fishery sits at the very headwaters of this river in , near Pewsey, and offers 1 beat of single-bank fly fishing along a 2.6-mile stretch of the Avon. The beat is fished on a Day tickets, Tuition, Equipment hire basis, keeping the water uncrowded, and a fishing hut on the bank gives anglers a base to warm up and watch the river between rises. Day tickets are available from £60. Grayling season rods can book from £40. Target species include .

Hampshire Avon

Wilsford Manor Estate

The Wilsford Manor Estate Beat covers approximately one mile of double-bank fly fishing on the Hampshire Avon, set within a private Wiltshire estate near Amesbury. The Hampshire Avon is an exceptionally biodiverse chalk stream, and the best trout fishing on the river sits upstream of Salisbury, where Wilsford Manor is located. The water also includes an interesting side stream and is notably wide for this part of the upper Avon, with deep pools that hold a large number of brown trout ranging from small wild fish to specimens in double figures. The channel's depth owes much to its origins as a former mill leat, further enhanced by bank restoration work, and a strict catch-and-release policy for fish over 15 inches means brown trout of 10 lb or more are not uncommon. The mayfly hatch on this stretch is generally prolific and continues for a much longer period than on most rivers. Fishing is available for a minimum of two and a maximum of four rods per day, with bookings taken for weekdays and Saturdays from mid-April to the end of September. Day tickets are available, and on-site accommodation makes an overnight or multi-day visit straightforward. The riverbank fishing hut provides indoor and outdoor seating, a barbecue, a well-stocked fridge, hot and cold drinks, and shelter with heating and electricity, with lavatory and changing facilities in an adjoining hut.