Anton Lakes Nature Reserve (Andover) to Confluence with the River Test at Chilbolton · 8 miles
Fly Fishing on the River Anton
1 beat on the River Anton sell access by the day, from £75.
Where the River Anton runs
The river's course with every beat and fishery we list on it. Tap a marker for a quick read on price.
Fishing Beats on the River Anton
1 beat availableBrowse day tickets, syndicate rods, and permit fishing on the River Anton. Each beat listing includes pricing, species, and booking details.
Clubs and syndicates on the River Anton
1 clubMembership bodies holding water on the River Anton. Some sell day tickets alongside membership, others are open to members only, and a few run a waiting list. Where a club's water is not listed as individual beats, it is not shown on the map above.
About the River Anton
River Anton at a glance
- Length
- 8 miles
- Source
- Anton Lakes Nature Reserve (Andover)
- Mouth
- Confluence with the River Test at Chilbolton
- Tributary of
- River Test
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Water type
- Chalk stream
- Website
- Visit website
Rising at Anton Lakes Nature Reserve on the northern edge of Andover, the River Anton is a Hampshire chalk stream of around 8 miles. It flows south through the town before passing through the villages of Upper Clatford, Goodworth Clatford and Cottonworth, joining the River Test just below Chilbolton. The river's connection to Andover runs deep: the Domesday Book of 1086 recorded six watermills powered by the Anton, and the town grew as a centre of grain milling and wool processing because of it. The fishing beats lie on the quieter, pastoral stretches downstream of the town, where the surroundings are largely pasture and old English woodland that have changed little for generations.
The River Anton holds and is known for prolific fly life throughout the season. Beds of ranunculus support hatches almost year-round, with iron blue and small olive hatches reliable through spring and into autumn, and sedge activity carrying into the evenings of late summer. The river runs crystal clear for most of the season, making it a genuine sight-fishery where anglers can target individual fish. The main season runs from mid-April to early October, with upstream dry fly only until 30th June, after which an unweighted upstream nymph may also be used. Fishing is from the bank rather than wading, as the clear water rewards a careful, low approach. Winter grayling fishing is available from £75, with the river remaining exceptionally clear through the colder months.
1 beats are listed on FishingBeats, offering access to this lesser-known but characterful Test tributary. Conservation of the river is active and ongoing: Test Valley Borough Council, the Environment Agency, Hampshire County Council and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust have formed a partnership under the River Anton Enhancement Strategy, with the Anton River Conservation Association (TARCA) carrying out regular practical habitat work along the corridor. Day tickets start from £120.
Hatch Calendar
The River Anton hosts a sequence of seasonal insect hatches that dictate fly choice through the year.
Expected in October
Typical months for the River Anton, not a live report. A cold spring or a hot week will shift any of these.
Caperer
Sedge · #10-12
Kite's Imperial
Dry fly · #14-16
Daddy Long Legs
Terrestrial · #10-12
Sawyer's Killer Bug
Nymph · #12-16
The year ahead
Every hatch and the months it usually runs. Darker means a heavier hatch, and the highlighted column follows the month above. Tap a letter to jump to it.
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FAQ
River Anton FAQs
Common questions about fishing the River Anton, from day tickets and seasons to what to expect on the bank.
