Fly Fishing on the River Dun
The River Dun in Hampshire, United Kingdom is one of the UK's most celebrated chalk streams. Browse 2 fishing beats along its 11-mile course, or explore the hatches, fish species, and seasons below.
Dunbridge
A compact chalk stream in the Test Valley, the River Dun rises near the villages of East and West Grimstead in Wiltshire and flows roughly 11 miles eastward before joining the River Test near KimbridgeDun. Depending on winter rainfall, the river rises between East and West Grimstead and flows almost due east to meet the Test at Kimbridge. Its catchment combines chalk with tertiary clay and alluvial gravel, which gives the Dun slightly more variable flows than some of its neighbours and means the upper reaches above West Dean can run low or dry in drought years. The reliable fishing lies in the middle and lower valley, where the river settles into a classic chalk stream character: clear water, gravel runs, and dense marginal vegetation.
Brown trout and grayling are the primary quarry on the River Dun. The river enjoys some of the most prolific fly life in the Test Valley; mayfly is exceptional, and the post-mayfly period in June can produce evening hatches of blue-winged olive that are exceptional when conditions align. As spring turns to summer, the olives are complemented by explosive evening sedge hatches. Hawthorn arrives in late April, and a range of caddis and terrestrials extends the dry fly fishing through summer. Upstream dry fly and nymph fishing are the methods throughout the season. The river is small enough to cast across in most places, rewarding careful wading and precise presentation over random coverage. Grayling provide sport into the winter months.
The lower half of the Dun beat at Mottisfont is characteristically slow-moving, with long sweeping glides through deciduous woodland where the larger fish tend to hold, while the upper section winds through open meadows with thick marginal vegetation on both sides. The Mottisfont Abbey Estate holds water immediately above the confluence with the Test, and is one of the most notable stretches on the lower river. FishingBeats currently lists 2 beats on the River Dun, making it one of the quieter and less pressured chalk streams in the Test system. Day tickets start from £225.
River Details
- Length
- 11 miles
- Source
- West Grimstead, Wiltshire
- Mouth
- Confluence with the River Test near Kimbridge / Mottisfont, Hampshire
- Tributary of
- River Test
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Water Type
- chalk stream
- Website
- Visit website →
Fishing Beats on the River Dun
2 beats availableBrowse day tickets, syndicate access, and permit fishing on the River Dun. Each beat listing includes pricing, species, and booking details.
Dunbridge
A third of a mile of single-bank dry fly water on the lower River Dun, the Dunbridge beat sits just upstream of the hamlet of Dunbridge in Hampshire's Test Valley, a short distance before the river joins the Test near Kimbridge. The Dun runs for around 11 miles in a generally easterly direction through rural parts of Wiltshire and Hampshire, and is smaller and less prolific than other rivers in Hampshire, but can be quieter during busy periods — a genuine advantage on a beat limited to one or two rods. The water here has classic chalk stream character: a long glide of relatively shallow water upstream of a footbridge, and a deep pool midway up where the river takes a left turn. From the car park, it is a walk of around 100 metres through a meadow to reach the river. A survey of all the Test's tributaries reportedly found that the Dun holds the highest numbers of wild trout of any of them, and the Dunbridge beat carries moderate stocking alongside that wild population. Brown trout and grayling are both present. Like the Itchen, the Dun is home to protected species including the great crested newt, so the environment is carefully managed. The season runs 1 May to 30 September, covering the full chalk stream hatch calendar. The hawthorn hatch falls in late April, with the mayfly running from mid-May to early June — the latter priced at £395 per rod. Medium olive and blue-winged olive hatches carry the fishing through summer, with dry fly the primary method throughout; nymphing is also permitted. The intimate scale and clear water make accurate presentation essential, and the beat is rated as adventurer difficulty. A 9ft 4–5wt rod with a fine tippet suits the conditions. Day rods are priced from £225 (early season) to £275 (main season). The fishing hut is sited near the top of the beat and is well appointed, with WC and car parking on site. The hamlet is served by Mottisfont & Dunbridge station on the Wessex Main Line, making this one of the more accessible chalk stream beats in Hampshire for car-free anglers.
The Blue Pool Beat
A tributary of the River Test, the River Dun joins the main river near Kimbridge at Mottisfont in Hampshire's Test Valley. The Blue Pool Beat runs just over a kilometre immediately upstream of Holbury Mill, where the river passes through secluded old woodland on a single-bank configuration suited to one or two rods. The water averages around six metres wide and 1.5 metres deep, and like all chalk streams is commonly described as "gin clear." At the top of the beat sits the namesake Blue Pool — a spring rising directly from the chalk aquifer that gives the water a distinctly blue appearance, and which local folklore claims is bottomless. The beat carries a very good wild brown trout population, supported by extensive stream habitat above the beat that provides excellent spawning grounds. The Environment Agency and the Wessex Chalk Stream and Rivers Trust have worked together on fish passage improvements on the River Dun in Hampshire, with both mills now equipped with fish ladders allowing free migration throughout the system — raising the prospect of salmon spawning on the Dun again in the future. Fishing is upstream dry fly and upstream nymph only. The trout season runs from April to early October; hawthorn hatches arrive in late April, mayfly from mid-May to early June, and summer brings a variety of caddis, olives, and terrestrials. Reliable patterns include Black Gnat, Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Iron Blue, and Mayfly in season, tied on size 16 or smaller. The intimate width keeps presentations manageable and fish are generally visible in the clear water, making this a well-suited beat for beginners. A comfortable fishing hut and picnic furniture are on site — a practical base for a full day's fishing. The beat is a secluded spot and wildlife is abundant, with deer, kingfisher, and orchids regularly seen along the banks. A 9-foot, 4-weight rod is ideal for the width and the delicate presentations the clear water demands. An Environment Agency rod licence is required. The beat is accessed via Holbury Lane near Lockerley, with parking close to the water.
FAQ
River Dun FAQs
Common questions about fishing the River Dun, from day tickets and seasons to what to expect on the bank.
