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A chalk stream
Clear, spring-fed water with a stable flow through the season.
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2 species listed
Anglers here can target brown trout and grayling.
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1 club or syndicate
Membership water on the River Ebble, some with day tickets alongside.
About the River Ebble
The River Ebble is the smallest of the four chalk streams that meet the Hampshire Avon around Salisbury, and it is often held to be the purest of them. It rises at Ebbesbourne Wake at the head of the Chalke valley and runs east for around 14 miles through Broad Chalke, Bishopstone and Odstock before joining the Avon at Bodenham, a few miles below the city. It is a genuinely small river, narrow enough to step across in places, with clean gravels, heavy beds of ranunculus and water clear enough that the fish see you long before you see them.
Fishing the Ebble is stalking rather than covering water. The river holds brown trout, grayling, the trout wild and mostly modest in size, the grayling worth the trip in their own right. A short rod, fine tippet and a long look before the first cast count for more here than distance. The valley is quiet farmland and water meadow throughout, crossed by few roads, and the fishing has stayed almost entirely in club and private hands.
With 2 beats listed on FishingBeats, the Ebble is one of the hardest chalk streams in Wessex to get onto. Salisbury and District Angling Club holds the water at Longbridge near Broad Chalke and at Homington Meadows between Odstock and Homington, both fished by members on a rod limit, both managed wild with catch and release advised.
Where the River Ebble runs
The river's course with every beat and fishery we list on it. Click a marker to read about that water.
River Ebble at a glance
- Length
- 14 miles
- Source
- Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire
- Mouth
- Hampshire Avon at Bodenham
- Tributary of
- Hampshire Avon
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Water type
- Chalk stream
Conditions now
Fish species
Anglers on the River Ebble can target brown trout and grayling. Brown trout dominate most chalk stream beats; grayling, sea trout, and salmon appear on certain rivers and seasons.
Fishing Beats on the River Ebble
Browse all 2 beatsBrowse day tickets, syndicate rods, and permit fishing on the River Ebble. Each beat listing includes pricing, species, and booking details.
Clubs and syndicates on the River Ebble
1 clubMembership bodies holding water on the River Ebble. Some sell day tickets alongside membership, others are open to members only, and a few run a waiting list.
Hatch calendar
Build a fly box for the River EbbleWhat hatches on the River Ebble month by month, and the fly to tie on for each. These are typical months, not a live report. A cold spring or a hot week will shift any of them.
Expected in November
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FAQ
River Ebble FAQs
Common questions about fishing the River Ebble, from day tickets and seasons to what to expect on the bank.
01Can I fish the River Ebble?
Much of the water is privately managed, but plenty of it is open to visiting anglers through day tickets, syndicate places, and club memberships. FishingBeats lists 2 beats on the River Ebble, and each beat page shows who runs the water and how to book.
02How much does it cost to fish the River Ebble?
Prices vary by beat, season, and how many rods share the water. Whatever you book, an Environment Agency rod licence is needed on top of the ticket.
03When is the fishing season on the River Ebble?
The statutory trout season varies by region: on the Hampshire chalk streams such as the Test and Itchen it runs 3 April to 31 October, while rivers in the Thames catchment, including the Kennet, close on 30 September. Many fisheries set shorter dates of their own within that window, and grayling fishing carries on through the winter on many beats. Check the permit dates on each beat page before you book.
04What fish can I catch in the River Ebble?
Beats on the River Ebble list brown trout, grayling. The mix varies from beat to beat, so check the species on the page for the water you want to fish.
05Do I need a licence to fish the River Ebble?
Yes. Anyone aged 13 or over fishing for trout, salmon, or coarse fish in England needs a valid Environment Agency rod licence, bought online in daily, weekly, or annual form. It's separate from the beat ticket or syndicate fee, so factor it in before you go.
Worth a read
2 bookable beats
On the River Ebble
