Chalkstream Fly Fishing in Hampshire

Fishing Breaks offer the widest selection of the very best chalk stream brown trout dry fly & nymph fishing in the county of Hampshire.

Our rivers | Your guide | Places to stay | Fishing advice & flies | Maps

This is the pre-eminent chalkstream county, where the Test & Itchen are the undisputed masters of the dry fly universe.

It was on the banks of the River Test that F M Halford honed his ground breaking thoughts that effectively ‘invented’ modern dry fly fishing. And whilst he held court on the Test, GEM Skues, just fifteen miles to the east on the River Itchen, was about to unleash the concept of nymph fishing & receive a mixed reaction for his troubles.

So, at every twist & turn of the rivers history, Hampshire & fishing come together. Even Izaak Walton, who penned the Compleat Angler in the 17th century, gets in on the act, with his tomb & chapel behind the main altar of Winchester Cathedral.

Our rivers

		River Test Wherwell Priory Beautiful beats in a tranquil parkland setting.
		River Test Mottisfont Abbey The true & historic home of dry fly fishing.
		River Test Bullington Manor Classic, top quality chalkstream fishing.
		River Test The Parsonage The River Test at it’s very best.
		River Test Whitchurch Fulling Mill Perfect for stalking & sight fishing.
		River Test The Greyhound Fun & easy carrier fishing.
		River Test Nine Mile Water All the challenges of a wild trout Test tributary.
		River Dun School Farm Packed with fish and with great facilities.
		River Dun Dunbridge A beautiful stretch with deep pools, fast runs & lazy back eddies.
		River Itchen Itchen Stoke There is simply, nowhere better.
		River Itchen Western Court Very fast, very clear & very smart fish.

Your fishing guide - Duncan Weston

Since leaving his native Scotland, Duncan has made a life of fishing on the famous Hampshire rivers. His philosophy is neatly summed up:

‘The secret to chalkstream success is easy: find a feeding fish before it finds you. Find what it is feeding on, duplicate it and make your first cast your best cast.’

If you want to pick Duncan’s brain, email him direct at duncan@fishingbreaks.com All diary & booking enquiries should be made direct to Fishing Breaks.

NB Duncan will be out fishing most days during the height of the season, so sometimes he doesn’t get to check his emails as often as he would like.

Places to stay and visit

Top Luxury Hotel: Chewton Glen, New Milton

Top Country Pub: The Bush, Ovington - Tel. 01962 732764

Top Spa Hotel: Four Seasons, Hook

Top Gastro Pub: The Greyhound, Stockbridge - Tel. 01264 810833

Top Place Visit: Mottisfont Abbey & Rose Garden, Romsey

> View the full Fishing Breaks accommodation guide

Fishing advice & flies

In broad terms the fishing season runs from April to early October. The Hawthorn hatch generally coincides with the opening two weeks, with the Mayfly running from mid-May to the end of the first week in June.

Top Hampshire Flies:

April Dark Olive (14/16) Hawthorn (14)		May Mayfly (8-10) Black Gnat (14-18)		June Greenwell’s Glory (14-16)
July Iron Blue (14) PTN (141-6)		August Deer Hair Sedge (12-14) GRHE (16-18)		September Griffiths Gnat (16) Daddy Long Legs (12)

Recommended outfit: 8.5-9ft rod, of 3-5wt. Floating line. Tippet to 2lb/6x. Flies size 14-18, barbless or de-barbed. Waders required at Whitchurch Fulling Mill, Nine Mile Water & Itchen Stoke. Advised at Western Court (River Alre only). Not required on any other beats.

Maps

Click to enlarge.

County map		County overview

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