Flyfishing on the Hampshire Avon, in England

This famous English river rises to the east of Devizes and flows through the Vale of Pewsey and then on through Upavon, Durrington, Amesbury, Salisbury and Fordingbridge before entering the sea at Christchurch. One of the renowned English chalkstreams, the Hampshire Avon generally runs clear and supports good ranunculus (water crowfoot) growth.

The Avon near Amesbury

The main tributaries to the Avon are the Nadder, Bourne, Wylie and Dorset Stour - the latter, much more of a ran-fed river - joining the Avon in its tidal estuary. Once a famous salmon river, nowadays the Avon is mainly known for its trout and grayling fishing. Water abstraction has deprived many of these streams of their essential vigour during late summer but there is still some very good fishing to be had, especially in springtime and again in autumn. In the lower reaches carriers provide an increased opportunity for fishing.

Nymph fishing on a lower Avon carrier stream

Brown trout and grayling fishing
During the spring there is a good mayfly hatch and, unusually, mayflies continue to 'trickle-hatch' throughout the season. There are also good olive hatches and, during the summer evenings sedge hatches provide good sport.

Some beats are stocked with trout while elsewhere the fish are mainly wild, smaller generally, but usually a lot more wily. The grayling are mainly under a pound in weight, with the occasional small pod of significantly larger fish to try for.

The late Bernard Venables MBE, creator of Mr Crabtree,
fishing on his beloved upper Avon

Sea trout fishing
At Christchurch there is good sea trout fishing in the evenings in the Claypool which is in the estuary.

Salmon fishing
The Hampshire Avon does hold some salmon (the Royalty Fishery on the lower Avon has long been a noted salmon fishery and is now subject to strict bylaws). Although the quality of the salmon fishing on the lower Avon has declined considerably in recent years, the river is now benefiting from a programme of restoration and stocks are showing some signs of recovering.

Tackle
For trout and grayling fishing a 9 ft or 9.5 ft #5 or #6 rod would be ideal for most situations on the Hampshire Avon. For salmon fishing a 13ft 6ins #8 or 9 rod would cope with most casts, and the same length rod could also be useful for the sea trout fishing on the Claypool, which can call for some fairly long casts, too.

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