Yesterday, guiding on the River Itchen downstream of Winchester, I saw my very first Danica Mayfly of the year and there were quite good numbers hatching for so early in the season.  I was expecting that I might see the occasional Mayfly but by 4pm there were decent numbers hatching and some good sized Trout that had not been rising earlier in the day started to look for them and make excited jumps to catch them before they could take off.  Its always a highlight of my guiding year to guide clients in the Mayfly hatch.  In the morning there had been a good hatch of various small mayfly species and my client had great sport with a Parachute Adams and Greenwell’s Glory with mostly small Brown Trout.  It was not until mid-afternoon that I saw the first Danica Mayfly taken by a Trout.  Then in late-afternoon I came across some larger Trout excitedly looking for the big Mayflies.  It was a tricky casting location but after a few minutes of cast adjustments my client Gordon Paterson was rewarded with his two biggest Trout of the day.  Both were around 2lbs and took my favourite Danica imitation a size 8 Grey Wulff.

So the next few weeks should bring excellent Mayfly sport although it could be around 20th May before we see good numbers hatching on the upper part of the River Test.