Treat your loved one to a superb day out by the water fly fishing ...
with an unrivalled number of fly fishing locations to choose from.
Go fly fishing in the Yorkshire Dales, on the Chalkstreams, near London, in the Cotswolds ...
Along with the River Test the River Itchen is the very best of the English chalkstream rivers. G.E.M.Skues – the father of Trout nymph fly fishing techniques - fished the River Itchen in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Other famous fly fishing writers such as Sir Edward Grey and Frederick Halford also fished the river regularly during this era. Izaak Walton is buried in Winchester Cathedral close to the Itchen. The ancient city of Winchester is an ideal base for fly fishers visiting this very special river and the source of the River Itchen is just five miles to the east of Winchester. The River Alre is the main source of the River Itchen and it provides superb Trout fly fishing the equal of anything on the River Itchen itself. The Itchen enters the sea at Southampton.
The River Itchen is located in the county of Hampshire around 70 miles south west from central London and is easily reachable from London by fast road and train. As with most chalkstream rivers the Itchen is noted for the high alkalinity and extreme clarity of its water. Prolific aquatic insect and shrimp life make the river a very fertile environment for fish. Hatches of upwinged flies start in late-April and peak from early-May onwards to late-June during which time the famous Mayfly hatches of Ephemera Danica take place. Summer evenings can provide excellent dry fly fishing and even on the hottest brightest days big Trout can be caught by sight casting un-weighted nymphs. Autumn hatches can be very good and although nymph fishing is important from the summer months onwards around half of all Trout and Grayling caught during the autumn will be taken on dry fly and those fishers that wish to stick to dry fly only can usually have good sport all day long. Some River Itchen beats only allow upstream dry fly for Trout.
We do guided fly fishing days at a number of locations on the River Itchen from the very upper reaches near to the town of New Alresford to the very lower reaches near to the city of Southampton, including some middle reaches beats both upstream and downstream of the superb ancient city of Winchester. On some beats wading is allowed but on some beats it is not. Different beats have different prices and generally the more costly beats provide the best fishing for experienced fly fishers. Contact us for the specific prices of specific locations. Note that we do not provide just day rod beat access to fish without a guide/instructor.
The game fish in the River Itchen include Brown Trout, Grayling, Sea Trout and Salmon. It is most famous for its Brown Trout but it does contain some particularly large Grayling. The Trout season on the Itchen runs from mid-April to early-October. The River Itchen is an excellent Grayling river and superb sport can be had up to Christmas when all beats close for the remainder of the winter. Grayling season rates start from early-October.
At certain scheduled times during the season the river is closed for fishing for weed cutting so in 2010 avoid planning days on the River Itchen between May 3rd and 8th, June 7th and 16th, July 5th and 13th and August 9th and 19th.
The River Itchen is a medium sized chalkstream river and its total flow is often split across two or more smaller carrier streams. An 8’ 6” rod for a 5-weight floating line is the perfect set-up for Trout and Grayling fishing on most parts of the river although an 8 foot rod for a 4-weight line would good for the carrier streams and the upper river.
All chalkstreams, including the River Itchen, are usually fished by casting upstream. The main skills on chalkstreams are observation and stealth. The water is very clear and often shallow so much fishing is by sight casting to individual fish – either clearly seen in the water or seen to be rising regularly. Polarised sunglasses are a vital part of the chalkstream fly fishers equipment.
Go Fly Fishing UK have considerable experience in offering guided days on the English chalkstreams as well as fly fishing tuition days for beginners and improvers. We have access to excellent beats on the River Itchen in its middle and lower reaches. Most River Itchen beats are limited on any one day to just one or two fishers. Given the density of fish and the need to fish the water very slowly and carefully only a short beat is needed for a full day of successful fishing.
As well as providing a superb fly fishing guide service our guides will also loan all the required fly fishing tackle, waders, flies, etc. – or you can bring your own - and can provide a local railway station collection and return service for fishers. This would usually be from Winchester station (almost exactly 60 minutes from London Waterloo). If required they will also act as a chauffeur/guide for non-fishing sight-seeing as part of a fly fishing trip. Situated very close to the River Itchen are some of the United Kingdom’s most important historic sites such as Stonehenge, Winchester, Salisbury (inc. Old Sarum), Portsmouth (inc. HMS Victory), Southampton and the New Forest.
If you fancy making your fly fishing part of a short-break in the Hampshire countryside then we can advise you on the best accommodation options. These including manor house hotels, country hotels, inns and bed & breakfasts, each within a short distance of superb fishing.
River Itchen beat costs reflect the special nature of the river; its top quality fishing; and the privacy and seclusion being offered. Day rates, excluding guiding charges, start at around £140 per person for exclusive use of a beat. From early-October to Christmas Grayling fly fishing is available at a cost of around £40 per person. Our guide charges start at just £140 for a mid-week day for one person in the autumn/winter (upto 14th March). Charges are lower per person when more than one fisher shares the services of a guide. Please contact us for an exact quote for your day. Note that we do not provide just day rod beat access to fish without a guide/instructor.
For more detailed information about the non-fishing highlights of the River Itchen area please click here
Contact Dave at our southern office to discuss your preferred fly fishing location and date or to make a booking – telephone 01252 851397 or email dave@goflyfishinguk.com
"Just a few lines to say thank you for your superb instruction and advice during the three days I spent with you on the Test and Itchen recently. I learned a huge amount and hope I have more time to put it into practice! Hope to be back soon."
Nigel McCallister, Majorca - Guided fly fishing days, River Itchen and River Test, Hampshire - November 2008
"Dave, Thank you for two great days. Just what I'd hoped and pictured they'd be. The Itchen fishing will stay with me because the place was so perfect. Three of my best pics are of that beautiful tree on the right bank we fished under, the run below the weir and that almost 20" brown. "
Jeffery Hellerbach (New York) - Guided days, River Itchen - Winchester, October 2007.
Steve Rhodes and Dave Martin the proprietors of Go Fly Fishing UK are Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guides.
Steve Rhodes is chairman of the Grayling Society