The chalkstream fly fishing season is well underway. A wet winter and spring means that out rivers are in excellent shape for the season ahead. Spring weeks that give us a chance to get back out on the river and sharpen up our dry fly skills ahead of the impressive mayfly hatches that come a little later.
The spring is always an interesting time on the chalkstreams, the estates have been lightly fished through the winter for grayling and many have undergone restructuring work and added in-river improvements. When the season opens in April this is our first chance to see and experience these works and how they have inevitably improved the fishing experience.
Each stretch of water has their own opening date with some getting going in early April whilst others hold on until the 1st May. As an angler you may wonder what you might encounter during an early season fly fishing trip to an English chalkstream.
April days are always filled with anticipation as to what the new chalkstream season will bring. The hope is for settled conditions and no sign of the dreaded North-Easterly winds. Large Dark Olives are the mainstay of the trout’s diet early on in the month before the emergence of the Grannom that really brings everything to life through the middle weeks.
As the month progresses and warmer days become more frequent the first of the hawthorn flies start dance around the bushes set along the river. The hawthorn can last into May and sometimes longer but this can be a fickle hatch. The ideal conditions tend to be dry days with a gentle breeze to blow the fly onto the water.
May is a wonderful month to fish with dry fly sport reaching its peak for the season. Hatches of small Iron Blues can bring days to life when there are few Hawthorn showing. These hatches are all just the warm up act to the main mayfly emergence through the latter half of May and into June.
It is possible to secure your preferred spring dates whether a single angler or group now. So do not hesitate to contact us for details on availability.
Spring Fly Fishing Availability 2023:
Week: 1st to 7th May 2023
Wednesday 3rd May:
Wherwell Estate, River Test – 1 to 4 rods
Broadlands Estate, River Test – 1 to 10 rods
Lower Itchen, River Itchen – 1 rod
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 1 to 4 rods
Thursday 4th May:
Wherwell Estate, River Test – 1 to 8 rods
Broadlands Estate, River Test – 1 to 3 rods
Private Estate Middle River, River Test – 1 to 2 rods with guide
Lower Itchen, River Itchen – 1 rod
Upper River Avon – 1 to 8 rods
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 1 to 4 rods
River Frome Guided trip – 1 to 2 rods
Friday 5th May:
Wherwell Estate, River Test – 1 to 4 rods
Lower Itchen, River Itchen – 1 to 5 rods
Upper River Avon – 1 to 8 rods
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 1 to 4 rods
River Frome Guided trip – 1 to 2 rods
Saturday 6th May:
Testcombe, River Test – 2 to 6 rods
Wherwell Estate, River Test – 1 to 4 rods
Lower Itchen, River Itchen – 1 to 5 rods
Upper River Avon – 1 to 8 rods
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 1 to 4 rods
River Frome Guided trip – 1 to 2 rods
Sunday 7th May:
Wherwell Estate, River Test – 1 to 2 rods
Lower Itchen, River Itchen – 1 to 7 rods
Upper River Avon – 1 to 8 rods
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 1 to 4 rods
River Frome Guided trip – 1 to 2 rods
The weed cutting dates have been finalised for the 2023 season, view the River Test dates HERE and River Itchen dates HERE.
For more information, further chalkstream fly fishing availability or to book one of these days please do not hesitate to contact us by EMAIL or call our office on +44(0)1980 847389.