anyone fished the free section between woodmill and mansbridge, looks great on google earth lenty of space and a good back cast...

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...and fly fishing in a public park ?

You may find it's better for bait fishing than fly fishing, for chub and the legendary Itchen barbel.

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"In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." - German proverb
JH based near Southampton

I fully agree with this, I have fished it but there is a lot of traffic during the summer, best in the winter months for the grayling, not a lot of them but it's a bit of relaxation, I would suggest the free fishing at Bishopstoke, park your car in the Eastleigh rugby club car park, walk up stream for about 100 yds and as soon as you come out of the trees it's free for about 200 yds, fish are a bit thin in numbers but there are some decent grayling, the brownies are small, but wild, biggest I've had was a one pound grayling, I did see a small boy pull out a 2 pounder, trotting a worm, and I'm pleased to say, he put it back unharmed..................Cheers

cheers for that, i didnt know it was a park... i will check out bishopstoke..

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I'm working in (B)eastleigh at the moment and have been going for regular walks along the Bishopstoke stretch.

Nr the rugby club there is indeed a free stretch worth a look although it seems to me to deepen off considerably and become less trouty fairly quickly.

Closer to the road there's a section owned by Eastleigh & District AC. Now this does look much more appealing, I've seen a few trout in there averaging half a pound or so and one that I reckon was getting on for 2.5 - 3lb.

Further along the Bishopstoke Road toward Fair Oak there is another stretch (300-400yds) also owned by EADC that looks really nice albeit flanked by a concrete wall and railing. (Near the Anglers pub) This stretch is also owned by EADAC and I've seen lots of brownies plus the odd coarse fish in this bit.

I've only ever seen kids fishing both sections and even then not that often. I believe you can join EADAC for about £70 for the year.

Neither sections are particularly picturesque but if you are going to be in the area for any length of time it may be worth a punt.

RJB

Best free section I have fished is from Shawford up stream to the old lock plenty of small wild trout and grayling. Beyond the old lock is run by PSFFA up to motor way bridge, you will probably notice their signs on opposite bank.