Hello everyone,

Let me first introduce myself, my name is Bram and i'm from Belgium. I'm studying in Bournemouth ( south coast of england). As I am fond of fly fishing I would like to do some fishing in the area.
I think the rivers underneath are relatively close to my place.
I know that the fly fishing is VERY EXPENSIVE, so that's why my question is if somebody knows on which beats of the following rivers the fishing is for free. Allen, Avon, Lymington,Frome, Piddle,Test, Itchen, Nadder and Wylye river.

It would be great if someone could help me.

thanks in advance &
Kind regards
Bram

Hi Bram....The River Itchen in the centre of Winchester is a free stretch....Also have you thought about having a go at Saltwater Fly Fishing, plenty of coast line to get you going and it's free.....I SWFF on the Hampshire coast, so if you want to know more about SWFFing, let me know.
Cheers Dave

Hi,

thanks for your reply,

Never thought about fly fishing at the coast. Have the equipement for it.
But SWFF, does that mean sewin flyfishing?, if so, are they many seatrout swimming along the south coast?


Bram

Bram

There is free stretch on the River Allen within the town limits of Wimborne.I think it runs from the stone Bridge over the B3078 downstream to the next bridge over the ring road.Season on the river begins April 1st and make sure you have a rod licence.Well worth a visit for a free stretch of water with good fly life.Good mayfly hatch in season.

Good hunting JP

Hi Bram,

Just saw your post and thought I would say hello.

I too am a very keen flyfisherman and go to Bournemouth University as well. If you would like to go fishing sometime let me know. Regarding your question. In terms of trout, you're right it is very expensive around here but there are a few free places. Wimborne is quite close (short bus ride) and has some very nice trout and grayling there although the stretch is very small (River Allen) upstream from there i think they charge about £80 a day. Also there is a bridge in Kinson, perhaps 3 miles from the university where I have caught brown trout, grayling and a couple of big chub on the fly as well as dace, roach etc where the flow is quite quick. the rest of the stour, at least downstream from there seems a little slow to hold many trout or grayling.

My email address is f9076044@bournemouth.ac.uk

Cheers

Hi Bram SWFF = Salt water fly fishing. some very decent SWFF round the south coast. the trout fishing is, as people have said, pretty expensive, but you can get pockets of good value fishing, or just save up, the fishing can be superb.

you would do well to join either ringwood angling club or christchurch club.nice selection or waters including trout holding lakes and rivers,they also now offer a game ticket for some streches of the stour .quite cheap concidering the waters they have.the coast is good for mullet,bass and mackerel all of which can be taken on the fly.river allen in wimborne is not so good since they relayed the path,it think the workers took alot of fish when it was closed for 3 weeks

Yes there are Sewin, but even fishing for them in the salt you would need a game fishing license at a cost of around 70GBP.

SWFFers over here usually fish for Bass, Mullet, Scad and Mackerel etc. They give great sport and theres no license needed.

I usually fish an 8 weight, floating line setup.

If you want to know more ask.

Cheers Dave

If that's true I've learnt something. I was not aware that fishing for sewin in the salt required a migratory fish rod licence. Surely if you were bass fishing and caught a sewin there would be no comeback provided you returned the fish safely?

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“There is no more lovely country than Monmouthshire in early spring. Nowhere do the larks sing quite so passionately, as if somehow inspired by the Welsh themselves. There is a blackbird on every thorn and a cock chaffinch, a twink as they call him there, on every bush...... It moved me profoundly. I had been spared to see another spring, and I thank God for it.”

Oliver Kite
“A Spring Day on the Usk”
A Fisherman’s Diary