On the subject of fishing the chalkstreams. Does anybody know of any fishing within about 90mins of SW London. Preferably wild browns in a river but stocked reservoir bows would even do. Don't own a car so would have to get the train. Max cost about £30 for the day. I may be hoping for too much but does anyone have any ideas?

Do you have waders? What rod sizes do you have available?

I have some suggestions but you'd need waders and shortish rods...

Bri

Yeah I've got waders and my rod is a 9ft 6wt. Any suggestions will be gratefully appreciated, only moved to London a while back and the desperation to go fishing is gettin bad!

Okay, bad news first... There aren't any great rivers including chalkstreams which you can fish for £30 a day with a 9ft rod anywhere near SW London. Now, if you had a 7 or 8ft rod you would have a few options. Given your lack of car I'd suggest a trip to Winchester to fish the Itchen through town - free and proper chalk stream - or a train to Salisbury to fish the Avon through town - £10 and again a proper chalkstream. Lastly I'd suggets you read the whitewater thread as it probably represents one of the best value rivers around your area at £90 a year with a great mayfly hatch. You'll need a 6-7.5ft rod for this one though.

Okay - a bit of a trek but you can fish it with your 9ft rod: The royalty beat on the Avon in Christchurch. Salmon, sea trout, trout, perch, barbel, dace, chub and mullet all in evidence here for £30 a pop.

Hope that helps

Bri

Thanks for the info. Just happens I'm headin off at the weekend to Salisbury with the girlfriend....might just have to pack the fly rod and sneakoff for a few hours!

No need to sneak off - the river runs thru it - so you can grab a coffee and danish, walk round the corner to the park and she can sit on the bench eating whilst watching you catch trout / trees in the avon!
You get permits from the sportsshop (can't remember the name) - but it says sports goods / fishing tackle on it

Bri

John Eadies in Catherine St.

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A forum post should be like a skirt. Long enough to cover the subject matter, but short enough to remain interesting.

Salisbury town water is a good bet; although this time of year and in the current weather an evening trip would be in order. About 5 minutes walk from station, and day tickets available.

Check out info at www.salisburydistrictac.co.uk

If you are really desperate try Syon Park; it's my last ditch a couple of times a year, and no more than 15 minutes walk from Syon Lane Station, or bus from Chiswick.

Syon Park info at www.alburyestate.com

You could try the Wandle in Sth London, steadily being rehabilitated, you may even want to consider becoming a Wandler and helping out with river cleanups every second Sunday of the month,

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Turned out nice again!!

Or you could apply to join West End Fly Fishers, we are as the name suggests based in London, we fish constantly through all the year , visiting
most of the resevouirs around , we also have grayling fishing at Wherwell through the winter . Trips to Ireland Scotland and Wales are nearly always ongoing with some of our members. Trips to France and Spain are being put together for next year
Hughie
www.oreillysfishing.co.uk