The best thing about chalkstream fly fishing is surely seeing that fish come up to your dry fly, the anticipation sets in as he freezes in the flow directly under the offering, will he take it won’t he take it? Well it is not far away now until we will be fishing on the top again, so things are looking up…

This winter’s rain has been a great start to the year for our chalkstream fly fishing, and we are seeing good amounts of weed around too. Hard to believe, but in just a few short weeks, we can be back on the water in search of rising brown trout again.

River Test, Brown Trout, Chalkstream Fishing, Aardvark McLeod, River Itchen, Groundwater levels

Early season fly fishing is often overlooked by the excitement of the Mayfly, but do not be fooled by this spell, there is a lot of fishing to be had pre-mayfly time. April can be a very special month to go fishing, the trees begin to show their summer colours, fringes start to thicken and the river prepares itself for us fly fishers. Fly hatches become more frequent, as the invertebrates sense the milder air temperatures, and this leads to the chance to successfully fool a trout into taking a dry fly.

River Avon, River Test, River Itchen, Brown Trout, Wiltshire chalkstream fishing, Aardvark McLeod

Some of the rivers and beats can experience slight colour in the water at the start of the season, but that does not stop the match the hatch process. The fish feed throughout the winter, but the menu is somewhat limited compared to the summer months. April sees good hatches of large dark olives during the middle of the day, and one of our very few terrestrial flies comes out to play too, the hawthorn. And let’s not forget the first hatch from the caddis (sedge) family, the Grannom. Often at the beginning of the season the trout can be less wary of your offerings, since they have not seen many anglers or flies at this point.

River Avon, River Test, River Itchen, Brown Trout, Wiltshire chalkstream fishing, Aardvark McLeod

You can certainly count us in for dry fly fishing in April, we know there will be plenty of chances to get a trout or two off the top, because we know Things are Looking Up…

Whilst not all beats are open we have some great access in April to the Test, Itchen, Avon, Kennet, Frome and their tributaries. See some of great days that are available below:

River Test, Broadlands Estate
Friday 13th April – up to 6 rods
Friday 27th April – up to 6 rods

River Anton, Westover Estate
Tuesday 10th April – up to 4 rods
Wednesday 11th April – up to 8 rods
Thursday 12th April – up to 4 rods
Sunday 15th April – up to 2 rods
Tuesday 17th April – up to 6 rods
Wednesday 18th April – up to 2 rods
Thursday 19th April – up to 2 rods
Friday 20th April – up to 2 rods
Saturday 21st April – up to 2 rods
Sunday 22nd April – up to 4 rods
Tuesday 24th April – up to 4 rods
Wednesday 25th April – up to 8 rods
Thursday 26th April – up to 4 rods
Sunday 29th April – up to 2 rods

River Kennet, Denford Water
Sunday 1st April – up to 4 rods
Saturday 7th April – up to 4 rods
Saturday 14th April – up to 4 rods
Monday 17th April – up to 4 rods
Saturday 21st April – up to 4 rods

River Nadder, Compton Chamberlayne
Sunday 29th April – up to 4 rods
Monday 30th April – up to 4 rods

For more information on these beats or others that are available in April please do not hesitate to contact Alex Jardine or call our office on +44(0)1980 847389.