After a long winter, thoughts inevitably turn to the chalkstreams, that magical time of year when gin-clear water, rising trout and burgeoning aquatic life signal the arrival of spring. Whether you’re dusting off your rods, sharpening presentations, or planning a spring trip, the 2026 chalkstream season promises plenty of reward for those willing to read the water and the hatch.
Spring on the chalkstreams is equal parts anticipation and technique. April and early May offer some of the most delicate and rewarding fly fishing of the year, soft water presentations, sensitive trout, and early seasonal insect life mean that every cast counts. It’s the calm before the crescendo of the Mayfly hatch that follows, and for many anglers this quieter period is a joy in itself.
Early season fishing rewards patience, observation, and precision fly selection, with trout often keying in on emergers and olives as water temperatures slowly rise.
What to Expect in Spring Hatches
The early weeks of spring deliver subtle but important insect activity:
• Dark Olives — often a staple in April diets, these trigger rises even before broader hatch sequences begin.
• Grannom — usually mid-to-late April, bringing sporadic but effective dry-fly windows.
• Hawthorn Flies — later in April into May when conditions are warm and calm.
These early events set the stage for the main mayfly emergence, typically late May into early June, when trout often become more visibly active and selective, an unforgettable highlight of the chalkstream season.
Invitation to join River wylye syndicate
The River Wylye at Langford Lakes is exclusive to Aardvark McLeod, a stretch that encapsulates the delights of the wild Wiltshire chalkstream. Wild brown trout and grayling abound, and thanks to great water quality and habit management the fly life can support a range of fish sizes including some large and wary specimens. You can view more about the syndicate invitation HERE.
Spring Fly Fishing Availability 2026:
Week: 20th to 26th April 2026
Monday 20th April:
Barton Court, River Kennet – 6 rods
Langford, River Wylye – 1 to 2 rods
Tuesday 21st April:
Barton Court, River Kennet – 6 rods
Langford, River Wylye – 1 to 2 rods
Private Estate, Upper River Test – 1 rod
Wednesday 22nd April:
Barton Court, River Kennet – 6 rods
Langford, River Wylye – 1 to 2 rods
Private Estate, Upper River Test – 1 to 3 rods
Thursday 23rd April:
Barton Court, River Kennet – 6 rods
Langford, River Wylye – 1 to 2 rods
Friday 24th April:
Langford, River Wylye – 1 to 2 rods
Saturday 25th April:
Langford, River Wylye – 1 to 2 rods
Private Estate, Upper River Test – 1 rod
Sunday 26th April:
Langford, River Wylye – 1 to 2 rods
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 2 to 6 rods
Private Estate, Upper River Test – 1 rod
Week: 27th APRIL to 3RD MAY 2026
Monday 27th April:
Barton Court, River Kennet – 5 rods
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 2 to 6 rods
Tuesday 28th April:
Barton Court, River Kennet – 5 rods
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 2 to 6 rods
Private Estate, Upper River Test – 1 rod
Wednesday 29th April:
Barton Court, River Kennet – 6 rods
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 2 to 6 rods
Private Estate, Upper River Test – 1 to 3 rods
Thursday 30th April:
Barton Court, River Kennet – 6 rods
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 2 to 6 rods
Friday 1st May:
Langford, River Wylye – 1 to 2 rods
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 2 to 6 rods
Private Estate, Upper River Test – 1 to 2 rods
Wherwell Estate, River Test – 1 to 2 rods
Private Estate, Middle River Test – 1 to 2 rods
Saturday 2nd May:
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 2 to 6 rods
Private Estate, Upper River Test – 1 to 3 rods
Wherwell Estate, River Test – 1 to 4 rods
Private Estate, Middle River Test – 1 to 6 rods
Sunday 3rd May:
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 2 to 6 rods
Private Estate, Upper River Test – 1 rod
Wherwell Estate, River Test – 1 to 6 rods
Private Estate, Middle River Test – 1 to 8 rods
Week: 4th to 10TH MAY 2026
Monday 4th May:
Barton Court, River Kennet – 6 rods
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 2 to 6 rods
Wherwell Estate, River Test – 1 to 6 rods
Private Estate, Middle River Test – 1 to 4 rods
Tuesday 5th May:
Barton Court, River Kennet – 5 rods
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 2 to 6 rods
Private Estate, Upper River Test – 1 rod
Wherwell Estate, River Test – 1 to 2 rods
Private Estate, Middle River Test – 1 to 4 rods
Wednesday 6th May:
Barton Court, River Kennet – 6 rods
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 2 to 6 rods
Wherwell Estate, River Test – 1 to 2 rods
Thursday 7th May:
Barton Court, River Kennet – 6 rods
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 2 to 6 rods
Private Estate, Middle River Test – 1 to 4 rods
Friday 8th May:
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 2 to 6 rods
Wherwell Estate, River Test – 1 to 2 rods
Private Estate, Middle River Test – 1 to 2 rods
Saturday 9th May:
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 2 to 6 rods
Private Estate, Upper River Test – 1 to 3 rods
Private Estate, Middle River Test – 1 to 4 rods
Sunday 10th May:
Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder – 2 to 6 rods
Wherwell Estate, River Test – 1 to 2 rods
Private Estate, Middle River Test – 1 to 6 rods
Looking Ahead to Mayfly
While spring’s early days set the tone, nothing quite compares to the magical Mayfly hatch, that brief window when trout abandon caution and the chalkstreams erupt with life. You can view our Mayfly availability blog HERE.
The weed cutting dates have been finalised for the 2026 season, view the River Test dates HERE and the River Itchen dates HERE.
View our latest Chalkstream Fishing Brochure HERE.
For more information about fishing on the chalkstreams please contact Alistair Routledge or call our office on +44(0)1980 847389.
