The sun is beaming down on us and the thermometers are climbing higher and higher, often this is considered a hard time on the clear waters of the English chalkstreams but this is not always the case. The day can in fact be broken down into three segments in this weather:
The morning…
For those willing to set the alarm clock a little earlier to reach the river before the sun climbs too high, they can be greeted by happily rising fish. In the cooler mornings, it is often possible to find various small olives hatching before disappearing into the undergrowth during the heat of the day. Try small emerger style patterns such as Klinkhammers and Olive CDCs, and where possible use longer leaders of 12 and 15 foot as the fish can be more wary.
The day time…
This is often considered a time when nothing is happening but, look a little closer, this is the time of the ‘sippers’. This is when trout hone in on the hatches of very small midges, often in shady parts of the river. The rises may appear as just tiny dimples in the surface but do not be fooled, these can often be some of the biggest trout. If nothing appears to be happening it is also worth trying large terrestrial patterns along the sunny edges of the river, such as daddy long legs.
The evening…
This is the most favoured time, probably because it works well with a lazy morning start. In the evening as the sun begins to sink into the horizon and the temperature cools ever so slightly the river can come back to life. The olives that hatched in the morning will come back to the river to lay their eggs, they are an easy meal for trout at this stage. We will also start to see caddis fly flying chaotically above the surface luring trout to jump clean from the water. Try sherry spinners and various caddis patterns, and again longer leaders are preferable.
If you are looking to get out on the river over the next few weeks here are a few select options to try:
June and July Availability:
Week: 25th June to 1st July 2018
Wednesday 27th June: Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder
Two beats available, they can be taken on a 1-2 rod basis.
Thursday 28th June: Westover Estate, River Anton
Two beats available, they can be taken on a 1-2 rod basis.
Friday 29th June: Westover Estate, River Anton
One beat available, it can be taken on a 1-2 rod basis.
Saturday 30th June: Wherwell Estate, River Test
One beat available, it can be taken on a 1-2 rod basis.
Sunday 1st July: Denford Water, River Kennet
Series of carries and main river, it can be taken on a 1-4 rod basis.
Week: 2nd to 8th July 2018
Monday 2nd July: Wherwell Estate, River Test
One beat available, it can be taken on a 1-2 rod basis.
Tuesday 3rd July: Westover Estate, River Anton
One beat available, it can be taken on a 1-2 rod basis.
Wednesday 4th July: Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder
Two beats available, they can be taken on a 1-2 rod basis.
Thursday 5th July: Westover Estate, River Anton
Two beats available, they can be taken on a 1-2 rod basis.
Friday 6th July: Broadlands Estate, River Test
One beat available, it can be taken on a 1-3 rod basis.
Saturday 7th July: Denford Water, River Kennet
Series of carries and main river, it can be taken on a 1-4 rod basis.
Sunday 8th July: Wherwell Estate, River Test
One beat available, it can be taken on a 1-2 rod basis.
Week: 9th to 15th July 2018
Monday 9th July: Denford Water, River Kennet
Series of carries and main river, it can be taken on a 1-4 rod basis.
Tuesday 10th July: Westover Estate, River Anton
Three beats available, they can be taken on a 1-2 rod basis.
Wednesday 11th July: Compton Chamberlayne, River Nadder
Two beats available, they can be taken on a 1-2 rod basis.
Thursday 12th July: Westover Estate, River Anton
One beat available, it can be taken on a 1-2 rod basis.
Friday 13th July: Wherwell Estate, River Test
Two beats available, they can be taken on a 1-2 rod basis.
Saturday 14th July: Denford Water, River Kennet
Series of carries and main river, it can be taken on a 1-4 rod basis.
Sunday 15th July: Wherwell Estate, River Test
One beat available, it can be taken on a 1-2 rod basis.
More dates and beats available, enquire for more details.
The weed cutting dates have been finalised for the 2018, view the River Test dates HERE and the River Itchen dates HERE.
For more information or to book one of these days please do not hesitate to contact Alex Jardine or call our office on +44(0)1980 847389.