The Salmon Fishing

Quality salmon fishing is closer to home than you think.
(available on a season and day ticket basis)

2008: What a year, 173 salmon caught - our best catch since 1989

The salmon fishing at Lower Itchen Fishery was established over 50 years ago, and has an impressive track record over the years, often having the highest catch record of all salmon fisheries in the area.

The 2007 catch of 107 fish was very encouraging and the best catch since 2001 but the 2008 season was even better, in fact the best for nearly 20 years, with a total catch of 173 fish.  Some interesting facts about the 2008 season:

• First fish caught on the last day of April, although fish were hooked and lost earlier.

• Largest salmon - 16lbs 8oz.  Largest sea trout - 13lbs 4oz.

• Most fish caught on one day : 12

• Most fish caught on one day by one angler : 7

• 25% of fish caught on a nymph.

The largest fish to be taken from the fishery was in 1958 and weighed in at a memorable 48lbs.

The Environment Agency introduced a new Byelaw in 1999 making it mandatory catch and release for salmon up to 16th June.  To further conserve the salmon population the Environment Agency insisted fisheries on both the Test and Itchen have a policy of total catch and release which we have taken on board and included within our rules.  However, our fishery still offers good salmon fishing with the added bonus of being allowed to catch up to two brown trout per beat per visit and no limits on the number of sea trout, which all adds to a days sport. 

The salmon fishing is carried out over 3 beats which are keepered to suit the salmon's preference for deep channels cut into the potamogetun and lies created by means of groynes and bolders on the riverbed.

The size of the grilse are particularly impressive with an average weight between 7-8lbs. Our salmon beats are only 1mile from the tidal limits and from June to the end of September fresh run sea liced fish enter the river on a daily basis.

The fishery lends itself to fishing for salmon with bait and lures with the prawn, ledger or float fished, (used after 16th June) being the most popular method. Natural and red prawns appear to be more effective than the other colours available.

Spinning is another popular method used with lures such as the Flying C and no. 4 Mepps. The other, less known method of fishing with a nymph on a light trout rod creates for very exciting fishing and is becoming more popular.

The salmon fishing is offered on:

A Season basis either fortnightly or weekly on a named day of the week Rods are allocated a beat to themselves and their guests on each of their booked days rotating around  the three different beats during the season.

A Flexible System which gives 18 days fishing.  The "Flexible" rod is more expensive than the tradition Season Rod but offers many advantages, namely:

Fishing is in the "prime" months of May to the end of September.  You may choose which beat you want to fish when you book your day.

Bookings are not restricted to set days of the week throughout the season.  For example, you may to choose to fish on a Tuesday on one visit and a Wednesday on the next visit.

It should help you avoid missing days due to holiday/work commitments.

You can leave booking some or all of your days to the last minute.

You can book several days fishing in a row to make a "short break/holiday".

A day ticket basis, which must be booked in advance.