These are the fly hatches reported from all over the southern chalkstreams this week as Hampshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire and Dorset pull the pin on the trout grenade and we are catapulted into warmer climes.
On the Test and Itchen, it has all been about the Large Dark Olive. I was fortunate to be guiding one of my regulars on the River Itchen over the Easter break, where we enjoyed some of the best early season chalkstream fly fishing you could ever wish for.
Upon arrival the dawn chorus was a deafening orchestra of warblers, reed buntings, blackbirds, robins, song thrushes and the occasional blue streak of a kingfisher heralding the arrival of spring. As the morning drew on, the mist burnt off the water revealing the gravels shining brightly in the sunlight as if to welcome us back to the chalkstreams after a long cold, wet winter in front of the fireplace.
Then there was weed! Lots of weed! Lush green swathes of ranunculus and crisp water parsnip riffling away with the flow of the river. It really was a magnificent feeling to finally tie the laces on the wading boots, and pull the straps tight on the chest pack. Chalkstream trout, here we come! Armed with his trusty Orvis 3# and brimming with anticipation, Patrick and I crept upstream into a shallow weir pool that I knew held some fish. We fished our way into the pool one gentle cast at a time, being careful not to spook anything on our approach.
Under the alder trees, where the water turns liquid amber in the dappled light, we spotted the silhouette of a large trout floating proudly above the riverbed. It was laid up behind a large stone, occasionally rising to slurp up emerging olives as they wriggled to the surface. With some considering casting across the main flow, and a series of quick and measured upstream mends, Patrick had our cute little PTN right where we wanted it. A flash of white was all I needed to shout “strike!” and we were into our first fish of the day.
Pat with a beautiful hard fighting River Itchen brown trout.
The rest of the morning flowed by in much the same rhythm, with the occasional flurry of olives hatching off and landing on our heads, hands and forearms. The sun was warm and bright and by midday the fishing had toughened considerably, so lunch offered and well-deserved and timely break.
Pat managed to tempt several more good wild fish and a large brown trout throughout the morning. Despite the occasional rise to a dry fly, our pick was a small weighted pheasant tail nymph with a gold bead in between the Large Dark Olive hatches that popped off in their fleeting bursts throughout the day.
Further west on the Avon, I have heard reports of incredibly prolific grannom hatches and on the Kennet, even some early Hawthorn. With all the sunny weather this Easter, it’s all shaping up to be a very exciting few weeks on our southern chalk rivers.
Whilst Pat and I were soaking in the rays, wading shoulder to shoulder on the Itchen beat, I received a phone call. Now I very rarely have cause to pick up the phone during a guided day, in fact I refrain from doing so as much as possible for all the obvious reasons, but this time I just took a glance and I’m so glad I did.
The call was from a young family staying at Lainston House near Winchester. They had travelled down from London and were searching for a fly fishing experience for beginners tomorrow (on Tuesday). With all the many moving parts, a short notice booking like this can be tricky to organise, but with a few quick phone calls I managed to confirm their booking for a half day private fly fishing tuition the next day, plus a fishing hamper for four, courtesy of the wonderful people at the Grosvenor in Stockbridge.
A lunch hamper courtesy of the Grosvenor in Stockbridge.
Well, if Carlsberg did fishing trips… they turned out to be the most delightful bunch who were a joy to guide and genuinely fantastic company. The two young children picked up the casting effortlessly and were very quick to catch their first rainbow trout before their parents.
In just a few short hours we had covered everything from choosing the rigth equipment and tackling up, tying knots, fly selection, casting, line management, and hooking, landing and releasing fish. The weather was sublime, the fish were rising, the water was tap clear, and we had tremendous fun! It simply felt like the best possible start to the trout season.
Young George hooked into his third trout of the morning!
Find out more about our private fly fishing tuitions and courses on our website by clicking the big green button below, or give us a call on +44 1264 554884 to chat through some options.
Last week we released episode three of the Wilde Trout Journal!
This time it is an exciting discussion piece, where we dive into the mind of Neil Swift, the project officer at the Wessex Rivers Trust, charged with rolling out some of the most ambitious river restoration initiatives across our southern chalkstreams.
Join us on the hallowed banks of the Oakley beat as we grapple with upheaving centuries of human ingenuity and stewardship, and passing the torch back to nature at the epicentre of fly fishing itself, Mottisfont Abbey.
We find out what makes a former River Test river keeper turned river restoration practitioner tick, what are the challenges that face the WRT, and specifically all that has been done to improve chalkstream habitat at the Mottisfont Estate on the River Test. Available to download and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts now!
Welcome to our brand new fly fishing podcast, the Wilde Trout Journal.
Hosted by me, Jamie Pankhurst, the Wilde Trout Journal follows the diary of a fishing guide on the Hampshire chalkstreams. In this exciting new project, we explore the history, heritage and culture of fly fishing in England, and celebrate the people and the places that have shaped the past, present and future of this fabulous way of life.
If you are at a loss for what to listen to on your next long drive, please tune into the WTJ and see how long you can put up with my dulcet tones. New episodes every Friday!
Follow the Wilde Trout Journal on Spotify and Apple…
The last remaining day to fish at Mottisfont Abbey is Wednesday 15th April 2026. Book today for your chance to fish in the footsteps of FM Halford on only the second day of fishing at Mottisfont this season. Book now via the big green button or call us in the office on +44 1264 554884.
A stunning wild brown trout from the Oakley Beat at Mottisfont Abbey!
This week we are welcoming the fabulous Watership Down Inn to the guide. This is a beautiful country pub nestled in the chalk downs of the upper River Test, in Freefolk Priors.
If you are fishing on the River Test on any of the Tufton, Whitchurch, and Overton beats, then this is the place to stay for comfortable rooms and good honest pub food.
I am visiting new pubs, hotels and B&Bs on a weekly basis so stay tuned for the latest updates on the best places to eat and stay when you come fly fishing on the chalkstreams.
That’s all from me this week. Wishing you the very best of luck and the tightest of lines if you are on the water in the next few days.
Best wishes,
Jamie Hayes-Pankhurst
Founder & Managing Director
+44 1264 554884 | info@wildetrout.co.uk | www.wildetrout.co.uk
Wilde Trout | The Old Post Office | Hurstbourne Tarrant | Hampshire | SP11 0AG
Dreaming of a burbling chalkstream brimming with frenzied brown trout slurping in the gunsmoke of an electric fly hatch? Your next adventure starts here!
