UK Chalkstream Fly Fishing Brochure 2020

I N T E R N AT I O N A L F LY F I S H I N G S P E C I A L I S T S

Aardvark McLeod on the Chalkstreams The continuing development of our chalkstream product has seen our portfolio go from strength to strength. We are delighted to offer an ever increasing range of domestic fishing options throughout the chalk belt of Southern England. These rivers and lakes offer crystal clear sight fishing opportunities throughout the season, whether you are a first-time angler or a seasoned hand.

Alex Jardine and Olly Thompson head up our chalkstream programme and work with an enviable team of guides to offer the best experience on these wonderful rivers. Both have spent their formative years fishing and are always keen to push the boundaries of fishing tactics and techniques, and take great pleasure in passing this knowledge on to others.

Whether you are a single angler, a group of friends or are looking for a professionally organised corporate day why not join us for a memorable time on the water this season.

CHALKSTREAM FISHING Chalkstream fly fishing for trout and grayling demands a unique style and attitude rather than random casting and covering water which sets it apart from fly fishing other types of rivers and lakes. Although the same basic equipment is used, the clarity of the water means that your method and approach has to be very different; requiring stealth, observation and pinpoint casts to fool your quarry.

It is not unusual to only cast to rising fish or those that can be clearly seen feeding subsurface on nymphs. The tactic is to start at the bottom, or downstream end of the beat, and work slowly upstream, stopping frequently to scan the immediate area in front whilst being aware of any movement further upstream. On many beats, benches or seats are often placed along the bank in positions that give the angler a good view of the water ahead. These are not placed there to rest weary limbs, but to encourage anglers to move slowly and observe the water ahead for a clue as to where to place the next cast.

While sitting quietly and carefully studying the stream, you will slowly become attuned to your surroundings. Amid the sounds of the river you will hear the chatter of water voles feeding and birdsong will become clearer, flowers more visible. These are all part of the chalkstream fishing experience. “God did never make a more calm, quiet, innocent recreation than angling�. (Isaac Walton) Fly fishing on the chalkstreams gives you the opportunity to get away from the pressures of modern life and return refreshed at the end of the day whether having caught fish or not. It restores the human spirit. It is a calm sport that prepares us to deal with the everyday. If catching fish were the only goal, fishing would lose its fun and excitement and become just another pastime.

WHY THE TEST

For any avid trout fly fisher the Test is a “must do�. Offers great variety, strong mayfly hatches and grayling fishing.

WHEN

SUITABLE FOR

The majority of fisheries on the Test open their trout season in late April in time for the hawthorn hatches, running through to early October.

All abilities & levels of experience.

Single rod days Guided trips Larger groups & Corporate days Grayling days

Grayling fishing continues through October until mid-March.

RIVER TEST The Test is the most famous trout fishing river in the world, not only for the quality of the fish, but also for the past history and characters. The literary heritage is probably the richest of any river, with the writings of Peter Hawker, Plunket Greene, John Waller Hills and probably the most famous of all, F M Halford.

By far the largest of all chalkstreams, some 30 miles as the crow flies from source to sea, it offers over 100 miles of fishing. Over the centuries man’s manipulation of the river for irrigation and milling purposes have resulted in a braided river system of many carriers, most of which are fishable. From the source ½ mile to the east of Overton at Ashe the river flows west to Whitchurch before turning south to continue the onward journey.

Primarily the Test is known as a trout river but at Testwood before the river spills into the Solent double figure salmon and sea trout are caught regularly. The river is joined by four main tributaries; the Bourne Rivulet, Dever, Anton and Dun as well as some smaller streams including the Wallop Brook and Blackwater.

WHEN The trout season opens in mid-April in time for the hawthorn hatch and runs through until the first week in October.

Grayling fishing continues through October until the end of December.

WHY THE TEST TRIBUTARIES Ideal rivers for those looking for smaller rivers and streams within the Test valley.

SUITABLE FOR All abilities & levels of experience.

Single rod days Guided trips Small groups & corporate days Grayling days

RIVER TEST TRIBUTARIES

The Test is met by several notable fly fishing tributaries along its course. The first is the Bourne Rivulet, followed by the Dever, Anton, Wallop Brook, Dun and lastly the Blackwater. Except for the Blackwater, these rivers offer the same crystal clear flows and luscious ranunculus weed beds that define the Test valley. The tributaries are often smaller than the main river offering challenging and exciting sight fishing for both trout and grayling.

The pure and nutrient rich waters provide a great habitat for aquatic insects allowing wild fish to feed freely and grow to large sizes relative to the size of the rivers they inhabit. Varying stocking policies along these rivers offer a range of fishing for all anglers to enjoy.

WHEN The trout season opens in mid-April in time for the hawthorn hatch and runs through until the first week in October.

Grayling fishing continues through October until the end of December.

WHY THE ANTON A great river for those looking for a more challenging alternative to the River Test.

RIVER ANTON

One of the four main tributaries feeding the Test, the Anton is a short chalkstream of some seven miles in length rising to the north of Andover and joining the Test just below the riverside garden of the Mayfly pub. The Phillhill Brook joins the main stream just south of Andover. From below Goodworth Clatford the river is very attractive, mainly running through old water meadows grazed by sheep and with sheltered wooded sections. The beats are varied, some with wide shallows, while others have narrower faster water, all offer plenty of likely places for trout & grayling.

Invertebrate life is prolific with good hatches of all the upwinged flies throughout the season. The rich fly life supports a great population of wild brown trout and reasonably sized grayling.

SUITABLE FOR Intermediate & experienced single rod days Guided trips Small groups & corporate days Grayling days

NEW FOR 2020 SEASON

WHEN WHY THE ANTON A great river for those looking for a more challenging alternative to the River Test.

The trout season opens in early April in time for the grannom hatch and runs through until the mid-October.

Grayling fishing continues through November until the end of December.

SUITABLE FOR All levels of experience.

Syndicate rods Single rod days Guided trips Groups & Corporate days Grayling days

WESTFAIR BEAT One of the famous tributaries of the River Test, the River Anton is a typical upper English chalkstream. The river meanders through peaceful, untouched, water meadows, with excellent fly life and weed growth to enhance the fishing. All of this within easy reach of London.

The Westfair beat is exclusive to Aardvark McLeod, with its own well-equipped fishing hut and marquee tucked away in a small copse. The fishing suits all abilities, made challenging by varied fly life, through different types of water from deep holes to shallow glides over its 1 ½ km length.

Five Day Syndicate: For those looking for multiple days through the course of the season we will be offering a limited amount of Five Day Syndicate places. The concept of the Five Day Syndicate is ideal for busy people giving flexibility with dates. First select five non-mayfly days, then you may change days during the season with as much notice as possible. You may also add days and additional rods at a preferred rate.

WHY THE ITCHEN

WHEN

SUITABLE FOR

A great river for those looking for a challenge. Like the Test, a chance to walk in the footsteps of many other great anglers.

The trout season opens in mid-April in time for the end of the large dark olive hatch, running through until the first week in October.

Grayling fishing continues through October until mid-March.

Intermediate & experienced.

Single rod days Guided trips Small groups & corporate days Grayling days

RIVER ITCHEN The Itchen is formed by the coming together of the Candover, Arle and Titchbourne streams just west of New Alresford. The Itchen to Winchester is just six miles in length and is considered to be some of the finest chalkstream trout fly fishing in the world.

Surrounded by the serene beauty of the countryside through which it flows, this part of the valley has remained fairly untouched. Below Winchester the area has seen more human encroachment but that said there are still some beautiful stretches to be fished.

The river between its source and Winchester is primarily run by clubs and syndicates, but very occasionally day rods become available. Many notables have fished the Itchen over the years including G E M Skues, F M Halford, Viscount Gray of Falladon, John Goddard along with many others. Watching the fly hatches on the Itchen today, it is easy to see how this river inspired them and thus shaped fly fishing as we know it today.

WHY THE AVON

A great river for those looking for a more challenging alternative to the River Test.

WHEN

SUITABLE FOR

The trout season opens in early April in time for the grannom and large dark olive hatches, running through until the first week in October.

Grayling fishing continues through October until the end of December.

Intermediate & experienced.

Single rod days Guided trips Small groups & corporate days Grayling days

RIVER AVON There are two headwater streams that feed the Hampshire Avon, both rising in the Vale of Pewsey. The East Avon comes from chalk bedrock whereas the West Avon rises in greensand and it is because of this that the Avon is not considered to be a chalkstream in the strictest sense of the word.

Persistent heavy rain can leave the river a little coloured but it quickly clears, only affecting the river for a few days. Below the confluence just above Upavon the river runs through chalk down the valley to Salisbury and beyond. Below Salisbury the river is mainly a coarse fishery until Fordingbridge where there are several notable salmon fisheries before it reaches the sea at Christchurch.

The upper reaches of the Avon, at Netheravon, was home to two more of fly fishing’s greats, Frank Sawyer and Oliver Kite. It is from their observations on the river here that led to numerous creations that continue to shape fly fishing around the world.

WHEN The trout season opens in early April in time for the grannom and large dark olive hatches, running through until the first week in October.

Grayling fishing continues through October until the end of December.

WHY THE WILTSHIRE CHALKSTREAMS Ideal rivers for those looking for small and intricate beats within the Salisbury area.

SUITABLE FOR Intermediate & experienced.

Single rod days Guided trips Small groups & corporate days

WILTSHIRE STREAMS With Salisbury marking the coming together of five chalkstreams, there is a rich vein of fly fishing opportunity in Wiltshire. The Ebble, Nadder and Wylye rivers to the west and the Bourne to the east, all meeting the Avon which flows north to south through the cathedral city. Crystal clear waters flow on all sides of the city filled with wild trout and grayling.

With relatively little stocking throughout these valleys the native trout population has been allowed to thrive. Every season consistent fly hatches bring larger fish up to the surface. Those willing to brave the conditions in the early season can be rewarded with good hatches of large dark olives and grannom sedges which are often missed on the neighbouring rivers.

WHEN The trout season opens in mid-April in time for the hawthorn hatch, running through until the first week in October.

Grayling fishing continues until the end ofDecember.

WHY THE KENNET AND LAMBOURN Ideal rivers for those looking for a challenging river close to London.

KENNET & LAMBOURN The Kennet catchment stretches from the Winterbournes above Avebury in Wiltshire to Reading in Berkshire where the Kennet flows into the Thames. The catchment is defined by the chalk uplands of the Marlborough and Berkshire Downs to the north and the Hampshire Downs to the south. Much of the area falls within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Many small tributaries feed the Kennet but only the Dun and Lambourn can be considered as trout fisheries.

Once again we have to thank the water engineers of the 18th century who created over 80 miles of fishable water. The river below Hungerford near Kintbury usually experiences massive hatches of mayfly to rival and surpass anything that can be seen on the Test or Avon systems.

SUITABLE FOR All abilities & levels of experience.

Single rod days Guided trips Small groups & corporate days Grayling days

WHEN The trout season opens in early April in time for the large dark olive hatch, running through until the first week in October.

Grayling fishing continues through October until mid-March.

WHY THE DORSET CHALKSTREAMS Great rivers for those looking for wild trout and grayling fishing throughout the year.

SUITABLE FOR Intermediate & experienced.

Single rod days Guided trips Small groups Grayling days

DORSET STREAMS The lesser known chalkstreams of Dorset offer a wonderful fly fishing experience, with notable rivers such as the Frome, Piddle and Allen, along with plethora of winterbournes and streams, provide a rich habitat for wild brown trout and grayling.

The lower reaches of the Frome also see reasonable runs of salmon and sea trout.

To walk along these babbling waters is to pass through the pages of a Thomas Hardy novel, and recent river work has gone a long way to restoring these rivers to an almost self-sustaining wild habitat.

The fishing can be challenging, but the rewards are great. As a result these waters can produce very large wild trout and grayling. With flourishing water quality the river life is abundant and fly hatches occur consistently through the year.

HATCH CHART Common Fly Species

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Grannom Mayfly

Large Dark Olive Blue Winged Olive Iron Blue Medium Olive Olive Upright Pale Watery Anglers Curse Medium Sedge Alderfly Large Cinnamon Sedge Black Sedge Hawthorn Fly Black Gnat Crane Fly (Daddy Long legs)

The chalkstreams boast some of the most consistent fly hatches that can be found anywhere in the UK. This is mainly due to the fantastic growing conditions that the chalk bedrock creates. Rain water is filtered over several months through porous chalk, removing sediment and adding minerals and nutrients. When the water eventually resurfaces through bubbling springs it enters the river at between 7—9⠰C all year round, offering perfect growing conditions even in the hottest summers or the harshest winters.

Above is a generic hatch chart for the southern chalkstreams to act as a guide when you are planning your next trip. For more detailed river by river information please contact us.

We would like to thank Dr Cyril Bennett MBE for the data to create the hatch chart.

WHY GRAYLING A great fish to target with dry flies & nymphs.

They offer a season extension for those who are not ready to hang up their rods at the end of the season.

WHEN

SUITABLE FOR

The grayling season opens on the 16th June and runs through to the 15th March.

All abilities & levels of experience.

Single rod days Guided trips Group days

Winter openings vary between beats and estates.

GRAYLING FISHING Referred to as ‘the lady of the stream’, grayling are found throughout the UK chalkstreams. The silvery, ghost-like, shadows with a striking orange dorsal fin can be seen elegantly holding position amongst beds of ranunculus and clean white gravel.

They thrive in the nutrient and invertebrate rich conditions provided by these spring-fed streams and river systems and throughout the summer and autumn months can be found rising freely. These rivers offer the perfect environment for grayling to grow quickly, and it is not unusual to find fish in excess of 2 lbs. In the winter, after the trout season has finished, grayling can be targeted on certain beats with both nymphs and dry flies.

Whether you are looking to catch your first grayling, or hunt a specimen, we have beats for all anglers. They may not have the fight of the more sporting brown trout but they can be challenging and can offer hours of enjoyable frustration throughout the long winter months.

LOCATION Most venues are within 1 to 2 hours drive/train from London. For those travelling from further afield we can offer accommodation.

Transfers can also be arranged.

WHEN Courses will run throughout the year.

Private courses can also be arranged for intact groups.

DAY COURSES SUITABLE FOR All abilities & levels of experience.

We welcome groups of all ages.

Groups: 2 to 8 people.

For those looking to improve certain areas of their fly fishing from entomology through to casting into the wind or looking more specifically at technical skills such as European Nymphing; we run numerous courses and master classes through the year.

The Aardvark McLeod team have built a huge wealth of knowledge and are delighted to be able to pass this on through day and weekend courses. These courses are built around a set running order to look at various techniques, tactics and equipment for specific applications with guide to angler ratios kept to a minimum to ensure you get the most out of the course.

Courses can be tailored to suit a specific group or to help prepare a group for a specific destination, either fresh or saltwater.

LOCATION Most venues are within 1 to 2 hours drive/train from London. For those travelling from further afield we can offer accommodation.

Transfers can also be arranged.

WHEN River days are arranged during the trout season and lake days can be provided all year round.

GROUP DAYS In our experience a day by the water is the perfect environment in which to entertain clients, to reward team members or purely to have a good day out amongst friends and family. The calming influence of running water, blossoming trees and the chorus of birdsong offers a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city.

We have a range of private rivers and lakes available to us and we are able to tailor days on the water to the needs and desires of each individual group. Whether you are a group of seasoned hands or first time anglers, our experienced guide team will be on hand to help and instruct as needed.

With our range of premium equipment, full catering options and beautiful locations, you can be assured that every day on the water with us will be a day remember.

SUITABLE FOR

All abilities & levels of experience.

We welcome groups of all ages.

Groups: 4 to 16 people.

WHY SOUTHWEST WALES

WHEN

The Towy and Teifi offer some of the finest sea trout runs in the UK. These rivers offer good fly water and good numbers.

The sea trout runs occur from mid-June until the end of September. Prime time is considered late June and to early September.

SUITABLE FOR Intermediate & experienced.

First-time night time anglers are welcome.

Single rod days, guided trips, small groups.

WELSH SEA TROUT Wales has some of the finest sea trout rivers in Europe. Each season these rivers will individually produce between 2,000 and 4,000 sea trout on rod and line with fish into double figures encountered every year.

Given a low, clear river and typical summer conditions the sea trout are most active under low light and at night time. This forms a most peculiar environment in which to target them, but it is also one of the most exciting and exhilarating, where all your senses are heightened and the take is like no other. The rivers are easy to wade as a rule, and being some 30 metres wide at most can be covered adequately with a single handed rod.

Steffan Jones was raised on two of the best; the Towy and Teifi.

He becomes almost nocturnal during the summer months and has now guided on these rivers for over 20 years. Steffan and his team will be delighted to help guide you through this unique experience, no matter whether you have night fished before or not.

River Test, Leckford Estate

River Anton, Westfair Beat

Setting up for Grayling

River Test, Broadlands Estate

Using Furled Leaders

Aardvark McLeod on

River Anton, Westover Estate

River Itchen Memories

CHALK Film Premiere

I NT E R N AT I O NA L FLY FI S H I NG S PE CI A L I S T S

Aspire Business Centre • Ordnance Road • Tidworth • Hampshire • SP9 7QD • UK Tel: +44 (0)1980 847389 • Fax: +44 (0)1980 849453 mail@aardvarkmcleod.com

www.aardvarkmcleod.com