Lower Itchen Fishery offers enjoyable and productive coarse fishing on the lower beats during the quieter winter months, providing a further opportunity to experience the river outside the main trout and salmon seasons. Coarse fishing is available by advance booking only, with day tickets offered from 5 October to 14 March. A limited syndicate membership is also available at a discounted rate, providing up to 16 pre-booked days’ fishing between 14 October and 14 March.
The fishery has produced notable coarse catches across several species. Highlights include one rod catching 80 grayling in a single day, with around one in ten fish exceeding 2 lbs and the best weighing 3 lb 1 oz. Roach over 2 lbs have also been recorded, along with a leather carp of more than 20 lbs, chub to 6 lb 14 oz, bream over 9 lbs and barbel of 15lb 4oz.
Barbel
Barbel (often called The Prince of the River) fishing is becoming increasingly popular at the fishery, with a number of impressive catches recorded in recent seasons. Fish to 15 lb 4 oz have been landed, with even larger specimens observed in the river.
The Barbel are powerfully built and can offer a hard fight and memorable sport.
For me, Lower Itchen Fishery has always been one of my favourite places to fish, and also to make films for my TV show ‘On The Bank. It never lets me down. Whether I’m fishing for trout in the Summer, grayling in the Winter or coarse fish in season, it always delivers. My biggest prize so far has to be a 15lb 4oz barbel caught while filming for the show in 2017 - and I know there are bigger fish in there! Trout, salmon, sea trout, grayling, barbel, chub, roach, perch, pike - it has everything.
Coarse fishing like you've never seen it - a magic day on the legendary RIVER ITCHEN
