Salmon fishing at Lower Itchen Fishery was established nearly 73 years ago and has built an impressive reputation. Over the years, the fishery has often recorded one of the strongest salmon catches among the chalkstream fisheries of the Test, Itchen and Avon.
2025 Salmon Highlights
• Largest salmon: 19.5 lbs
• Most fish caught in one day: 8
• First fish caught: May
• Most productive month: September
The largest salmon ever taken from the fishery was caught in 1958 and weighed a memorable 43 lbs.
What a fabulous day. Six fish and four more risen but not taken — all within an hour of home. No need to travel 500 miles to Scotland! A day to live long in one’s memory.
Conservation and Catch-and-Release
To protect salmon stocks the fishery operates a full catch-and-release policy for salmon. See the FAQ section on Can I keep my catch for details of Best Practice for Catch and Release.
The fishery continues to offer strong salmon sport, with the added benefit that rods may take up to two brown trout per beat per visit, while sea trout are not subject to a catch limit.
Beats and River Conditions
Salmon fishing is carried out across three beats which are managed to suit the salmon’s preference for deep channels cut into the potamogeton, with lies created by groynes and boulders on the riverbed.
The grilse are particularly impressive, averaging between 7 and 8 lbs. The salmon beats lie only one mile from the tidal limit, and from June to the end of September fresh-run, sea-liced fish enter the river on a daily basis.
Fishing Methods
An increasing number of rods use the “induced take” method, fishing a heavily weighted nymph on a suitable trout rod. Watching a salmon in the crystal-clear water leave its lie and chase a nymph to within inches of the surface has been described by anglers as “heart-stopping”.
The fishery is also well suited to salmon fishing with bait and lures. After 16 June, prawn, ledger and float-fished methods are commonly used, with natural and red prawns generally proving more effective than other colours.
Spinning is another approach, with lures such as the Flying C and No. 4 Mepps often used.
Salmon Fishing Options
Salmon fishing is available through the following options:
- Season rods: Available fortnightly or weekly on a named day of the week from the beginning of March to the end of September giving 15 or 30 days fishing. Rods are allocated a beat for themselves and their guests on each booked day, rotating through the three salmon beats during the season.
- Combo Trout & Salmon rod: A fortnightly combination of trout and salmon fishing on a named day of the week. The Combo Rod includes 6 days’ trout fishing with 3 guest tickets and 6 days’ salmon fishing with 6 guest tickets. From April, visits alternate between a day’s salmon fishing for 2 people on a salmon beat and a day’s trout fishing on the trout water.
- Flexible rod: Offers 10–18 days’ fishing for 2 people during the prime months from May to the end of September. This option is more expensive than a traditional Season Rod but provides greater flexibility, including the ability to choose your beat when booking, vary the day of the week, reserve several consecutive days, or leave some bookings until closer to the time. Bookings are not restricted to fixed days.
Day tickets: Available by advance booking only from beginning of March to end of September.
A full list of rods and prices is available here.
5th April 1958
Caught by Trevor Walter Mimpriss M.S F.R.CS
River Itchen record Salmon 43lb cock fish caught by Trevor Walter Mimpriss 5th April 1958 at Evans Pool Lower Itchen Fishery with him is his wife Eleanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Read our full Frequently Asked Questions section here.
What Rod size can I use for Salmon fishing?
15’ double handed is a good rod although we do not fish double handed spey cast. Minimum line weight 7lb.
What methods of fishing are allowed for Salmon?
Spinning; prawn fishing after 16th June; heavy weighted nymph. No worms allowed.
Can I keep my catch?
No.
ALL salmon must be released. There are best practice methods for catch and release and these include:
- Minimise air exposure, ideally not removing the fish from the water during landing, unhooking and photographing.
- Use fish-friendly landing nets with soft knotless mesh to help protect the fish from abrasion injury.
- Handle fish gently with wet hands and do not squeeze as this can damage internal organs. Touching the gills and eyes should be avoided.
- Always support the fish under the belly and keep in an upright / horizontal position, preferably underwater and facing into the current.
- Remove the hook with a long pair of forceps, disgorger or another unhooking device. When it is not be possible to remove the hook, cut the leader as close to the hook as possible as the hook will work its way out. This is less damaging than prolonged handling.
What hours can I fish for Salmon?
9am until 8pm
What are the fishing seasons for Salmon?
1st March – 1st Otober
Do you offer night-time Sea Trout fishing?:
Yes, from 1st May until 31st October. From 8.45pm until 3am. Methof of fishing is fly only. Catch limits: None for Sea Trout, 2 per beat for brown trout. Any Salmon caught MUST be released. Minimum of 2 rods for safety reasons.
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