River Itchen Free Trout Fishing?

[mackem 26,544]

Anyone availed themselves of the free trout fishing on the itchen at winchester?When i say free i dont mean clandestine nocturnal missions as some may imagine,i mean free fly fishing stretches on a sparkling chalk stream that looks as if it holds a lot of decent fish.I walked along the river in winchester the other day eating my lunch and saw several nice trout,i know its free,have any of you fished it,if so what were the results?

[jok 3,260]

There is nothing free on the River Itchen.

[Hydropotesinermis 724]

The test?

[mackem 26,544]

No mate,the itchen,the river that runs through winchester,i have fished on the test many times,i am on about the free sections on the itchen.

[mackem 26,544]

There is nothing free on the River Itchen.

Theres quite a bit actually,anyone fished any of the beats?

http://www.dofreefishing.com/southernhampshire.html

[jok 3,260]

Well to be fair I am gobsmacked. This is the most sought after location for trout in the British Isles. Free. Unthinkable. Just for the hell of it I think I'll take a couple of the lads down for a mooch. Thanks pal. Never to old to learn eh?

[mackem 26,544]

Well to be fair I am gobsmacked. This is the most sought after location for trout in the British Isles. Free. Unthinkable. Just for the hell of it I think I'll take a couple of the lads down for a mooch. Thanks pal. Never to old to learn eh?

I didnt know it was free mate till last thursday,i have fished on the test and the itchen in the past on prime beats,had very good results of big wild fish,i am going to fish in winchester a few times this year,be churlish not to really,tight lines.

[jok 3,260]

Just out of interest. Is it catch and release?

[mackem 26,544]

No mate,you catch them you can take them home,i saw quite a number of fish on thursday and i only strolled along a short stretch.

[jok 3,260]

Right. I'm finding a free couple of days and doing it. I'll let you know the dates when I can but clearly it's all about work. Dry fly I imagine.

[mackem 26,544]

Not only dry fly mate,whatever method,theres an article online about trotting a maggot down some stretches under a float,hope we both have good sessions,theres a beat just downstream,not too far thats 200 quid a day,thats some indication as to the quality,be lucky.

[jok 3,260]

My upbringing would not allow me a maggot. If you can't catch with the dry fly then maybe shouldn't be there. Bit old school.

[green lurchers 16,667]

My upbringing would not allow me a maggot. If you can't catch with the dry fly then maybe shouldn't be there. Bit old school.

like your style jok

[mackem 26,544]

My upbringing would not allow me a maggot. If you can't catch with the dry fly then maybe shouldn't be there. Bit old school.

Yes mate,i am the same,tight lines,as befitting the location and class of the stretch i even found a small cafe that sells high tea with decrusted organic cucumber sandwiches and earl grey a quick snack for only £30.

[jok 3,260]

I' d gladly buy you the above. Thing is, to catch one of them the proper way would, you must be honest, fantastic. I don't care what people think and perceive as right or wrong, a trout or grayling coming to a dry is somewhat exhilarating. My mentor, Jimmy Clinkscale, (RIP) thought me the gift of patience and only casting to the feeding fish. We can all troll a worm or maggot, get a bite and have a good fish in the net. CAN IT COMPARE ? Only. My thoughts.