River Itchen
Near Winchester
The mayfly season is now just a memory. The trout, if they 'sulk' after feasting on mayfly, and many an angler claims they do, will now be regaining their enthusiasm for feeding. So a trip to a chalkstream at this time of year is full of anticipation. Will the fish be 'on the fin' looking for food. Will the day offer that pinnacle of fish hunting; casting to a feeding fish and seeing it take the fly?
The Itchen is a lovely river. It might be in the shadow of its bigger neighbour, the Test, but it offers equal delights. But the recent weather, high temperatures and humidity, made me a little apprehensive as I drove down to Winchester. Would the bright light and scorching heat make the fish lethargic? Might they only make an appearance in the evening? The textbooks say the trout at this time of year tend to feed in the early and late hours.
I needn't have worried. The trout and grayling (and one roach!) were definitely hungry. They fed assiduously throughout the day, darting back and forth across the current to take nymphs. There was little action to a dry fly, but the well placed and carefully watched nymph produced some scintillating sport. The day was one to remember and savour over and over again.