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The River Wylye

A particularly beautiful chalk stream

The River Wylye is a particularly beautiful chalk stream fly fishing river and is almost up with the Test and the Itchen for the standard of its fishing. It is noted for the quality of its fly hatches and also for the prolific natural spawning of wild Brown Trout. During hot summers its fly hatches are consistently better than those on the Test and Kennet. Unlike these other streams the Danica Mayfly hatch continues well into July. A small chalk stream, it is a tributary of the River Avon and is the best Trout dry fly fishing water in the Avon river system.

The River Wylye is located in the county of Wiltshire around 90 miles south west from central London. There is a direct motorway connection all the way from London so the total travel time is only around 90 minutes. The Wylye flows through particularly delightful villages and countryside and is just 8 miles to the west of ancient Stonehenge. Salisbury would be an ideal base for visitors planning on fishing the rivers Wylye and Test.

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Fish species / seasons

The River Wylye contains an excellent stock of mostly wild Brown Trout and Grayling although this is supplemented by some stocking of Brown Trout. There are no Rainbows. The Trout season runs from 1st April to 15th October.

At certain scheduled times during the spring and summer the river is closed for fishing for weed cutting so in 2011 avoid planning days on the River Wylye between April 4th to 11th, April 25th to May 15th, June 20th to July 8th and August 8th to 14th.

Tackle

The River Wylye is mostly a fairly narrow chalk stream and so an 8’ rod for a 4-weight floating line is the ideal set up. Polarised sunglasses are an essential item of fly fishing equipment.

Tactics

The River Wylye is fished by casting upstream from a position either wading in the stream or from the bank. Wading is an advantage in some places. As with all chalk streams stealth and observation combined with delicate accurate casts are the key to success. Sight casting is the norm and the fisher must do everything he can to try to avoid the fish being spooked by either clumsy casting or too much bank side movement. Dry fly fishing is very good for most of the season. Nymph fishing is good in the summer – usually with un-weighted nymphs fished upstream to sighted fish.

Go Fly Fishing UK has considerable experience in offering guided days on the River Wylye and we have access to some excellent beats in the middle reaches of the river.

Guides

As well as providing a superb fly fishing guide service our guides will also loan all the required fly fishing tackle, waders, flies, etc. – or you can bring your own - and can provide a local railway station or accommodation collection and return service for fishers. If required some of our guides will also act as a chauffeur/guide for non-fishing sight-seeing as part of a fly fishing trip. Situated very close to the River Wylye are some of Britain’s most important historic sites such as Stonehenge, Salisbury (including Old Sarum) and the New Forest.

If you fancy making your fly fishing part of a short-break in the Wiltshire countryside then we can advise you on the best accommodation options. These including manor house hotels, country hotels, inns and bed & breakfasts.

Costs

River Wylye beats represent very good value with day rates, excluding guiding charges, being around £130 to £160 per person in the Trout season. Our guided day prices in the Trout season start at £291 to include the guide and the beat and the price depends on the number of people fishing and the specific location and date. Note that we do not provide just day rod beat access to fish without a guide/instructor.

Contact Dave at our southern office to discuss your preferred fly fishing location and date or to make a booking – telephone 01252 851397 or email dave@goflyfishinguk.com

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