Hampshire Avon 2023

Fished Friday and Saturday evenings thought I had finally got one to stick but after 8 mins it broke the surface gold not silver Barbel of 13lb+ you don’t see that often on a flying C
Martin

Two of us fished a full day today, the river was a little coloured first thing , and cleared through the day, it fished very nicely. Mayfly hatching for chub and the birds to enjoy, but no salmon seen.

I did a full day on Friday, four stretches from Winkton to high upstream, had brown trout, chub and pike - no salmon seen. 🤷‍♂️

Fished the Royalty today.....saw a salmon on the weir sill above the weir, but apart from that, nothing to report.

Bisterne had their first fish today.....17lb!!

HantsAvon said:

Bisterne had their first fish today.....17lb!!

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Took a while, that did.. during peak season. Funny enough today is the first time I gave my Bisterne rod a miss in months. 😅 😭 Hope it's the first of many for all Avon beats in the next weeks!

Made an early start on Saturday, on the water by 0800, probably 0600 would have been sensible. River looking good, but the hot sunny spell is encouraging rapid weed growth and many sections are not fishable already. Water temperature rising too, 15.5 deg and been higher, only the good flow keeping it from going higher still you'd think. It was too hot to fish with any hope after 10.30. It was a "watching the wildlife" morning really, never a bad thing in itself, but I couldn't help thinking about John at Somerley's recent musings about the inability of the EA to share detail of fish movements through the counter on a timely basis. Are there fish actually running?

Had a nice 18lb hen at bistern today had a follow first and a little pluck left it for an hour and she took it second time round!!

Gary M said:

Had a nice 18lb hen at bistern today had a follow first and a little pluck left it for an hour and she took it second time round!!

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Very well done Gary, let's keep the good news coming! 💪🐟

Well done Gary, I’m glad your perseverance has paid off. What did you get it on? Not that it matters😀

Well deserved for all the effort you put in, lovely looking fish, gives us all some encouragement.

Hi Tony it kissed and followed a no 4 mepps just before lunch so I left it and went back after and she took a flying c.

Gary M said:

Hi Tony it kissed and followed a no 4 mepps just before lunch so I left it and went back after and she took a flying c.

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Delighted for you, all those hours rewarded with a fish to add to the pleasure of being there...the forum is very short of fish images this year (sadly) would you be happy to share Gary?

Gary M said:

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Beauty, thanks Gary

I'm a rather fresh salmon angler but I think I'm starting to understand how present day Avon fishing works and why there are rods, including some very open minded, experienced and skilful anglers who go seasons without landing a fish. It all boils down to luck and readiness for a few weeks in June. Why?

1. Given the small spring run - 50 to 100 fish - even going out weekly from opening until mid May is a lottery;
2. The summer months from end of June until close season are hit and miss due to high temperatures and abundant crowfoot;
3. There is no tackling of the autumn run because the season is the shortest in the country.
4. Even in peak season one still needs luck to be a member on the right section based on the year's weather and water levels, reach a fresh fish before others do, and manage to keep it on long enough to land it.

Am I getting this right?

I class it as a river that gets a run of fish rather than a ’Salmon river’

It appears to me that the rules both local and national, of when, how and where to fish during the season are designed to ensure the minimum salmon caught by rod. For example fly only when devon or mepps would be more effective.

Can someone explain why the season ends in August. Why is the Avon different from other rivers?

Flying F said:

It appears to me that the rules both local and national, of when, how and where to fish during the season are designed to ensure the minimum salmon caught by rod.

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This seems to be the standard practice of both the EA and NRW. Then after applying the restrictions they then say "oh look catches are falling" Of course they b*** well are, because you have stopped us using methods most appropriate to the season and river conditions.

Richardgw said:

This seems to be the standard practice of both the EA and NRW. Then after applying the restrictions they then say "oh look catches are falling" Of course they b*** well are, because you have stopped us using methods most appropriate to the season and river conditions.

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Hey hey! Whilst shrimp/prawn is allowed on Hants Avon on many rivers it's banned yet there is no better method for lip hooking and C&R! Some of these rivers/clubs still allow worming which a lot of the time are deep hooked yet prawn is banned. Madness!! Don't get me wrong I'm not anti-worm I still occasionally fish it but strike assoon as I get a certain pull, whilst iv not had many on worm in recent years iv not had one deep hooked. Like you say restrict methods/,times/conditions catches will fall. Notwithstanding runs are diminishing to critical levels. But if your going to release everything why restrict methods??