Last month, we had the pleasure of hosting our second annual group trip on the English Chalkstreams. From our base in the charming historical town of Stockbridge, we struck out every day to fish new water on the famed rivers where modern fly fishing was born. This year saw excellent fishing on varied water, some long, warm summer days and many cool evening pints in wonderfully traditional British pubs.
A roaring success, which we’re already planning to repeat next year. Here’s a breakdown of exactly how this year’s trip played out. Interested in adding your name to the waiting list for May 2027? Drop us a line at info@fishpatagonia.com to register your interest.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Trip Structure
Firstly, a word to explain how we do things here. You might be wondering how we branched out from the wilds of Patagonia to the decidedly civilised English countryside. This trip developed completely organically.
We were invited here to fish with a friend from Patagonia who inherited a beat on the Test a few years ago, while on our first trip to the UK together (Holly’s ancestral home). It turns out Peter’s fishing style is just as irresistible to trout in the Northern Hemisphere as they are in the South, and it was a rather successful day out.
The following year, we were back and hungry for more. This time Peter helped some old friends and guests of ours organise a couple of days fishing, which was very much enjoyed by all. And so an idea was born: why not apply our method of organising fishing trips in Patagonia, to a week on the Chalk Streams during our off season?
2025 was our first highly successful full week’s trip, and this year we returned in May with another group of four anglers. We put our guests up in the wonderfully charming English country hotel – The Grosvenor – and organise a series of varied beats in the area to fish for the week. Peter is aided in beat selection and guiding by Rollo of Hookafly Fishing, our trusted local guide and friend. The team may fish together for the day or split up to cover different beats with a traditional British picnic lunch, then meet back together in Stockbridge in the evening for a team meal. Or – if weather permits, this being the UK – we gather on the banks of the river for an evening BBQ. Holly is on hand all week to direct operations, picnics and riverside cocktails (Peter remains firmly in charge of the BBQ).
What a way to kick off British summertime.
The Conditions
The week began with a bit of a heatwave, by UK standards. We were met with warm temperatures more akin to Patagonian summer, and dazzlingly bright days. As a result, the best fishing often took place during the evening hours, when the light softened and the rivers came alive with hatches.
The Fishing
Day 1
After an afternoon spent catching up over a drink and stocking up on supplies for the week at the local fly shops on arrival day, our first day out on the water took us to the River Itchen.
The beat we fished holds only wild – rather than stocked – trout, making for an exciting but highly technical day, as the fish were exceptionally spooky under the bright sun. The afternoon proved challenging, but things changed dramatically towards the evening. From around 6pm onwards, the hatch intensified, and we managed to land several beautiful wild brown trout. A solid start on a beat that felt akin to the Patagonian wilds.
Day 2
Day 2 took us to the Upper Kennet. We found ourselves on a stunning and immaculately maintained beat, and were delighted to find that despite the bright conditions the fishing remained productive throughout the day. Multiple quality brown trout were brought to hand, and Holly pitched up with a riverside barbecue that allowed us to stay on the water into the evening. Although the hatch was not particularly heavy that night, we still connected with some excellent fish as the sausages sizzled in the background and the sun slowly set on the river.
Day 3
On Day 3 the group split up, with one party heading to the Lower Itchen and the other returning to the Kennet. The Lower Itchen held plenty of fish, and although they were not actively rising we managed to tempt them to the surface with carefully presented dry flies. A bit of cloud cover and intermittent rain helped conditions considerably, resulting in some cracking fish.
Meanwhile, the Kennet fished exceptionally well. The mayfly hatch was the strongest we had ever seen there, and the fishing reflected it. Everyone returned amazed by both the quantity and quality of the trout, as well as the buglife.
Day 4
Day 4 was another split day. One group returned to the Kennet under slightly overcast skies with Peter, and the fishing was truly outstanding. Mayflies were present from early in the day, with trout rising steadily throughout the morning. By lunchtime, more than a dozen fish had already been landed. The evening hatch was phenomenal, with fish rising everywhere across the river. Surprisingly, the trout proved far more selective during the evening than they had been earlier in the day, forcing us to work harder for each fish. Even so, we ended the day with well over two dozen trout landed: an incredible result by any standard (if we’re talking numbers).
The second group spent the day on the River Test. While the hatch was not as intense as on the Kennet, the fishing was still excellent. The highlight of the day came in the form of the largest trout of the trip, landed by David Coggins. What the day lacked in numbers, it certainly made up for in quality.
Day 5
Day 5 brought the gang back together on a wonderful beat of the River Test at Wherwell Estate. It was another warm and sunny day, making the fishing highly technical during the morning hours. Despite the difficult conditions, the team landed some beautiful trout. Small CDC mayfly emergers proved to be the standout pattern for most of the day. In the evening, the spinner fall was truly spectacular, and the fishing exploded into life. Multiple large brown trout were brought to the net, ending the day on a real high.
Day 6
For our final day on the Chalk Streams, we all headed back to the iconic River Test. Windy conditions made the morning fishing challenging, but good trout continued to take mayfly patterns. To celebrate our final evening on the river, we laid on another riverside barbecue while rods were still bent and fish continued to rise. Skirt steak sizzled as Peter and master griller Marco (we have taught him well on the Argentine asado back home in Patagonia) took control of the coals.
The evening hatch and spinner fall were excellent, producing several more large brown trout before darkness settled over the river.
Summary
The English Chalk Streams once again exceeded all expectations, and we are already looking forward to returning next year with another group of anglers.
If you’re interested in joining us, get in touch to receive updates on this trip, and a few other ideas we have brewing for hosted trips around the world…
