Hampshire Avon
Bisterne Manor - May 2009
I am lucky enough to have a chance to fish the Hampshire Avon occasionally for salmon through the Surrey Branch of the Fly Dressers Guild. Now as most salmon anglers will tell you, fishing for Avon salmon is not a numbers game, unless you count numbers of blank days per fish. So it was with some trepidation that Ian Mackenzie and I went down to explore the Middle beat of the Bisterne Manor water.
Ian is a very experienced salmon angler while I am a relative novice in regard to this species. That I was under equipped became immediately obvious as part of the fishery required a double handed rod and I had only my trusty 8 weight Loomis saltwater rod.
Ian started fishing on the bushy bit and on his fourth cast got stuck into a fish. He shouted out that it wasn't very big and probably a sea trout. I'd seen the tail and if it was a sea trout it was a very big one. As it scorched off across the river it became apparent that it was a salmon, and not only a salmon but a fresh silver cock fish that had no intention of giving in quietly.
Thankfully, Ian's double hooked "Monkey" proved up to the job and the fish was landed. We estimated the weight at around 15lbs and apart from a small abrasion on its right side near the dorsal fin, it was a perfect fish, beautifully proportioned and nicely marked. After a quick photo it went back into the river none the worse for its adventure and we carried on fishing without further incident in the rain.
Fishing for salmon on the Hampshire Avon at Bisterne Abbey
Ian Mackenzie with a 15lb cock salmon caught at Bisterne Manor on May 2009