The Itchen is regarded as one of the finest English chalk streams and anglers from all over the world are attracted to the river for the quality of its fly fishing. Matt Baker and Ellie Harrison from Countryfile visited the Hampshire region. Matt Baker casts off at the opening of the trout fishing season on the River Itchen, if you missed it here’s your chance to see it again.
The Itchen has always been famed for its fish. The fisherman’s bible ‘The Compleat Angler’ drew inspiration from this river and the money generated from buying and selling fishing rights is a substantial boost to the rural economy. Matt Baker explores a stretch of water running alongside the river, which manages to look natural despite being created 
400 years ago as a navigation channel to transport coal and wool back and forth to Winchester. All that was a very long time ago – and since then the channel has suffered from years of neglect. Now, in the year of their fiftieth anniversary, the local wildlife trust is working hard to restore the waterway and Matt has pulled on his waders to give the conservation volunteers a hand. Missed the show click here The BBC will repeat the programme Friday 15th April at 01:55
If you are interested in finding out more about fishing the River Itchen for trout and salmon please view our Test & Itchen pages on FishPal or speak to one of our customer services team at our offices on 01573 470 612. Tight Lines
