Stillwater · Chalk · Hampshire, GB-ENG

Sparsholt Trout Fishery

Sparsholt is a spring-fed chalk fishery in Hampshire, which puts it in rare company.

Marginal · Rainbow
Partridge and Orange · 14–16
A patient day, if you fancy it
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Slow going — pick your moments and do not force it.
42% confidence
limited data
What moved it
  • WindNE 19 km/hGentle breeze · Gusts to 30 km/h
Today's fly
Partridge and Orange
Partridge and Orange14–16
Upstream, in the film
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Gentle breeze · Gusts to 30 km/h
NE 19 km/h
N
NE
from the north-east
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp10.7°C
Air temp8°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1005 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Head to
Wind driftNE wind
North-eastern end

A northeasterly has held for most of a day, running colder than the water (7°C air against 11°C water). The end it blows into is taking that chilled surface water, so try the sheltered north-eastern end instead — off the back of the wind, where the undertow returns food along the bottom. That chill sits in the top of the water, though, and the bed is slower to feel it — on a bottom bait it is the undertow, not the temperature, that puts you at this end. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Conditions are not ideal but fishable at Sparsholt Trout Fishery. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently. Advice is based on the typical character of hampshire & wessex chalk-fed small fisheries — local knowledge of this specific fishery will sharpen these suggestions.
Where
Start with Pheasant Tail Nymph (14–16) — on the point — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
The plan
Plan A

Start with Pheasant Tail Nymph (14–16) — on the point — slow figure-of-eight retrieve. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.

Plan B

Slow down everything. A booby on a fast-sinking line, left static, can pick up deep fish.

Watch for

Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.

Bank

Bank-only venue. Fish from accessible margins, points, weed edges, and inflows.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Through the year
0–3 scale · November highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Buzzer team todayfor the conditions now
Point
Black buzzer, orange thorax
Not in this water's box
#10
How to fish it
Intermediate line · let the breeze drift the team, then hang it 15–30 s

Fly recommendations

Point fly shown — supporters see the whole team, sizes and why.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box

Spider-heavy and practical. Strong tradition of North Country soft hackles, useful nymphing, and simple dry flies when fish rise properly.

What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
59%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp60%

A reasonable day here, though cloud isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Other water nearby · 5
River Kennet
3.0 km
Brown trout · Grayling
River Lambourn
8.0 km
Brown trout
Sutton Springs Fishing at Testwood
22 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Amport Trout Fishery
23 km
Rainbow trout
Manningford Trout Fishery
25 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Chalk-stream country gives it gin-clear, stable, cool water — the trout get a long unhurried look at your fly, and they use it, inspecting the offering like a jeweller examining a suspect diamond. This is the most technical stillwater fishing you'll find: fine tippets, small flies, and an eye for exactly what the fish is taking and where in the water column. The reward is fish in superb condition and an honesty to the fishing that put-and-take waters rarely match. On a calm bright day you'll need everything you've got. A soft overcast with a breath of breeze is a gift — take it. Best read by wind, light and water temperature.

  • Fishery
  • Chalk
Why this score
  • winter conditions with overcast skies and breezy wind.
  • Patterns drawn from the Hampshire & Wessex Chalk-fed Small Fisheries regional profile.
Related guides
Small Stillwater Playbookstillwater tacticsFly Fishing for Beginnersnew to fly fishing? start hereThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
At a glance

Sparsholt Trout Fishery is a stillwater fishery in Hampshire, England. The catchment geology is recorded as chalk, and the water sits at about 141 m above sea level. Species listed for this water: rainbow trout and brown trout. Best window recorded for anglers: Spring and autumn; overcast days; olive and buzzer hatches. Core methods listed: Sight-fishing with small nymphs; Static buzzer fishing on fine tippet; Suspender buzzer in the surface film. Nearby waters in our listings include River Kennet at 3.0 km, River Lambourn at 8.0 km and Sutton Springs Fishing at Testwood at 22 km.