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Bisterne Fishery, River Avon (Hampshire), Week Farm access on the Dorset side

Bisterne Estate’s Avon fishery offers varied swims and plenty of water, with large chub and barbel the main draw. Week-side access goes through Week farmyard on the Dorset side — but check availability before setting off, as the estate’s older fishing page carries a November 2023 closure notice.

Run by The Bisterne Estate · checked 5 Oct 2026 · boundaries only partly described by the club

The lowdown

  • Chub and barbel are the headline targets here, with large fish of both species highlighted by the club. Proper reasons to get the tackle ready, without overlooking the other fish named for this Avon fishery.
  • There’s more than one bit of bank to consider: Bisterne Fishery has three beats. The club describes varied swims and extensive available water, so this isn’t presented as a single, tightly defined run of pegs.
  • The wider species mix includes bream, dace, eels, grayling, perch, pike and roach. That gives the fishery a broader appeal than just its two headline targets, although there’s no swim-by-swim breakdown to steer you towards a particular fish.
  • Keep the published coarse-fishing windows in mind: 1 August–31 October and 1 February–14 March. Those are the dates to plan around, rather than assuming the bank is open throughout the usual river coarse season.
  • For this approach, you pass through Week farmyard, park where indicated and walk to the river. Keep that little sequence in mind when sorting your kit; there are no toilets listed, either.
  • Christchurch Angling Club’s arrangement allows six member coarse rods daily, with a maximum of twelve visits per membership year. Collect your ticket from Ringwood Tackle on the fishing day, before entering any estate land.
  • Public coarse day tickets are advertised too, but don’t just rock up expecting a ticket. The older estate instructions point to the keeper’s house at 28 Bisterne and carry that November 2023 closure notice; Lynn Coombes is the current fishing-enquiry contact.
  • Your published fishing day starts at 7am and ends one hour after sunset. There’s no cheeky overnight session: night fishing is prohibited, and the tackle limit is two rods.
  • We're not sure on ticket prices for this one — check with the club or local regulations before you leave.

Methods: Large chub and barbel are the main targets; braided mainline is permitted and you can use a maximum of two rods. For pike, leave livebait, spinners, spoons and Devon minnows out of the plan — all are prohibited.

Access & tickets

Public coarse-fishing day ticket

Advertised for Bisterne Fishery. Confirm availability and collection arrangements with Lynn Coombes; the older estate fishing page carries a November 2023 closure notice.

Christchurch Angling Club member ticket

Six member coarse rods daily. Collect from Ringwood Tackle on the fishing day before entering estate land. Maximum twelve visits per membership year; no guest tickets.

For current availability and public day-ticket arrangements, contact Lynn Coombes at lacoombes62@gmail.com before travelling. Christchurch Angling Club members collect their tickets from Ringwood Tackle on the fishing day, before entering estate land.

Fish the club names

barbel, chub, bream, eel, perch, pike, roach

Key rules

  • Published coarse seasons: August 1–October 31 and February 1–March 14.
  • Access is from 7am until one hour after sunset; night fishing is prohibited.
  • Maximum two rods; braided mainline is permitted.
  • No livebait, spinners, spoons or Devon minnows when pike fishing.
  • Dogs are prohibited.
  • Club members must collect their fishing-day ticket from Ringwood Tackle before entering estate land.
  • The club arrangement allows six member coarse rods daily and twelve visits per membership year.
  • Guest tickets are not permitted under the club arrangement.

Coarse fishing on English rivers is closed from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. That's the law for coarse fish on rivers — it's not a club rule, and game-fishing seasons work differently.

GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fish

River level

Measured — Environment Agency

Knapp Mill gauge

Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.

Loading latest reading…

We don't publish an "ideal level" — nobody can promise one. Flood water is dangerous: if it's up and coloured, stay well back from the edge. Open River Ready

Where it is

Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.

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