Ringwood Fishery, River Avon (Hampshire), Dorset–Hampshire boundary

The lowdown

• This is boundary-country Avon fishing: Ringwood sits beside the river on the Dorset–Hampshire line. Christchurch Angling Club manages the fishery, with Somerley Estate water and the Severals on either side of it.
• There’s a cracking mix of water to consider, rather than one uniform run. Deep pools and shallow runs are both named, so keep those contrasting features in mind when choosing your swim.
• Bridge pools and side channels add another layer to the layout. They’re part of this fishery’s character, alongside the main river splits and stream junctions — plenty to think about before settling on a spot.
• Winter trotting gets a specific nod from the club around the river splits and stream junctions. That’s the clearest seasonal steer here, and a bob-on starting point if a float session is your thing.
• The named fish include barbel, chub, dace, roach, perch, pike and grayling. Bream, eels, brown trout, salmon and sea trout also appear on the stretch’s list; it’s a broad mix, not a catch promise.
• Access needs a little planning. There’s club-lock access, and housing restricts parts of the left bank. Don’t assume you can simply follow that bank uninterrupted from one end to the other.
• For the upper access, look for the signed car park beside the A338 roundabout and electricity substation. Lower access uses the gravel public car park off the Verwood-junction slip road — two distinct arrival options.
• Sort the practical bits before loading up. There are no toilets, dogs aren’t allowed, and the venue isn’t open throughout the year. Night sessions need a river night permit, and the water beside the Fish Inn is excluded.

Methods: The club recommends winter trotting around river splits and stream junctions. You can use up to two rods, and braided mainline is permitted; check the lure restrictions before packing the tackle bag.

Access & tickets

Arrange membership or an eligible guest ticket through Christchurch Angling Club; annual membership runs for 365 days from joining. Buy holiday membership before entering, and follow the current guest-ticket page’s one-guest limit rather than the venue table’s two.

Fish the club names

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

Key rules

• Maximum two rods; braided mainline is permitted.
• Up to two guests are permitted. Public day tickets are not available.
• Dogs are prohibited.
• Club-lock access applies.
• The venue is not open throughout the year.
• Night fishing requires a river night permit and is prohibited beside the Fish Inn.
• Bivvies are prohibited on club rivers.
• For coarse-fish and pike lure fishing, spinners, spoons and Devon minnows are prohibited.

River level

Where it is