Chalk-stream evening escape: River Ebble beats
Alvediston headwaters: 1ft riffles, buzzer nights, June–August
Alvediston headwaters sit at the true start of the River Ebble, where 1ft riffles thrum with buzzer hatches from June to August. The Ebble runs 12 miles from Alvediston to Bodenham near Salisbury. Brown trout — brownies locally — average 8–12in; fish to 2lb show in the lower glides. Grayling mix with trout and hold mid-water while brownies pick emergers along edges. Use small dry fly patterns and long leaders for sight work.
Coombe Bissett Glide
Access by the public footpath off the A354; park at the village edge and wade upstream 200yds to a shaded pool. Dusk sipping peaks at sunset plus thirty minutes. Focus on the 2ft runs where olives and sedges fall; a delicate presentation wins.
Bowerchalke Bend
A 300yd overgrown stretch with undercut banks and 1lb residents. Reach it from Bowerchalke lanes; drop a #18–20 emerger tight to the seam. Sedge peaks at 19:00–20:00 in high summer.
Hursley Stretch
Minor lanes give to alder-lined pools of 2–4ft. These lesser-fished holes produce evening duns in July; fish slowly and let the fly sit. Greyling show in cooler tails.
Fordingbridge Tail
Terminal glides average 3ft and hold the bigger brownies — 1.5–2lb shapes in warmer months. Evening window stretches to 20:00–21:00 on long summer nights; present a surface fly before switching to buzzer patterns.
Practical kit and timing
Evening peaks run May–July, roughly 19:00–21:00 depending on sunset. Match olives, sedges and buzzer stages with #16–20 dry flies on 2-3wt rods and 6–7ft leaders. Wading quietly and reading shallow lanes are the constant skills here.
Recommended: lightweight trout rod