Fishing the Itchen Navigation

The Itchen Navigation

The Itchen Navigation, running from Woodmill in Southampton to Winchester, was constructed following an Act of Parliament of 1665. This enabled navigation up the valley, as far as Winchester, for shallow draft barges 14 feet wide and about 70 feet long.

A horse towing path ran the full length of the navigation and there were 15 locks mainly constructed with turf sides. One was Compton Lock, (also known as Twyford Lock), which is on the west side of Twyford Meads. The old lock is almost circular, and the lock gates have been replaced by the weir and footbridge. Commercial traffic on the navigation ended in 1869.

Fishing

The Itchen Navigation here holds a thriving population  of fish, particularly brown trout, grayling, roach, eels and minnows.

The Itchen Navigation Preservation Trust (INPT) manages the fishing rights on the east bank of the Itchen Navigation that is adjacent to Twyford Meads from Compton Lock down to the pub bridge – see map at bottom of page.

Day tickets for fishing are available by giving a suggested donation of between £10 and  £20 to the INPT through www.justgiving.com/campaign/twyfordfishing

The INPT is a registered charity, number 1201965, that promotes for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the Itchen Navigation

Kids Fish for Free

We want to encourage more young people to go fishing and offering all children under the age of 17 free fishing.

Rod licence

All anglers aged 13 and over must hold an Environment Agency rod licence available from www.gov.uk/fishing-licences

Rod licences for children aged between 13 and 16 are free but must be downloaded before fishing.

Children under 13 do not need a rod licence.

Key Rules

• Pay your donation before you go fishing and keep hold of the receipt or email as proof of your day ticket to show bailiffs.
• Catch and release only. All fish must be returned alive. Anglers must have a suitable landing net and unhooking mat.
• Barbless or micro barbed hooks only.
• No spinning, lure fishing or using worm or maggot baits at anytime.
• No wading between 31st of October and 15th May.
• All anglers must possess a valid rod licence, and this must be produced upon request to an authorised bailiff.
• Follow Environment Agency southern byelaws at all times: www.gov.uk/guidance/regional-rod-fishing-byelaws-south-east-region

Code of conduct

• Pedestrians using the footpath always have priority.
• Please be thoughtful and considerate when fishing from the footpath and do not block the footpath with equipment or endanger others.
• Be respectful to other river users including paddlers and walkers, and share the water considerately.
• Respect the natural environment – take litter home.
• If you accidentally lose fishing tackle that you cannot retrieve, please report to admin@itchennpt.org as soon as possible.

Extent of Fishing Area