TackleIndex
RiverClub water · Members

Countess Fishery

Plan a session

Countess Fishery is a cracking 1,200-yard club stretch on the Upper River Avon, roughly nine miles north of Salisbury. It’s mainly a fly-fishing water, with stocked and wild trout plus grayling running throughout.

Run by Salisbury & District Angling Club · checked 15 Oct 2026

River level

River level integration coming for this stretch.

My River Watch isn't available here — we haven't matched a level gauge to this stretch, and we won't guess one.

The lowdown

  • This is described by S&DAC as a prime bit of Upper Avon. Proper rural surroundings too, despite being fairly close to the A303 and Amesbury.
  • The lower beat is deep and slow-flowing, with an open aspect and not much in the way of obstructions. Nice and tidy for working the water.
  • Upstream, things change. The water gets shallower and faster, giving the stretch a bit more pace and character.
  • It’s primarily a fly-fishing fishery for trout and grayling. The club reports a good head of stocked trout, backed up by a good head of wild trout.
  • Grayling are present throughout the fishery, so there’s plenty to keep an eye out for beyond the trout fishing.
  • There’s no tally system, which is bob on. You can wander at will rather than being tied to a set peg or beat.
  • The water is considered suitable for right-handed anglers, worth bearing in mind when planning your approach and casting position.
  • Access is from Countess Road, near the overhead cables crossing the A345. The entrance gate has a combination lock, so sort the access details before setting off.
  • A new car park is provided exclusively for S&DAC members. It’s about 170 yards down the access track, so you’re not parking right beside the water.
  • The fishery is currently listed as open on the club’s traffic-light fisheries page. It forms part of S&DAC’s managed River Avon game-fishing portfolio, with improvement projects identified for the water.
  • We're not sure on ticket prices for this one — check with the club or local regulations before you leave.

Methods: This is mainly a fly water, with the deeper, slower lower beat and shallower, quicker upper section offering different bits of river to explore. The no-tally setup lets you wander and find the water that looks on the munch.

Access & tickets

S&DAC membership

Membership access for Countess Fishery; public day tickets are not advertised.

Buy membership through the club’s Clubmate portal, where members can also download fishery maps and rules. The 2026–27 guide lists an additional £20 joining fee.

Fish the club names

trout

Key rules

  • Membership water rather than a public day-ticket stretch.
  • Entrance gate has a combination lock.
  • No tally system; anglers may wander at will.
  • Suitable for right-handed anglers.
  • Fishery is listed as open on the club’s current traffic-light fisheries page.

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

Where it is

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

Community reported

Recent angler updates

No angler updates yet — that's normal. Be the first to help the next angler.

How busy was it?

Nobody's said yet. It's part of the 20-second update below.

No live tracking — this is what anglers told us after their session, and it's never part of the venue score.

Water updates from anglers

No active water updates.

Help other anglers