126 SOUTH COUNTRY TROUT STREAMS 



some information about this stream as well as one 

 or two other Wiltshire waters. The trout do not 

 rise much above Manningford, though occasionally 

 heavy fish are taken at and above Pewsey. The 

 trouting begins to be good at Woodbridge, where 

 it has been carefully preserved of recent years. 

 Last season there were plenty of fish in the stream, 

 which is much sought after by anglers down to 

 Stratford, near Salisbury. At Syrencot, Mr. 

 Knowles, a keen dry fly fisherman, about seven 

 years ago put in grayling — which of course further 

 down is a celebrated Avon fish — and they have 

 done very well there. For some three miles both 

 up and down stream from Syrencot there are now 

 good grayling. Forty or fifty years ago Amesbury 

 used to be famous for its trout, and great sport was 

 to be had with them in the May-fly season. Sir 

 Edmund Antrobus, who owns a considerable stretch 

 of the Avon at this point, has encouraged the pike 

 in past times, and it is only within the last four 

 years or so that an effort has been made to keep 

 down these fish and encourage the trout. A 26-lb. 

 pike has been taken out of the water near Ames- 

 bury with rod and line, and lower down stream at 

 Wilsford an angler only last season took fourteen 

 pike, averaging some 8 lbs. or 9 lbs. apiece. At 

 Netton an effort is being made to prepare the water 

 for trout. A huge haul of pike was made last year 

 at the first cast of the net — I am afraid to say how 

 many. In a few years the Avon, if this war against 

 the pike be continued, should be a fine trout water 

 above Salisbury. At present the best trouting is 

 between Amesbury and Upavon, where, besides Sir 

 Edmund Antrobus, the principal owners are Mr. 

 Ledger Hill, Mr. Fowle, Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, 



