The Wilton Fly Fishing Club, located in Salisbury, is a prestigious fishing club that has been in existence since 1876. With over seven miles of exclusive, keepered chalk stream fishing for wild brown trout and grayling, the club offers its members a truly unique fishing experience.
The main river is the Wylye, a tributary of the Avon catchment. Alongside the main channel, there are also narrower sinuous 'carriers' that branch off and meander through meadows, under willows, and over water cress beds before rejoining the main river. Fishing in these 'carriers' requires greater stealth and a refined skill set to catch the fewer but larger specimen fish that reside in these complex channels. Most of the river is wade-able, allowing members to fish conventionally.
The Wylye river itself is picturesque, starting in the Deverills near Maiden Bradley and flowing through chalk and green sand areas between wooded pastures and farmsteads. It passes through small agricultural hamlets like Norton Bavant, Sutton Veny, Wylye, Bapton, and Great Wishford before reaching the town of Wilton and eventually joining the Avon in Salisbury.
One unique aspect of the Wilton Club is its unbroken chain of permanent full-time River Keepers. These knowledgeable keepers have been living in the club's cottage since 1878, ensuring the river is well-managed and preserved for future generations.
The Wilton Club offers a classical chalk stream dry fly trout fishing experience that requires some experience in casting and stalking. It may not be suitable for beginners or those with limited experience in clear river fly-fishing. However, the club's members find this type of fishing both stimulating and rewarding.
Interestingly, once individuals become members of the Wilton Club, they tend to retain their membership for many years, some reaching over 35 years. Even individuals who live far away, sometimes in other continents, and cannot visit frequently, still maintain their membership.
For those interested in joining the historic and renowned Wilton Club, they can get in touch via email at enquiries@wiltonffc. Co. uk. If someone is specifically interested in fishing for wild brown trout in the Wylye, they can fill out a contact form on the club's website, and a representative will respond within 24 hours.
The website also offers a folio with comprehensive information about the club.