AS Autumn fishing gets under way in earnest, local rivers have responded by giving anglers plenty of quality fish to enjoy.

The Avon at Britford is fishing well for roach and dace while further downstream large barbel and chub have been caught.

The Stour has also produced some big barbel and chub, and this is despite low water levels and an absence of weed on both rivers.

Heading the list of big barbel is one of 15lb 10oz from the Severals stretch of the Avon, near Ringwood, while a stretch of the Avon on the Somerley estate provided a barbel of 14lb 3oz.

Barbel enthusiast, Pete Reading, banked one of just over 14lb from the Avon at Ibsley.

The Lifelands fishery has yielded two big chub, one of 7lb 8oz and another of 7lb 4oz, while the Stour at Manor Farm has given anglers bream to 8lb, barbel to 15lb 2oz and chub to 7lb 4oz.

Big roach have started to put in appearance at the Britford stretch of the Avon near Salisbury, with one of 2lb 11oz from the main carrier. Anglers have also enjoyed good sport with bags of quality dace.

Roach from a few ounces to around 2lb are being caught from both the carrier and the main river.

The region's lakes are also fishing well as temperatures have not yet fallen sufficiently low enough to put a brake on stillwater sport. Nigel Tupper visited Barnmoor Lake at Witherington Farm Fishery recently and in just an afternoon and evening session banked 14 double-figure carp with the best at 22lb 2oz.

With a lot of rain forecast and temperatures still holding up to slightly above the seasonal average, prospects for continued good sport look promising.