Chalk stream Fishing

Park beat

Priory beat

Wherwell Priory is one on the most idyllic country estates in Hampshire’s famous River Test valley, where the river flows through a tranquil parkland setting.

The resident river keeper, Terry Snellgrove, takes great care to maintain the Park & Priory beats using the time honoured skills for a clear flowing river, over bright gravel beds with blankets of waving ranunculus weed from which trout & fly life thrive.

The fishing comprises of just over 1.5 miles of double bank river, divided into two beats named The Park and The Priory. All of the fishing is from the bank, though there are some short sections that may be waded. Each beat has a comfortable Fishing Cabin.

April 27-May 9

£229 per rod

May 10-June 6

£311 per rod

June 7-July 31

£229 per rod

August 1-October 14

£198 per rod

The Parsonage is a prime beat of the River Test between Stockbridge and Romsey, sometimes referred to as "middle Test".

The beat, which runs through over a hundred acres of secluded woodland and water meadows, comprises of nearly 3/4 of a mile of main river and over a mile of carrier.

Having the freedom to fish both the carrier and main river gives plenty of variety.

The Parsonage has a very comfortable Fishing Cabin beside the river, with car parking adjacent.

May 1-10

£150 per Rod

May 11-June 8

£275 per Rod

June 9 - July 31

£175 per Rod

The Home Beat as the name suggests was, in days gone by the beat reserved for the Wills family. Indeed legend had it that the river keeper was instructed to fly a flag from the roof on the Turbine Fishing Hut when the hatch was on to save a wasted trip from the main house to the river!

Of the two beats this has the easier difficulty rating. The banks are easily navigated, the back cast is open in most places and over half the beat may be fished from the left or right bank. There is a terrific millrace that comes under the Turbine Barn that holds many a good fish in the turbulent, deep water

May 1-9

£229 per Rod

May 10-June 6

£254 per Rod

August 1-Sep 30

£178 per Rod

The Half Water is one of our longest single beats on the River Test, coming in at just over a mile in length. It is certainly not as manicured as the Home beat, but therein lies the secret of its success.

Over the years Jeff has managed the water in such a way that you have a bit of everything; straight open sections, twisty turny bits, tree overhangs, deep undercuts and fast, shallow sections. There is a good head of wild fish, supplemented by careful stocking.

May 1-9

£229 per Rod

May 10-June 6

£254 per Rod

August 1-Sep 30

£178 per Rod

You will rarely find a more beautiful spot than this beat on the River Dever, an upper arm of the Test.

The four and half miles of unspoilt chalk stream fishing is always crystal clear, making it perfect for sight fishing and stalking.

Bullington Manor is divided into four double bank beats, each up to a mile in length.

There is an early season hawthorn hatch and heavy mayfly hatch, with good evening rises during the summer.

April 15-May 9

£168 per Rod

May 10-June 6

£279 per Rod

August 1-Oct 13

£150 per Rod

October 20-November 30

£75 per Rod

The higher one ventures up the River Test system, the better the hatches, the clearer the water and the wilder the fish. There is no better way of summing up the fishing at Whitchurch Fulling Mill.

This is a true stalking paradise where the wild fish seem to peck away on the surface all day long, with a great variety of holding spots, pools and riffles.

The upper section is best fished by wading. The lower section from the bank, with a Mill race that has some monsters lurking in the tail water.

May 1-June 6

£246 per rod

June 7-July 31

£197 per rod

August 1-September 30

£171 per rod

The Mottisfont Abbey Estate has three magnificent beats on the River Test and a delightful stretch of the River Dun, immediately above its confluence with the Test.

All four beats are managed by the National Trust with the goal of providing the highest quality chalkstream fishing in a natural setting, providing the bankside and aquatic habitat to support the growing populations of wild fish, and promoting the eco-system in which all native flora and fauna can thrive. Each beat is perfect for two rods and has a private, picturesque and practical fishing hut.

The wide River Test sweeps in stately fashion down the Main Beat whilst the Rectory Stream is as pretty a piece of fishing as you will find anywhere in the world. But hold your breath for the Oakley Stream, a part of the living history of dry fly fishing and every bit as magical today.

The River Dun Beat has an exquisite meandering stretch of riffles and pools through water meadows above the hut and below it, a quiet glide through woodland to a spectacular weir pool at the bottom.

April 27-30

£179 per Rod

May 1-June 30

£281 per Rod

July 1-August 31

£230 per Rod

September 1-October 14

£179 per Rod

Wallop Brook is established as the premier wild trout tributary of the River Test.

This is an exceptionally long beat for just one or two Rods.

It is 1.7 miles of double bank fishing, that flows through meadows and woodland and best fished by a combination of stalking and easy wading. This is an all catch and release beat.

Prices include VAT.

Kimbridge Meadows is a tranquil collection of carriers that snake around woodland and water meadows beside the River Test between Stockbridge and Romsey.

Beautifully kept by the river keeper, Steve Brown, there is nearly a mile of water to cover, stocked with some of the largest brown, rainbow and blue trout you are ever likely to encounter in the Test valley.

Ideal for one to four Rods, the Meadows is a relaxing and easy beat with excellent facilities.

Price includes VAT

This is as close to fishing the famous Houghton Club water as most of us will ever come, as The Greyhound abuts the prestigious Bends beat.

The fishing is ideal for one or two Rods, with plenty of sizeable browns on this well known Test carrier.

With The Greyhound bar and restaurant at hand, it has never been so easy to quench your thirst between casts! If you would like to have a hamper delivered to the bank, book a table for lunch or reserve a room call The Greyhound on 01264 810833.

April 27-May 9

£75 per Rod

May 10-June 7

£117 per Rod

June 8- July 31

£95 per Rod

August 1 -October 14

£75 per Rod

SCHOOL FARM River Dun (Test tributary)

The River Dun is one of the most substantial of the River Test tributaries, rising above Lockerley and joining the main river at Mottisfont. The School Farm beat lies at about the mid-point, gently snaking through the lightly wooded valley and holding fish along its entire length.
 
School Farm is one of the most immaculately maintained estates in the river valley, with five star facilities for the fisherman. The beat is very well stocked with both browns and rainbows, the fishing offering a variety of glides, weirs and a hatch pool in a peaceful setting.
 
The fishing is available for two or three Rods a day or small corporate parties.

April 27 - 30

£404 for two Rods

May-June

£637 for two Rods

July-August

£485 for two Rods

September-October 14

£404 for two Rods

The River Dun is one of the most substantial of the River Test tributaries, rising above Lockerley and joining the main river at Mottisfont.

The Dunbridge beat lies just below School Farm and is a beautiful stretch with deep pools, fast runs and lazy back eddies under the trees of the opposite bank.

If you are looking for a beat where you can stumble out of your bed and be on the river, this is the place to be. The Mill Arms is just 300 yards from the river and offers comfortable rooms. Riverside Cottage offers self-catering accommodation.

If you don’t have a car, the train station at Dunbridge village (well, more of a halt really) connects to London in around two hours.

May 1-June 30

£281

June 9-August 31

£230

September 1-October 14

£179

NEW FOR 2010

The Broadlands Estate is one of the most famous names in fishing, renowned the world over for the River Test flowing through the estate that was the home of Earl Mountbatten of Burma and now Lord and Lady Brabourne.

This is one of the finest sections of the River Test; wide, fast, varied and open renowned for big brown trout, sea trout and the occasional salmon. There are three trout beats: Moorcourt, Grove and Longbridge each of which is double bank, all over ½ mile long and ideal for anywhere between one to four Rods.

April 27-May 10

£125 per rod

May 11-June 8

£195 per rod

June 9-July 31

£125 per rod

August 1-October 14

£100 per rod