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The Mill |
Chalk stream FishingRiver TestIn every respect, the River Test is the pre-eminent chalk stream. Physically, it is the longest; 39 miles from source to estuary. Historically, it is generally regarded as the birthplace of modern fly fishing. In literature, Halford, Plunkett Greene and Skues, to name but a few immortalised the Test in their fishing writings. The Test rises in north Hampshire in the hamlet of Ashe, not Overton as generally supposed. It then travels on a south-west curve, growing in width and flow as first the Bourne, and then the Dever and the Anton join the main river. At no point in its first 35 miles can the Test be regarded as one river. For it is an amalgam of the main channel, tributaries, carriers man-made for water meadow irrigation, side streams, mill channels and feeders. At some points two, three or even four streams run parallel, all fishable and such is the nature of the river that it is often hard to deduce which is main river and which is carrier. On through the sheep grazed valley the river flows,
seemingly every sleepy, thatched village on its journey having some
part of fly fishing history. Below Stockbridge the river becomes appreciably
bigger, in places too wide to cast across. Then the Wallop Brook and
the Dun join the main river and it is only south of Romsey, a few miles
from the sea that the River Test finally becomes one single channel.
Cross to the island for the best pool on the beat. Above is a lovely section that is deep and fast, shaded by the woods on the opposite bank to take you to the end of the beat. Priory Beat
Day Rods
Minimum booking 3 Rods May 12 - June 9.
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THE PARSONAGE
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The Parsonage is one of the original Fishing Breaks beats, dating back over twenty years. It is a unique combination of the main River Test with a long carrier, all within the beautiful setting of woodland and water meadows. The main river is wide with a combination of long glides, deep pools and some shallow sections. There is a good wild trout population supplemented by regular stocking plus plenty of grayling and the occasional sea trout and salmon towards the end of the season. The carrier, recently extensively restored, is far more intimate fishing and the perfect place to break out a smaller rod. The beat is ideal for up to four Rods or larger parties.
There is an excellent Fishing Cabin overlooking the river
and plenty of parking. |
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| May 1-12 |
£175 per Rod |
| May 13-June 10 |
£295 per Rod |
June 11- July 31 |
£205 per Rod |
| August 1-October 13 | £175 per Rod |
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The Middleton Estate is in Longparish, one of the loveliest villages in the Test valley and probably the largest section of the River Test still in one family ownership. Running to many thousands of acres and with many miles of river there are two delightful beats on the Estate from which to choose.
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Home beat
| 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! The banks of the Home Beat 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 mill race that comes under the Turbine Barn that holds many good fish in the turbulent, deep water. Home Beat Rods have exclusive use of the Turbine Fishing Hut and good car parking is within a few yards. This beat is ideal for one or two Rods or for a party of 4-5 Rods if combined with the Half Water. |
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Half Water
| 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. Extensively restored over recent winters, this is a beat
that has a bit of everything: slow sections, fast sections,
deep holding sections, hatch pools. Parts of the beat run
through the water meadows, some parts are shaded by trees.
There is a good head of wild fish, supplemented by careful
stocking. |
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The Half Water has its own fishing hut at Dog Leg Hatch with a parking area. This beat is perfect for two or three Rods or can be combined with the Home Beat for 4-5 Rods.
Home and Half Water Beats
| May 1-12 |
£260 per Rod |
| May 13-June 9 |
£325 per Rod |
| June 10-July 31 | £215 per Rod |
| August 1-September 30 |
£199 per Rod |
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You will rarely find a more beautiful spot than this beat on the River Dever, an upper tributary of the Test where the four and a half miles of unspoilt chalk stream fishing is always crystal clear. It holds a special place in my affection because it was one of my first ever pieces of fishing, which we having lovingly cared for over the past twenty years. If sight fishing over bright gravel beds, picking out your fish with a dry fly between the waving tails of weed is your thing, then this is the place to head for. |
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Bullington Manor is excellent for the seasonal hatches we hanker for, where the chalkstream year may be measured by the flies you pluck from your box. There are four beats of roughly the same length and all double bank, but within that there are some variations that give each a distinct edge. They are listed in order, with Beat 4 the downstream beat starting at Barton Stacey village.
Beat 1
| Like all the beats, Beat 1 is double bank along its entire length, but with only one bank prepared. Starting upstream of the old mill this is the narrowest of the beats. Fish from the left bank until the halfway point where you cross to the opposite bank, so good for left handers. Two cracking hatch pools and a rarely fished section beyond
the disused railway viaduct. Share the Mill Cabin with Beat
2. |
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Beat 2
| There is plenty of variety on this beat, which runs through open water meadows and shaded wooded sections. Left hand bank (looking upstream) for the entire length. Starting out at Keepers Bridge it is classic chalkstream
that then turns into a slower, deeper section along Grayling
Alley culminating in the famous Ash Tree pool. Beyond that
the Tank Crossing is a banker as is the Mill race just short
of the cabin. Share the Mill Cabin with Beat 1. |
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Beat 3
| This is the beat that has the quirky Buckingham Palace fishing cabin and is the beat with the highest proportion of wild fish. Make your way along the back track through the woods to reach the bottom of the beat at Venice Bridge without disturbing a single fish. Fish from the right bank to get the very best from the Venice Bridge pool at the start, then return to the left for the remainder of the beat. Plenty of wide, fast and shallow sections, interspersed with pools and impoundments that have scoured out pools. |
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The final straight from the bridge to the Palace is a great holding section.
Beat 4
| If you want guaranteed protection from the weather, be it bright sun or wind, Beat 4 is perfect running through woodland from top to bottom. This beat has the greatest depth of the four and has a very slightly slower pace that suits the larger fish. Start from the Dever Castle cabin and work your way up the
left bank until you reach the beat end at Venice Bridge. The
final section to the bridge has some fantastic undercuts.
Not a good beat for a left hander. |
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Grayling During the grayling season we disregard the beat boundaries and all Rods are free to roam as they wish.
Beats 1, 2, 3 and 4
| April 22-May 12 |
£185 per Rod |
| May 13-June 9 (min 2 rods) |
£319 per Rod |
| June 10-July 31 (min 2 rods until June 30) | £213 per Rod |
August 1-October 13 |
£185 per Rod |
Grayling
October 14-November 30 |
£87 per Rod |
Min. booking 2 Rods April 16 - June 30.
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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. Fulling Mill is one of those rare places where you can get up so close to feeding fish that you can sometimes almost pick them up in your hand. The water clarity and the abundance of food are exceptional, where the fish are always on the look out for food. The beat breaks down into three sections; two wading and
one bank plus three hatch pools and one mill race that hold
trophy fish. A two time winner in the River
Test One Fly, this beat will often produce a day of a
lifetime. |
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April 29-May 12 |
£203 per rod |
May 13-June 9 |
£283 per rod |
June 10-July 31 |
£225 per rod |
August 1-September 30 |
£196 per rod |
Main, Oakley & Rectory Beats |
Mottisfont Abbey is quite simply the birthplace of modern day fly fishing. It is the very place where F M Halford, the man who can truly be said to have done more that any other to establish dry fly fishing as a sport in itself, fished at the height of his fame. The famous Oakley Hut, where Halford spent all the summers of the early twentieth century until his death in 1914, stands today almost exactly as it was in his day. The photographs in the Hut taken at that time show the river and fishing barely changed today to the way it was then which makes you truly feel you are following in the footsteps of a fishing great. The Mottisfont Estate comprises of three beautiful beats
on the River Test: the Oakley, Rectory and Main. Each is suitable
for two Rods and the three may be combined for a small party.
The River Dun beat is available by special request. |
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Mottisfont Abbey - River Test beats
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Min. booking 2 Rods until August 1.
Grayling – River Test & Dun beats
October 15 – November 30 |
£95 per Rod |
December 1 – 31 |
£75 per Rod |
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Wallop Brook is a tributary of the River Test which offers a variety of challenges for anyone who likes to seek out truly wild trout fishing. This is a small stream that requires stealth and patience that will be rewarded when one of the fish shows itself by pecking away at the surface. Otherwise it is very much a case of gentle, accurate casts to probe the likely holding spots. The beat flows through the water meadows of Nether Wallop.
This is an all catch and release beat , that is included at
no extra cost with any tuition, course, group or family booking
at Nether Wallop Mill. |
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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 or a party of six, the Meadows
is a relaxing and easy beat with excellent facilities.
Price includes VAT |
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Sometimes our river owners do not wish to have the full details and location of their fishing displayed on the web site, so the private label listing is required. At this particular River Test location there are three beats for up to four Rods in total. Two beats are on the main river, one of which is suitable for wading if you so wish. The third beat is a lovely carrier ideal for stalking. There is a full time keeper, easy parking and an excellent
fishing cabin with a veranda on the rivers’ edge. |
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| April 26-May 12 |
£400 per Rod |
| May 13–June 9 |
£500 per Rod |
| June 10–July 31 |
£400 per Rod |
August 1-September 30 |
£350 per Rod |
Minimum 3 Rods.
SCHOOL FARM River Dun (Test tributary)
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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. |
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The fishing is available for two or three Rods a day or small corporate
parties.
April 22-May 12 |
£279 per Rod |
May 13-June 9 |
£363 per Rod |
June 10-July 31 |
£297 per Rod |
August 1-October 13 |
£236 per Rod |
Minimum booking 2 Rods all season.
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The River Dun is one of the most important of the River Test tributaries, rising above Lockerley and joining the main river at Mottisfont Abbey. A recent Environment Agency fish survey rated it the best trout nursery in the Test catchment with four generations in a fifty yard stretch of our Dunbridge beat. Dunbridge is a little bit of chalkstream heaven, immaculately maintained with great fishing for one Rod or two friends. There are deep pools, fast riffles and plenty of shaded cover from the opposite bank that encourage fish to rise throughout the day. The river holds wild trout, grayling plus some really very large fish. Of all our beats this is one that regularly gets an evening rise. If you are looking for a beat where you can stumble out
of your bed and be on the river in moments this is the place
to be. The Mill Arms
is just 500 yards from the river and offers comfortable rooms
as does the self catering Riverside
Cottage. If you don’t have a car, the train station
in Dunbridge village connects to London in around two hours. |
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The fishing is available for one or two Rods.
April 20 -May 12 |
£185 per Rod |
May 13-June 9 |
£315 per Rod |
| June 10-July 31 |
£225 per Rod |
| August 1-October 13 |
£185 per Rod |
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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. The unique Nissen Hut, a welcome retreat for all Broadlands anglers, is lined with photographs and fish, trophies of visits by royalty, diplomats and film stars. This is a fine section of the River Test; wide, fast, varied and open, renowned for big brown trout, sea trout and the occasional salmon. There are three beats on the main River Test and two beats on the long carriers all carefully looked after by the resident keeper, Jon Hall. The main river beats take up to three Rods and each of the
two carriers two Rods each. On some days it is possible to
combine fishing on both for a small party so you may swap
between the beats at will. |
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River Test
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River Test Carrier
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Please note the Lower Carrier and Grove beats have a one tranquillity rating due to the proximity of the M27.
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Set in the heart of the Hampshire, the gin clear chalkstream waters of the River Anton are a delight for any river angler. The Upper Clatford beat is the perfect opportunity for classic sight fishing with the dry fly. A tributary of the River Test the Anton has a natural head of brown trout and large grayling, which are supplemented by carefully selected locally reared brown trout. Mostly fished from the bank, the beat does however have
a wading section from the weir to the top boundary. Please
note this is dry fly only until the end of July and restricted
to two Rod bookings. There is a fishing hut and parking. |
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May 1- May 12 |
£156 for 2 Rods |
May 13-June 9 |
£198 for 2 Rods |
June 10-September 30 |
£156 for 2 Rods |
The fishing in available for 2 Rod bookings only.
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The River Blackwater runs though Hampshire and Wiltshire. It is a tributary of the River Test. The river rises just to the east of the Wiltshire village of Redlynch, near Salisbury. It then flows east across the county boundary into Hampshire. Here it flows north of the village of Wellow and Wigley before joining the Test between Totton and Redbridge. Since buying Woodington Fishery five years ago the owner, John Hardeley, has done a huge restoration job on the river. Previously it was dark, heavily wooded and the banks inaccessible. But now it is very open, well stocked and has our lowest Difficulty rating. Early season it is good for brown trout and grayling with a run of sea trout from June onwards. The beat is extremely long at a shade under a mile, so plenty of space for one, two or a party of three Rods. There is plenty of variety to keep your interest as typically you will have a shallow section, deep pool and then a bend as you work upstream. The bank is kept well trimmed, with little to obstruct a back cast. New Zealand style (dry fly with a small nymph tied off the bend of the floating fly) or Czech nymphing highly recommended.
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The fishing is available for one to three Rods.
April 3-October 15 |
£59 per Rod |
Grayling October 16-March 15 |
£37 per Rod |
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Click for River Itchen Click for River Meon
For further details, please complete our enquiry form or e-mail info@fishingbreaks.co.uk
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Fishing Breaks Ltd, The Mill, Heathman Street, Nether Wallop
Stockbridge, Hampshire SO20 8EW
Tel: 01264 781988. Fax: 01264 782590. E-mail: info@fishingbreaks.co.uk