- Ecology: Good
- Chemical: Unknown
EA (England) · UKGB107042022670
Rules at a glance
- Beat booking
- Fly only
Water temperature for Brown Trout
Warm — slow20°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Brown Trout
When
Mayfly Duffer's Fortnight from mid-May through early June; the canonical hatch. Outside that window, BWO evenings June through September are the most consistent fishing — late afternoon into dusk, when fish settle on emergers and spinners.
Where
The classic chalk-stream sequence — pool-riffle-glide on flint gravel over chalk. Sit and watch the water before casting. Fish hold in known lies; the Test rewards spotting the rise, not blind covering.
Method
Upstream dry to spotted rising fish — match the size above pattern, Test trout inspect carefully. When no rise shows, Sawyer-style induced-take nymph upstream where the beat allows. No wading, no downstream presentation, no Czech or Euro nymphing — chalk-stream rules.
Kit
9 ft #4 — chalk-stream classic. Floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 5x or 6x tippet. Polarised glasses for spotting fish.
Why this works
Water at 20.4°C — above the brown trout caution line (18°C). Fish dawn or dusk only. Land it fast, wet hands, no air shots.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day
Hatch predictions
Today's headline hatch shown — see all 8 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 3 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence
Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.
Updated 13 hours ago
Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Grayling seasonSeason
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
Brown SedgeHatch
2
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Blue Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
2
Mayfly (Green Drake)Hatch
2
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Brown Trout fly box
Local classics: Grey Wulff·Pheasant Tail Nymph·Blue-Winged Olive
Beats · 18 · 5 reaches
The Test is not one fishery — it is a chain of estate beats, syndicate water, hosted-inn rods and agent-booked day beats, grouped here from the upper river down to the tidal lower Test. Some water is bookable by the day or season; the most famous middle-river beats are effectively members-only. There is no single Test permit — always confirm season, rules and price with the individual beat or agent before travelling.
Upper Test · 4 beatsDay rods
Leckford Estate (Longstock), Wherwell Estate, Bullington Manor, Middleton Estate — Half Water (Longparish)
The 4 beats
Leckford Estate (Longstock)Day tickets
Leckford Estate / John Lewis Partnership
The largest single block of bookable upper-river water — sixteen named river beats plus two lakes through classic Longstock water meadows. River days are sold day-by-day online as well as on season rods, and a river day is for up to two people fishing two rods.
Chalk-stream rules: fly-only, dry fly and upstream nymph, no wading on most beats. Confirm the individual beat's rules and weed-cutting dates when booking.
Wherwell EstateSeason rods
Wherwell Estate office
Seven named river beats and a private lake on intimate upper-river water, each beat with its own character from carrier junctions to willow-lined meanders. Trout run from early May to mid-October and grayling from mid-October to mid-March; day and season rods are arranged through the estate office. Beat 11 features in Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.
Fly-only chalk-stream rules; separate trout and grayling seasons. Confirm beat allocation and rules with the estate office.
Bullington ManorAgent booking
Bullington Manor (let via Fishing Breaks)
Around two and a half miles of unspoilt upper chalk stream split into four double-bank beats, with maintained huts and a resident keeper. Booked as day rods through the agent Fishing Breaks.
Middleton Estate — Half Water (Longparish)Agent booking
Middleton Estate (let via Fishing Breaks)
Just over a mile of varied main-river water at Longparish — slow glides, faster runs, deep holding sections and hatch pools — with a good head of wild fish supplemented by careful stocking. Hut and parking; suits two or three rods. Booked through Fishing Breaks.
Stockbridge & Houghton · 3 beatsMixed
Houghton Club (Stockbridge), The Greyhound Beat, Houghton Lodge (upper & lower beats)
The 3 beats
Houghton Club (Stockbridge)Members-only
The Houghton Club
Founded in 1822 and often called the oldest fly-fishing club in the world, the Houghton Club holds the prime water through Stockbridge and Houghton. Membership is for a small number of rods and there is no visitor route — listed here only so you know the headline middle-river beats are not bookable.
The Greyhound BeatGuide / lodge
The Greyhound on the Test (hosted) / Upstream Dry Fly
Double-bank fishing on famous Houghton-Club-adjacent water immediately upstream of Stockbridge, with a hatch pool and a riverside hut tied to the inn. Hosted/day-rod access through the Greyhound and the agent Upstream Dry Fly — this abuts Houghton Club water but is not Houghton Club access.
Houghton Lodge (upper & lower beats)Enquiry
Houghton Lodge
A privately let stretch just upstream of Houghton village, split into an upper carrier-stream beat (about half a mile) and a lower main-river beat (about 300 yards), each with a fishing hut. Season roughly 1 May–15 October; access by enquiry rather than open day-ticket retail.
Mottisfont & River Dun · 2 beatsDay rods
Mottisfont Abbey — Oakley, Rectory & Dun, Dunbridge (River Dun)
The 2 beats
Mottisfont Abbey — Oakley, Rectory & DunAgent booking
National Trust / Wilde Trout (agent)
Three historic beats including Oakley, the Halford dry-fly water, now managed for habitat and wild fish rather than heavy stocking. Day rods and exclusive use for up to four rods are arranged through Wilde Trout, April–October; pressure is deliberately light — only three fishing days a week and never two days running. Wading recommended on parts.
Wild-priority, habitat-restoration water — technical upstream dry fly and nymph. Light-pressure rules; confirm fishing days and wading guidance when booking.
Dunbridge (River Dun)Agent booking
Let via Fishing Breaks
An intimate beat on the River Dun, the Test tributary that joins at Mottisfont — deep pools, fast riffles and shaded cover holding wild trout, grayling and the occasional very large fish. Bank fishing for one rod or two friends; booked through Fishing Breaks.
Middle & Lower Test · 6 beatsDay rods
Lower Brook, Kimbridge / Ginger Beer Beat, The Parsonage, Timsbury Fishery (syndicate)…
The 6 beats
Lower BrookAgent booking
Let via Fishing Breaks
A prime middle-Test beat downstream of Compton Manor, almost all double-bank main-river fishing with open casting room. Cabin, riverside parking and keeper-tied flies; suits two to four rods. Booked through Fishing Breaks.
Kimbridge / Ginger Beer BeatAgent booking
Let via Fishing Breaks / Orvis (syndicate route)
About a third of a mile midway between Stockbridge and Romsey — steady flow, shallows, deeper sections and a turbulent hatch pool. Bookable exclusively for up to five rods with a thatched lodge and parking; syndicate membership opportunities also appear via Orvis.
The ParsonageAgent booking
Let via Fishing Breaks
Wide main river plus a long carrier — glides, deep pools and shallow runs holding wild and stocked trout, strong grayling, and the occasional late-season sea trout or salmon. Cabin and parking; ideal for up to four rods or larger parties. Booked through Fishing Breaks.
Timsbury Fishery (syndicate)Season rods
Timsbury Fishery Ltd
Over three miles of main river and carriers between Romsey and Stockbridge, divided into four private beats of two rods each. Fishing rights attach to company shares — shareholders normally fish a specified day once a fortnight — so this is members' water rather than a day-ticket fishery.
Brown trout on upstream dry fly and nymph; salmon must be returned; winter members may fish grayling and coarse. Syndicate share access, not a day ticket.
Timsbury 5Agent booking
Let via Fishing Breaks
A separate day-rod beat — roughly half a mile of main river plus a catch-and-release carrier — with mayfly and prolific later-summer sedge hatches. Suits three to five rods; booked through Fishing Breaks and distinct from the Timsbury Fishery syndicate.
Carrier is catch-and-release. A different product from the four-beat Timsbury Fishery Ltd syndicate.
Broadlands EstateSeason rods
Broadlands Estate
Around 4.5 km of the lower Test through the Broadlands Estate downstream of Romsey, fished across five named beats — Grove, Moorcourt, Longbridge, Lee Park and Rookery & Lord Louis — holding native brown trout, grayling and, on the lower river, salmon and sea trout. Available for both season rods and day tickets; 2026 trout season 3 April–16 October.
Upstream dry fly and nymph for trout, natural imitations only, no lures, hook size no greater than 10; wild fish returned; wading to knee depth only with buoyancy aids. Weed-cutting dates affect conditions.
Lower & Tidal Test · 3 beatsDay rods
Nursling Mill Trout Beat, The Little River, Nursling, Testwood — sea-trout night fishing
The 3 beats
Nursling Mill Trout BeatAgent booking
Let via Upstream Dry Fly
Double-bank main-river fishing from the Broadlands boundary downstream to Nursling Mill, with heavy mayfly hatches, large trout and the occasional salmon or sea trout. Lower-river water that fishes more heavily than the upper chalk stream; booked through Upstream Dry Fly.
The Little River, NurslingAgent booking
Let via Upstream Dry Fly
A mixed-species lower beat with both tidal and non-tidal water — classic chalk-stream upper sections and tidal lower water holding trout, sea trout, bass and coarse fish on the fly. Maximum two rods per day with lodge facilities; a different proposition from the upper-river dry-fly beats.
Tidal/transitional water — tide window, water colour and lower-river level matter more than hatch timing. Not an upper-river dry-fly beat.
Testwood — sea-trout night fishingAgent booking
Let via Upstream Dry Fly
Lower-river water centred on Testwood Pool, regarded as some of the best sea-trout fishing in southern England, fished at night through the summer run. A specialist night fishery, scored on tide, sea-trout movement and summer water temperature rather than the chalk-stream hatch.
Night fishing for sea trout — separate logic from day trout beats. Check tide windows, summer temperature safety and beat rules before booking.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Water here around 20°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.
Gallery · 8
Brownie on the Test 
Upstream dry fly fishing on the River Test 
River Test - Chalk Stream 
River Test at Mottisfont 
River Test near Mottisfont 
Houghton Lodge Gardens, The River Test 
River Test at Houghton Lodge Gardens Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
The full read · show the working · for Brown Trout · confidence 80%
How the 25 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature20 × 28%5.6
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time60 × 13%7.8
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity63 × 12%7.6
Limiting factor: Water temperature (20.4°C) is outside Brown Trout's preferred range (10–16°C)= 61
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitysurvey-backed invertebrate datasurvey
What would change the calculation
Cooler water — back toward the 10–16 °C ideal band — would lift the score and ease welfare.
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 3 April → 31 October
- Grayling 16 June → 14 March
Statutory window is 16 June – 14 March, but the Test treats grayling as a winter product. Most bookable beats run 1 October – December or November. Wherwell/Fullerton-style estate water may extend to mid-March. Always check the beat — windows vary widely.
Run as a winter fishery — most beats sell grayling 1 October → 31 December; the wider legal window is rarely offered.
Prime sport 1 October → 28 February
Salmon: Negligible (2026) — 187 adult salmon returned in 2024 — lowest in 35 years. Genetically unique chalk stream stock at critical risk. Not a salmon fishing destination.
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations
River Test
Water temperature for Brown Trout
Warm — slow20°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Brown Trout
When
Mayfly Duffer's Fortnight from mid-May through early June; the canonical hatch. Outside that window, BWO evenings June through September are the most consistent fishing — late afternoon into dusk, when fish settle on emergers and spinners.
Where
The classic chalk-stream sequence — pool-riffle-glide on flint gravel over chalk. Sit and watch the water before casting. Fish hold in known lies; the Test rewards spotting the rise, not blind covering.
Method
Upstream dry to spotted rising fish — match the size above pattern, Test trout inspect carefully. When no rise shows, Sawyer-style induced-take nymph upstream where the beat allows. No wading, no downstream presentation, no Czech or Euro nymphing — chalk-stream rules.
Kit
9 ft #4 — chalk-stream classic. Floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 5x or 6x tippet. Polarised glasses for spotting fish.
Why this works
Water at 20.4°C — above the brown trout caution line (18°C). Fish dawn or dusk only. Land it fast, wet hands, no air shots.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day
Hatch predictions
Today's headline hatch shown — see all 8 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 3 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence
Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.
Updated 13 hours ago
Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Grayling seasonSeason
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
Brown SedgeHatch
2
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Blue Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
2
Mayfly (Green Drake)Hatch
2
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Brown Trout fly box
Local classics: Grey Wulff·Pheasant Tail Nymph·Blue-Winged Olive
Beats · 18 · 5 reaches
The Test is not one fishery — it is a chain of estate beats, syndicate water, hosted-inn rods and agent-booked day beats, grouped here from the upper river down to the tidal lower Test. Some water is bookable by the day or season; the most famous middle-river beats are effectively members-only. There is no single Test permit — always confirm season, rules and price with the individual beat or agent before travelling.
Upper Test · 4 beatsDay rods
Leckford Estate (Longstock), Wherwell Estate, Bullington Manor, Middleton Estate — Half Water (Longparish)
The 4 beats
Leckford Estate (Longstock)Day tickets
Leckford Estate / John Lewis Partnership
The largest single block of bookable upper-river water — sixteen named river beats plus two lakes through classic Longstock water meadows. River days are sold day-by-day online as well as on season rods, and a river day is for up to two people fishing two rods.
Chalk-stream rules: fly-only, dry fly and upstream nymph, no wading on most beats. Confirm the individual beat's rules and weed-cutting dates when booking.
Wherwell EstateSeason rods
Wherwell Estate office
Seven named river beats and a private lake on intimate upper-river water, each beat with its own character from carrier junctions to willow-lined meanders. Trout run from early May to mid-October and grayling from mid-October to mid-March; day and season rods are arranged through the estate office. Beat 11 features in Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.
Fly-only chalk-stream rules; separate trout and grayling seasons. Confirm beat allocation and rules with the estate office.
Bullington ManorAgent booking
Bullington Manor (let via Fishing Breaks)
Around two and a half miles of unspoilt upper chalk stream split into four double-bank beats, with maintained huts and a resident keeper. Booked as day rods through the agent Fishing Breaks.
Middleton Estate — Half Water (Longparish)Agent booking
Middleton Estate (let via Fishing Breaks)
Just over a mile of varied main-river water at Longparish — slow glides, faster runs, deep holding sections and hatch pools — with a good head of wild fish supplemented by careful stocking. Hut and parking; suits two or three rods. Booked through Fishing Breaks.
Stockbridge & Houghton · 3 beatsMixed
Houghton Club (Stockbridge), The Greyhound Beat, Houghton Lodge (upper & lower beats)
The 3 beats
Houghton Club (Stockbridge)Members-only
The Houghton Club
Founded in 1822 and often called the oldest fly-fishing club in the world, the Houghton Club holds the prime water through Stockbridge and Houghton. Membership is for a small number of rods and there is no visitor route — listed here only so you know the headline middle-river beats are not bookable.
The Greyhound BeatGuide / lodge
The Greyhound on the Test (hosted) / Upstream Dry Fly
Double-bank fishing on famous Houghton-Club-adjacent water immediately upstream of Stockbridge, with a hatch pool and a riverside hut tied to the inn. Hosted/day-rod access through the Greyhound and the agent Upstream Dry Fly — this abuts Houghton Club water but is not Houghton Club access.
Houghton Lodge (upper & lower beats)Enquiry
Houghton Lodge
A privately let stretch just upstream of Houghton village, split into an upper carrier-stream beat (about half a mile) and a lower main-river beat (about 300 yards), each with a fishing hut. Season roughly 1 May–15 October; access by enquiry rather than open day-ticket retail.
Mottisfont & River Dun · 2 beatsDay rods
Mottisfont Abbey — Oakley, Rectory & Dun, Dunbridge (River Dun)
The 2 beats
Mottisfont Abbey — Oakley, Rectory & DunAgent booking
National Trust / Wilde Trout (agent)
Three historic beats including Oakley, the Halford dry-fly water, now managed for habitat and wild fish rather than heavy stocking. Day rods and exclusive use for up to four rods are arranged through Wilde Trout, April–October; pressure is deliberately light — only three fishing days a week and never two days running. Wading recommended on parts.
Wild-priority, habitat-restoration water — technical upstream dry fly and nymph. Light-pressure rules; confirm fishing days and wading guidance when booking.
Dunbridge (River Dun)Agent booking
Let via Fishing Breaks
An intimate beat on the River Dun, the Test tributary that joins at Mottisfont — deep pools, fast riffles and shaded cover holding wild trout, grayling and the occasional very large fish. Bank fishing for one rod or two friends; booked through Fishing Breaks.
Middle & Lower Test · 6 beatsDay rods
Lower Brook, Kimbridge / Ginger Beer Beat, The Parsonage, Timsbury Fishery (syndicate)…
The 6 beats
Lower BrookAgent booking
Let via Fishing Breaks
A prime middle-Test beat downstream of Compton Manor, almost all double-bank main-river fishing with open casting room. Cabin, riverside parking and keeper-tied flies; suits two to four rods. Booked through Fishing Breaks.
Kimbridge / Ginger Beer BeatAgent booking
Let via Fishing Breaks / Orvis (syndicate route)
About a third of a mile midway between Stockbridge and Romsey — steady flow, shallows, deeper sections and a turbulent hatch pool. Bookable exclusively for up to five rods with a thatched lodge and parking; syndicate membership opportunities also appear via Orvis.
The ParsonageAgent booking
Let via Fishing Breaks
Wide main river plus a long carrier — glides, deep pools and shallow runs holding wild and stocked trout, strong grayling, and the occasional late-season sea trout or salmon. Cabin and parking; ideal for up to four rods or larger parties. Booked through Fishing Breaks.
Timsbury Fishery (syndicate)Season rods
Timsbury Fishery Ltd
Over three miles of main river and carriers between Romsey and Stockbridge, divided into four private beats of two rods each. Fishing rights attach to company shares — shareholders normally fish a specified day once a fortnight — so this is members' water rather than a day-ticket fishery.
Brown trout on upstream dry fly and nymph; salmon must be returned; winter members may fish grayling and coarse. Syndicate share access, not a day ticket.
Timsbury 5Agent booking
Let via Fishing Breaks
A separate day-rod beat — roughly half a mile of main river plus a catch-and-release carrier — with mayfly and prolific later-summer sedge hatches. Suits three to five rods; booked through Fishing Breaks and distinct from the Timsbury Fishery syndicate.
Carrier is catch-and-release. A different product from the four-beat Timsbury Fishery Ltd syndicate.
Broadlands EstateSeason rods
Broadlands Estate
Around 4.5 km of the lower Test through the Broadlands Estate downstream of Romsey, fished across five named beats — Grove, Moorcourt, Longbridge, Lee Park and Rookery & Lord Louis — holding native brown trout, grayling and, on the lower river, salmon and sea trout. Available for both season rods and day tickets; 2026 trout season 3 April–16 October.
Upstream dry fly and nymph for trout, natural imitations only, no lures, hook size no greater than 10; wild fish returned; wading to knee depth only with buoyancy aids. Weed-cutting dates affect conditions.
Lower & Tidal Test · 3 beatsDay rods
Nursling Mill Trout Beat, The Little River, Nursling, Testwood — sea-trout night fishing
The 3 beats
Nursling Mill Trout BeatAgent booking
Let via Upstream Dry Fly
Double-bank main-river fishing from the Broadlands boundary downstream to Nursling Mill, with heavy mayfly hatches, large trout and the occasional salmon or sea trout. Lower-river water that fishes more heavily than the upper chalk stream; booked through Upstream Dry Fly.
The Little River, NurslingAgent booking
Let via Upstream Dry Fly
A mixed-species lower beat with both tidal and non-tidal water — classic chalk-stream upper sections and tidal lower water holding trout, sea trout, bass and coarse fish on the fly. Maximum two rods per day with lodge facilities; a different proposition from the upper-river dry-fly beats.
Tidal/transitional water — tide window, water colour and lower-river level matter more than hatch timing. Not an upper-river dry-fly beat.
Testwood — sea-trout night fishingAgent booking
Let via Upstream Dry Fly
Lower-river water centred on Testwood Pool, regarded as some of the best sea-trout fishing in southern England, fished at night through the summer run. A specialist night fishery, scored on tide, sea-trout movement and summer water temperature rather than the chalk-stream hatch.
Night fishing for sea trout — separate logic from day trout beats. Check tide windows, summer temperature safety and beat rules before booking.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Water here around 20°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.
Gallery · 8
Brownie on the Test Upstream dry fly fishing on the River Test River Test - Chalk Stream River Test at Mottisfont River Test near Mottisfont Houghton Lodge Gardens, The River Test River Test at Houghton Lodge Gardens Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
- Ecology: Good
- Chemical: Unknown
EA (England) · UKGB107042022670
The full read · show the working · for Brown Trout · confidence 80%
How the 25 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature20 × 28%5.6
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time60 × 13%7.8
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity63 × 12%7.6
Limiting factor: Water temperature (20.4°C) is outside Brown Trout's preferred range (10–16°C)= 61
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitysurvey-backed invertebrate datasurvey
What would change the calculation
Cooler water — back toward the 10–16 °C ideal band — would lift the score and ease welfare.
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 3 April → 31 October
- Grayling 16 June → 14 March
Statutory window is 16 June – 14 March, but the Test treats grayling as a winter product. Most bookable beats run 1 October – December or November. Wherwell/Fullerton-style estate water may extend to mid-March. Always check the beat — windows vary widely.
Run as a winter fishery — most beats sell grayling 1 October → 31 December; the wider legal window is rarely offered.
Prime sport 1 October → 28 February
Salmon: Negligible (2026) — 187 adult salmon returned in 2024 — lowest in 35 years. Genetically unique chalk stream stock at critical risk. Not a salmon fishing destination.
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations