Can anybody confirm that the new Broadlands river keeper - Jon Hall, is the same Jon Hall from the Lower Itchen Fishery? I know a few of you guys fish there for grayling. The Test's gain and the Itchen's loss if it is.

Reg Wyatt

The biggest loss is John Dennis from Broadlands Estate !!!!!!!!

Do any of you guys know of a Mr Parker who was a bailiff/gamekeeper on this stretch in the 1980's?

Don't know for certain Reg, but I would not be surprised as keepers on the chalk streams do seem move around the fisheries quite a bit. Jon always strikes me as a top guy, very knowledgeable and helpful, so as you say it's the Test's gain.

The Lower Itchen Fishery seems to be having a few problems right now; for the last 2 years the renewal paperwork for my winter syndicate membership hasn't been sent out, and they still haven't banked the cheque I sent them for the 2009-10 season in September '09. I have seen winter fly fishers wandering around the coarse fishing beats this year, so assume they are not getting clear beat maps when they buy a day ticket.

Also, Broadlands seem to be promoting their Test beat a bit more recently; it's joined Simon Cooper's "Fishing Breaks" day ticket circuit for 2010.

__________________
"In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." - German proverb
JH based near Southampton

Think that would be Brian Parker. He has been keeper at Bossington on the Test for many years.

I have fished Broadlands a few times this year - August and September - and thought it was in excellent condition. A really beautiful beat. Never knew Jon Denis but knew of the thousands of rainbow that were tipped into the river during his reign. Used to be inundated with them at Nursling and Testwood.

Reg Wyatt

I can't remember exactly where, but on the Estate there was a very wide, deep pool near an old hexagonal fishing hut which held some very big fish. One side of the edge of the pool had a particularly rickety wooden walkway as I recall...
I "accidentally" hooked a 5lb rainbow from there whilst fishing for winter grayling on a Killer Bug.

I ask about Mr Parker because I'm sure it was this pleasant chap who let my father & I fish there in the winter, for a side of venison each season as payment.
I doubt that this sort of thing happens very often these days.

---------- Post added at 03:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:20 PM ----------

Thanks, Reg.
As I say, very pleasant bloke.
He must be about 60 now!

There are some nice references to Brian Parker and his activities at Bossington in Charles Bingham's books "The River Test" and "The Game Fishing Year"

__________________
"In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." - German proverb
JH based near Southampton

Yes a nice chap Brian Parker, he probably worked with Bernard Aldrich - often described as "one of the old school!" His son (Phil) is a keeper on the Itchen - I met him when he was an under keeper at Testwood. I think most keepers would accept a haunch of venison for a bit of fishing!

Reg Wyatt

Yes Reg, it is the same Jon Hall, spoke to him recently, and he was a very happy bunny, starts march 1st.
peter