Hi

My dad is 50 this year and as a birthday present myself and my brother have decided to take him to fish the river Test (we have extensive stillwater knowledge but not so much in the way of chalkstream knowledge - although we have fished chalkstreams in the past). I trauled for hours looking for the best stretches lower/mid/upper Test. Originally i was intending on booking the Orvis Kimbridge stretch (as money was no object for this occasion, 50th birthday and all - makes a change!). When i contacted Orvis, Kimbridge was fully booked and of course i was duely offered Timsbury. However from what i have heard (correct me if i am wrong) the Timsbury stretch is nothing to shout about?! Anyway, i decided to book with fishingbreaks.co.uk (Stockbridge) and initially fancied Mottisfont Abbey but due to availability went for Wherwell Priory, where the three of us will be fishing 'The Park' beat in June. Does anyone have any experience of fishing this particular stretch, or in and around this upper Test region? What can i expect? Any suggestions on rod/reel/line weights? General recommedations? Sucessful fly patterns?

Many thanks in advance

Stewart

If you are going in early June there might still be some mayfly around although the Upper Test gets less mayfly than lower down. I have fished at Testcombe just a couple of miles further down and there were plenty of mayfly there however a few miles upstream at Longparish there are not so many.

If there are mayfly then you may be in for a special day and don't go home too early as the bigger fish will be on the spent gnats right into the dark. Flies should certainly include Grey Wulff and a few spent patterns.

If you are too far up for good mayfly then you need to have some Kites Imperial, Parachute Adams, Lunn's Particular and perhaps Elk Hair Sedge all in sizes 14 - 18.

If the mayfly have finished it might be quite hard work as there is usually a difficult period with the fish sated on mayfly and difficult to tempt for a week or two. Try a CDC & Elk Sedge or, if nymphs are allowed, you might have to go sub-surface with a small PTN.

Rods should ideally be 8' 6" to 9' and AFTM 4 or 5.

__________________
“There is no more lovely country than Monmouthshire in early spring. Nowhere do the larks sing quite so passionately, as if somehow inspired by the Welsh themselves. There is a blackbird on every thorn and a cock chaffinch, a twink as they call him there, on every bush...... It moved me profoundly. I had been spared to see another spring, and I thank God for it.”

Oliver Kite
“A Spring Day on the Usk”
A Fisherman’s Diary

Hi Stewart

Always try a Tups Indispensible on the Test, they seem to like it regardless of whatever else is available to them.

Regards

Bob

Actually, would differ from that a little in rod selection - 8.6 at max and given you're more used to stillwaters, maybe 8ft to allow you a little more casting room. Some parts are nice and open for back casts, others (and often right where there is a hole with huge trout), it's a little overgrown.

Lovely beat if you want the test experience. I was at wherwell in autumn last year.

2 things: wear waders or trousers you don't mind getting dirty from kneeling etc. No indicators, no wading, 1 fly only and upstream only. If you don't know how to roll cast well, learn before you go. To that end, if you have one a DT line is better as it loads with less line out of the rod end.

Go to The Mayfly (I think that's what it's called) pub for lunch with your dad - you can watch the trout rise over a pint and meal.

You want to be dressed so that you don't stand out as the water is ever so clear. You also want to be very mobile so a waistcoat only if possible. Fine tippet would also be recommended.

Most of all, hope you have a great day with your Dad.

Bri

Thank you very much for suggestions and kind words, looks like i havent chose too bad a stretch! I forgot all about the Mayfly pub, what a great place! Im sure he will have a great day anyway. Anymore suggestions are most welcome. Thinking of investing in a rod specifically for river and chalkstream fishing as im looking to ditch the stillwaters and take this sort of thing up more regularly. Tempted with the Orvis Superfine but not 100% sure what constitutes a good river/stream rod!

Stewart

It really depends on your personal preferences as to what action to buy, many river anglers prefer something less tippy than stillwater anglers. The reason for this is that, especially on rivers like the Test, you will not often need to throw a long line and you will often be dealing with large fish on light leaders and a more through actioned rod is less likely to result in breakages. The most important choice is probably line weight and it is unlikely that you will need anything heavier than AFTM 5.

__________________
“There is no more lovely country than Monmouthshire in early spring. Nowhere do the larks sing quite so passionately, as if somehow inspired by the Welsh themselves. There is a blackbird on every thorn and a cock chaffinch, a twink as they call him there, on every bush...... It moved me profoundly. I had been spared to see another spring, and I thank God for it.”

Oliver Kite
“A Spring Day on the Usk”
A Fisherman’s Diary

Can confirm that Timsbury is not all that nice. Lower river is too wide and last time I fished there was flooded and muddy

Hi Stewart,

I would also have a look at The Fishing Breaks website (http://www.fishingbreaks.co.uk/planning.htm#june) and try to speak to Simon who runs the whole show. I fished with Fishing Breaks last year and he was most helpful. You could also do far worse than popping in to Robjents tackle shop in Stockbridge. They will know the water well and be able to add worthwhile advice to any you have managed to pick up elsewhere.

Have a great day

Jon

where did you end up going? I was lucky enough to get a day on River Dever & River Test near Longstock, and caught this beauty

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/b...t_grayling.jpg

and this lovely (out of season) grayling