River Test and the Craft of Chalk-Stream Fly Fishing
The River Test at Stockbridge, Hampshire has produced wild brown trout since the 19th century
Clear water, a gravel bed like coinage, and a steady spring feed from the chalk aquifer define the Test. Anglers speak of sight fishing here the way others talk about weather: constant, precise, unavoidable.
The craft that grew on these banks is particular. Chalk-stream fly fishing demands delicate upstream presentation, neat reach casts and an eye for tiny rises. Brown trout and grayling are the rewards; perch and the occasional pike lurk in slower runs.
Technique and tradition
Nymph rigs that ride just off the bottom, soft tapered leaders and dry flies tied to imitate olives and sedges are standard. The rod is light, the line economy itself; presentation beats power. Seasoned anglers read water seams where spring water meets surface current.
Ghillies, chalk-white wading bushes and the neat terraces of watercress tell a landscape shaped by people and fish together. Waders are practical; patience is the real kit. A dry fly sitting like a coin while a trout looks up from the pale bed is a scene that stays in the hands long after the catch is released.
Recommended: waterproof chest waders