Of the 80 plus fly fishing beats on the Upstreamdryfly portfolio, the lower reaches of the beautiful river Dever just before she meets the river Test are way at the top of my list. The six very generous two rod beats on this private estate water are not let commercially. They are fished lightly and managed carefully. Thursdays are available for river Test and Dever fly fishing days for six or eight rods as group or corporate days with lunch in the estate riverside ‘Fish Gardens’ by the thatched fishing huts.
Single beats for two rods are available most days and weekend availability is very good.
Here is the confluence of the rivers Test and her tributary the beautiful river Dever. The Estate water forms a ‘Y’ shape – the eastern arm the Dever and the western the Test. The triangle between is Bransbury Common, a Site of Special Scientific Interest nature reserve with deer, barn owls orchids etc. a very special and secluded spot with super insect life and therefore good dry fly fishing too! The lower three beats (one Dever and two on the Test are served by the estate riverside ‘Fish Garden’ with a lawn, thatched huts, teak furniture and BBQ. THE perfect spot for lunch. The upper three beats are bounded by Bransbury Common SSSI.
The fishing extends to approximately 8 miles of double bank classic trout fishing. It includes a good length of the river Test, where the Dever joins the main river, near the downstream end of the fishery, making it extremely attractive for the fishing and the peace and quiet.
Bransbury Common is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) ensuring that there is an abundance of wildlife. Kingfishers and barn owls regularly nest there, several species of warbler including willow, sedge, grasshopper and cetties; reed-buntings, finches galore. Orchids, deer and numerous butterflies. Of the water birds and apart from the obvious, goldeneye and gadwall nest here; widgeon and teal visit the estate in numbers during the winter and there are occasional glimpses of the shy water rail; there are also plenty of snipe. Of the bigger birds, there are sightings of osprey in the spring and the more common hawks including hen harriers; and in the winter short-eared owls and occasionally bittern.
The riverside meadow habitats provide for a wealth of wild flowers. This in turn means there is an abundance of butterflies and other insect life.