We have the honour of letting the fishing exclusively for over 15 years. The owners, the Barker-Mill Estate have taken the decision to add a further layer of protection to the unique chalk stream salmon population here. In the light of the significant reduction in the recorded chalk stream salmon population, BMT has decided that salmon fishing will be suspended for the foreseeable future.
That said, these historic beats have been shown through ecological surveys to have the widest diversity of fish species as well as the highest density of wild fish species. They lend themselves to excellent mixed-species fly fishing.
The fishery and all the surrounding land is part of a private estate owned by the Barker-Mill family since 1527. The Barker-Mills have been the major land owning family in the area since Tudor times when their forebear John Mill served under Thomas Cromwell, who was Henry VIII’s chief minister. This river Test estate water divides into three beats prior to flowing into the sea, offering a variety of unique piscatorial challenges in both tidal and non-tidal water and all just over an hour from London. Here one can sight fish for trout, sea trout, bass and specimen coarse fish in a chalk stream! Catch double figure sea trout during the day and experience the amazing mayfly hatches offering the opportunity of sea trout on a dry fly.
The jewel of the extensive Testwood beat is the wonderful Testwood Pool. The beat is served by the charming mill-house offering comfortable members’ facilities, sleeping cabins for night sea trout anglers, catering facilities and two riverside huts. The Testwood beat fishes two or three (maximum) rods per day.
Consecutive day and night bookings are available.
