Famous Fishing

Surely the most famous trout stream in the world, the River Test will forever be associated with F.M Halford and his role in the development of dry fly fishing in the 1870’s and 1880’s. It is fair to say that dry fly fishing would not have achieved its current popularity but for the publication of Floating Flies and How to Dress Them in 1886, followed by Dry Fly Fishing in Theory and Practice in 1889. These two books were the culmination of 10 years of rigorous study on the river Test near Stockbridge. Their immediate impact on both sides of the Atlantic, and subsequently all over the world, should not be underestimated.

The main river offers a huge variety of fishing throughout its 40 mile length, with the best dry fly fishing for trout and grayling to be found in the upper and middle reaches, while the lower part is known for its runs of Atlantic salmon and sea run brown trout. Famous Fishing has access to the River Test on many private estates throughout its length.

The Test has 3 principal tributaries north of Stockbridge and 3 minor ones that join the river between Stockbridge and Southampton. The most important are The Bourne Rivulet; The River Anton and The River Dever