FLY FISHING
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“Chalk streams are regarded by their admirers with an affection which is as unreasoning as true love ever should be, and of all such streams, the Test commands their deepest devotion.”
- John Waller Hills, A Summer on the Test, Hodder and Stoughton, 1924
Bossington Estate’s reputation as one of the world’s finest chalk stream fisheries rests not only on its fin-perfect, portly and perspicacious trout, but also the enchanting succession of depths and shallows, racing riffles and serpentine stretches. Combined, the fish and setting offer a wide variety to both the seasoned and novice angler in search of fly-fishing nirvana.
Bossington Estate’s fishery comprises six beats on the River Test; ‘The House Beat’, ‘The Home Beat’, ‘The Home Stream’, ‘Old Stews Beat’, ‘Old Station Beat’ and ‘Rushams’.
The Estate also owns two miles of the ‘Wallop Brook’, and the aquifer-fed ‘Horsebridge Lake’.
We organise our fishing so that this greatest of sporting pastimes can be accessible to everyone.
Please select the option you think will suit you best:
CORPORATE DAYS
Imagine an exclusive day for entertaining your clients or a team-building exercise for your colleagues…
Bossington can arrange an unrivalled bespoke service in a truly tranquil location in deepest Hampshire away from the pressures of the fast lane. Let us take care of all the time-consuming nitty-gritty details and allow you to entertain your guests and focus on what’s really important – the fishing!
We will provide your guests with everything they will need, so that you don’t have to worry:
All new quality equipment (rod, reel, line, flies, vests, nets, hats, boots (if necessary) and polarised sunglasses)
Fully-qualified ghillies
Rod Licences for all
Breakfast (bacon or sausage rolls with tea, coffee and orange juice)
Lunch (4 courses with champagne, wine or beer, stickies and coffee)
Tea (cream tea with scones and cakes)
Corporate days are available throughout the season on either a Thursday or a Friday, subject to availabilty.
The Estate can have as many as 16 rods fishing on the main River Test, so groups large and small are welcome. Horsebridge Lake can also be included in the package, which would be ideal for novices that may require an extra level of tuition.
DAY RODS
Day rod passes are available for any of the river beats, the Wallop Brook beat, or Horsebridge Lake, and can be booked through the Bossington Estate Office.
The 2024 season is from Monday 27th April to Sunday 27th October.
THE BEATS
THE HOUSE BEAT
The house beat stands in front of Bossington House with access to the beat by car down the back drive. The beat has access to a small island that is a terrestrial SSSI. There is a small hut by the bridge leading to the island with tea making facilities.
THE HOME BEAT
The iconic Home Beat is the most famous of all Bossington beats. The Victorian thatched fishing hut has the most magnificent views downstream and transports you to an entirely different era and place of tranquillity.
OLD STEWS BEAT
Old Stews Beat was restored in 2015 and the beat has been transformed from what was already one of our most popular beats to a veritable theme park for the trout and the anglers.
HOME STREAM
The Home Stream is a slightly smaller carrier that connects Old Stews Beat and the bottom of the Home Beat.
OLD STATION BEAT
Old Station Beat was transformed in 2013 and offers experienced anglers a good mix of stocked and wild fish. Good for left handed anglers and wading
RUSHAMS BEAT
Rushams Beat suits all levels of fisherman from the novice to the experienced. Very good on the hotter days of summer as some deep cool stretches along the bottom half of the beat.
WALLOP BROOK
The Wallop is lively tributary stream to the River Test and is full of wild trout beat for the more experienced angler. The stream meanders through the beautiful Wallop valley and joins the River Test just upstream from the House itself.
The upstream reach below the village of Broughton is surrounded by traditional ridge and furrow water meadows grazed by native breed cattle as well as Ruby Reds and British Whites. Halfway down the two- mile reach the brook enters the dappled sunlight of Balls Copse.
Keep a sharp eye out for Snipe, Kingfishers, the Grizzled Skipper Butterfly or Roe Deer drinking from the water margins - a perfect Hampshire heaven!
The season starts in April and runs through to August if conditions allow.
HORSEBRIDGE LAKE
A wonderfully secluded still-water lake that is perfect for family days, corporate days and casting instruction. Horsebridge Lake is spring-fed and stocked with Rainbow Trout. We also run a Sunday club to offer discounted fishing to local residents. Half-day tickets (two fish limit) are available on weekends or after 4.30 pm on weekdays, subject to availability.
The lake has also has a large fishing hut, with self-catering facilities. It is also perfect for waterside barbecues and larger events.
TUITION, GUIDING
& EQUIPMENT HIRE
We have a number of people qualified by Game Anglers Instructors’ Association (GAIA) or the Association of Advanced Professional Game Anglers Instructors (AAPGAI) who are available to give you, or any member of your group, tuition. This can be done on either on a one-to-one or group basis. Lessons offered cover fly-fishing field craft and/or fly casting.
Guided Days
Our instructors are also available as guides to accompany you on your day on the river at Bossington. This will help get the most out your experience on the Test, particularly as a novice fly-fisherman.
Equipment Hire:
We have good supply of high-quality fishing tackle, clothing, sunglasses and, of course, flies for you to hire should you feel that your fishing kit is missing some essential elements.
Please let the Estate Office know of requirements when booking your rods.
Beginners Fly-Fishing School:
We are pleased to announce the launch of the Bossington Fly Fishing School at Horsebridge Lake this coming season.
A Bossington Estate baseball cap and a set of course notes will be given to all students attending the course.
2024 School Dates:
Saturday 27th July & Saturday 24th August
£245 per person
Courses are run with a minimum of 2 people and a maximum of 8.
All equipment to be provided by Bossington Estate. Equipment to include rods, reels, lines, flies leader material, polarised glasses & nets.
Bossington baseball cap and a set of course notes will be given to all students attending the course.
Timings:
Course will start at 09.00 • Lunch will be provided by the Estate between 12.30-13.30
Course ends at 17.30
During lunch and breaks the instructors will cover topics such as knots, fly tying and other matters associated with fly fishing. All students will be offered the chance to take two fish per day. All other fish will be on a catch and release basis unless otherwise directed by the Bossington staff.
For booking enquiries, please contact Bossington Estate Office on:
01794 388265 or accounts@bossingtonestate.com
All students will need to be in possession of a national rod licence where necessary (see gov.uk/fishing-licenses).
Students must be 16 and above.
If a children only course is to be run then the instructor ratio is increased to one instructor per 2 children.
Click here for information in PDF format.
Cancellation Policy
The cancellation policy for the Bossington Estate Fly Fishery School is as follows:
- Full payment due when making booking.
- A cancellation more than two months before the date of fishing will attract a 50% refund.
- Full payment remains due for cancellations made within the two months of the fishing date.
- Fishing dates can be renegotiated within the same season, to avoid cancellation, provided that reasonable notice is given.
CATERING & PICNICS
Fishing can be hungry and thirsty work. Fortunately, we are in a position to arrange for your fly fishing day to be fully catered.
We can provide refreshments ranging from an exquisite full corporate 3-course lunch in the Victorian Fishing Hut on the Home Beat to picnic hampers waiting for rods in the individual, comfortable huts on every beat.
The hampers range from a sandwich menu requiring no cutlery to more luxurious picnics from a list of options available through the Estate office.
We would be delighted to discuss options with you, so please just let us know what you’d like when you get in touch.