River Test
Leckford Estate
May Day has arrived again. So I find myself in a state of great excitement as I drive with a friend to the Test for opening day. What will the river look like? Will it be clearer than last year? Will there be more fly life? Will the trout be easier to spot and more willing to rise?
The Test is a beautiful river. It flows with such elegance and grace. Never hurried, it deflects its multitude of weed tresses as it moves smoothly to the sea. At Leckford the river is large enough to ask questions about ones casting, but not so large as to be intimidating. The main stem meanders through wet meadows and managed reed beds. There are large trout amongst the weed beds. They can be watched actively feeding on nymphs and very occasionally rising to take an adult fly. They can be caught, sometimes.
Such is the curious etiquette of the chalk streams that nymphs are not permitted before July or August. But a dry fly can undo a trout or two. A check of the stomach contents of the unfortunates reveals that they have been gorging on nymphs, plus the odd beetle. No adults are to be seen. This is a very special form of fly fishing with its own particular charm.