Last Updated: 31st Oct 2024
The Test is said to be the home of modern fly-fishing and its high quality game fisheries have made the River Test justifiably famous. The chalk water and abundance of weed are ideal for salmon, trout and grayling.
The Test rises from chalk at Ashe near Basingstoke and enters the sea at Southampton, gliding through 42 miles of Hampshire countryside and water meadows. These crystal waters support an abundance of life in all its glorious forms.
Location
The village of Timsbury is situated beside the River Test between Romsey and Stockbridge. The fishery is accessed via electric gates along a private road and is surrounded by acres of privately owned classic chalk stream water meadows.
The Timsbury Fishery
The fishery comprises four individual beats on over 3 miles of bank, on both the River Test and two carrier streams. The fishing is mainly for brown trout, using up-stream dry fly and nymph. Salmon can be caught but have to be returned to the river.
The fishery is stocked with both rainbow and brown trout with rainbow trout averaging approximately 3lbs and the record rainbow trout to the fishery is 12lbs.
The 20 year average is 3 fish caught per rod per day. Detailed stocking records and catch returns for the previous 20 years+ are available upon request. There is generally no restriction on the number of trout that can be caught and taken on any one day, with the exception of Mayfly season, where the recommended number should not exceed five trout killed per day per rod. During the winter months members can also take advantage of the fishery's renowned grayling fishing and other quality coarse fish species.
The fishery is divided into four two rod beats each consisting of a stretch of the main river and a stretch of the carrier.
Ownership of a share in Timsbury Fishery Limited entitles the holder to fish one rod on a specified day every other week during the season.
Fishing rotates over the four beats so that a rod fishes the whole fishery every eight weeks. In practice members can arrange to swap dates or let or gift their individual rod on specific days to another party.
There is also a 'free for all' period at the end of the beat rotation plan between early October and the end of the season whereby members are entitled to fish whenever they want and on any beat within the fishery.
Fishing Lodge
Constructed in 2017, the main fishing lodge is well equipped with a patio area and seating, which overlooks the main river, where anglers can watch the river slide gently by, or sit and enjoy the company of fellow fishers, family and friends.
Facilities in the Fishing Lodge include; mains electricity and Wifi connection. A fully equipped and working kitchen with oven, hob, fridge, microwave and a dinning area inside and out. Wash room with flushing toilet. The lodge also has a rod room with secure storage of member's fishing equipment. Outside the lodge is a barbecue and seating area.
There are three other huts around the fishery each with picnic tables.
Timsbury Fishing Company
The Timsbury Fishery Limited was established in 1996. Timsbury Fishery Ltd shares are not listed on any stock exchange. There are four directors of the company, including an independent chairman, who is not a member of the syndicate.
The board deals with corporate matters, including formalities for the transfer of shares, and is responsible for the overall management of the fishery. Board meetings are held as required and the annual general meeting (AGM) of the company is held on the same day as the syndicate AGM in October or November of each year.
Corporate Structure
Fishing on specified days at Timsbury is a right which is attached to shares in Timsbury Fishery Limited (the company) and the shareholders (members) of the company are therefore those who normally fish there. Each share specifies the day of the week on which the owner is entitled to fish, once per fortnight.
The members are sometimes referred to as the syndicate. Many own one share but a significant number own several, which could entitle them to fish more than one rod on their specified day (i.e. to invite a guest) or to fish every week rather than every other week.
Maintenance
The company employs a fishery manager who is responsible for the maintenance of the river and its banks.
The river is maintained to a very high standard and there is easy access to all the beats with regular mowing and strimming taking place along the banks as well as weed cutting during the summer.
The fishery also has the benefit of good security.
Fishing Beats
Beat 1 - 449m
Beat 2 - 1,233m
Beat 3 - 631m
Beat 4 - 623m
* All carriers have fishing on both banks. The main river is single bank fishing.
Fishing Season
The season is 24 weeks long.
Normally the season will start on the last Sunday in April and finish on the second Saturday in October.
Members can then fish at grayling and coarse fish until the 15th March.
All beat rotations are sent to members before the season starts.
Annual Charges
There is an annual charge per rod which for 2020 is
£1,156/share. The charge covers all maintenance and management costs. Future maintenance costs are not expected to be dissimilar to the historic charges.
Guide Prices
The following rods are currently available:
1 Friday share
1 Sunday share
4 Wednesday shares
* Guide prices are per share. (1 share = 1 rod)
In addition there is a joining fee of £1,750 per share and stamp duty of 0.5% on the share price is payable.
Website
Fishing on the world famous River Test, the home of fly-fishing
A small number of shares available in the renowned Timsbury Fishery
New Fishing lodge for share holder's use
Rods available on Wednesday, Friday
and Sunday
