The Broadlands Estate is situated on the lower River Test, just downstream from the town of Romsey. It offers a wonderful variety of water on the on the wider lower part of the river. It has traditionally been a salmon and sea trout venue but also offers some of our favourite trout fishing on the whole river. It is a wonderful venue for chalkstream fly fishing day rods, guided trips and larger group days too all based from the famous nissen fishing hut.
One of the things that makes the fly fishing at Broadlands Estate on the River Test so special is the variety it offers through the season. We have detailed what makes each part of the season so special below.
Broadlands Estate in the Spring
Early season (April and early May) at Broadlands on the Lower Test is unlike almost anywhere else in the valley, the river is typically at its biggest for the season. Winter rains create fast flows and boiling pools, it is more akin to a salmon river than the more sedate waters of the upper valley. Do not let that put you off though, this is an excellent time to target large trout as they hold in the edges of the river. They are strong though and will often test angler and tackle as they use the increase current to their benefit.
Anglers will typically favour nymphing techniques at this time of year but there can be some great hatches that bring the fish up including large dark olives, grannom, iron blue dun and hawthorn.
Broadlands Estate in the Mayfly
Like much of the River Test, Broadlands is blessed with big mayfly hatches each season. This far down in the valley everything happens a little earlier and this is also true of the mayfly. We usually see the first appearances in the early weeks of May with the main spectacle occuring through mid to late May.
Despite the water conditions still receding from the high flows of winter, fast growing ranunculus weed beds begin to offer brown trout holding areas throughout the river. And it is possible to experience fish rising in even the deepest of pools to the shallowest of runs.
Broadlands Estate in the Summer
Summer time is typically slower in terms of action, the warmer weather and longer days can cause the water temperature to get quite high in this part of the valley. These conditions will often condense the best fishing to the early mornings and late evenings. Anglers willing to get up early and stay late will often be rewarded with terrific fly hatches and blanketing spinner falls.
Whilst the middle of the day is best reserved to a nice picnic lunch and chilled drinks, for those that like to fish through the estate offers plenty of faster streamy water where trout and grayling like to hold. Nymphing tactics can be a worthwhile approach or bushy caddis flies.
This part of the river also sees sparse runs of spring salmon begin to be joined by the main run of summer fish, in the right conditions anglers can sight fish these silver tourists during our guided trips.
Broadlands Estate in the Autumn
Like all of the River Test, the autumn is a magical time. A time when it feels all conditions come together to make the perfect trout and grayling fishing days. The river flows are at their lowest of the season, and large weed beds create lots of interesting runs and pockets in between the main pools. Fly hatches occur almost all day long in most conditions and fish can be regularly found rising in all types of water.
The autumn is also a great time to target the salmon during guided days. The focus is still on sight fishing with nymphs, and we find with more favourable weather conditions and water temperatures that the fish are more responsive.
Broadlands Estate in the Winter
As the cooler weather moves in and the weed beds die back the River Test at Broadlands becomes a great place for shoals of grayling, and other silver fish species. The clean gravel runs and good pace of water allow for prime nymph fishing areas to target the shoaling fish. The grayling typically average 1 lb, but each season fish near the 3 lb mark are caught and of course some are lost in the heavier winter flows.
Broadlands Estate 2022 Availability
April 2022
Sunday 3rd April – 1 to 3 rods
Monday 4th April – 1 to 3 rods
Tuesday 5th April – 1 to 3 rods
Wednesday 6th April – 1 to 12 rods
Thursday 7th April – 1 to 12 rods
Sunday 10th April – 1 to 3 rods
Tuesday 12th April – 1 to 3 rods
Thursday 14th April – 1 to 12 rods
Sunday 17th April – 1 to 3 rods
Monday 18th April – 1 to 3 rods
Tuesday 19th April – 1 to 3 rods
Wednesday 20th April – 1 to 12 rods
Thursday 21st April – 1 to 12 rods
Sunday 24th April – 1 to 3 rods
Tuesday 26th April – 1 to 3 rods
May 2022
Tuesday 3rd May – 1 to 3 rods
Wednesday 4th May – 1 to 12 rods
Thursday 5th May – 1 to 12 rods
Tuesday 10th May – 1 to 3 rods
Thursday 12th May – 1 to 3 rods
Sunday 15th May – 1 to 3 rods
Monday 16th May – 1 to 3 rods
Thursday 19th May – 1 to 12 rods
Tuesday 31st May – 1 to 3 rods
June 2022
Wednesday 1st June – 1 to 3 rods
Thursday 2nd June – 1 to 12 rods
Sunday 5th June – 1 to 3 rods
Thursday 9th June – 1 to 3 rods
Monday 27th June – 1 to 3 rods
Tuesday 28th June – 1 to 3 rods
Wednesday 29th June – 1 to 6 rods
Thursday 30th June – 1 to 12 rods
July 2022
Sunday 3rd July – 1 to 3 rods
Tuesday 5th July – 1 to 3 rods
Thursday 7th July – 1 to 12 rods
Sunday 10th July – 1 to 3 rods
Monday 11th July – 1 to 3 rods
Tuesday 12th July – 1 to 3 rods
Wednesday 13th July – 1 to 12 rods
Thursday 14th July – 1 to 12 rods
Sunday 17th July – 1 to 3 rods
Thursday 28th July – 1 to 12 rods
Sunday 31st July – 1 to 3 rods
August 2022
Tuesday 2nd August – 1 to 3 rods
Thursday 4th August – 1 to 12 rods
Sunday 7th August – 1 to 3 rods
Monday 8th August – 1 to 3 rods
Tuesday 9th August – 1 to 3 rods
Wednesday 10th August – 1 to 12 rods
Thursday 11th August – 1 to 12 rods
Sunday 14th August – 1 to 3 rods
Tuesday 16th August – 1 to 3 rods
Thursday 18th August – 1 to 12 rods
Sunday 21st August – 1 to 3 rods
September 2022
Thursday 1st September – 1 to 12 rods
Sunday 4th September – 1 to 3 rods
Monday 5th September – 1 to 3 rods
Tuesday 6th September – 1 to 3 rods
Wednesday 7th September – 1 to 12 rods
Thursday 8th September – 1 to 12 rods
Sunday 11th September – 1 to 3 rods
Tuesday 13th September – 1 to 3 rods
Sunday 18th September – 1 to 3 rods
Monday 19th September – 1 to 3 rods
Tuesday 20th September – 1 to 3 rods
Wednesday 21st September – 1 to 12 rods
Thursday 22nd September – 1 to 12 rods
Sunday 25th September – 1 to 3 rods
Tuesday 27th September – 1 to 3 rods
Thursday 29th September – 1 to 12 rods
October 2022
Sunday 2nd October – 1 to 3 rods
Monday 3rd October – 1 to 3 rods
Tuesday 4th October – 1 to 3 rods
Wednesday 5th October – 1 to 12 rods
Thursday 6th October – 1 to 12 rods
Sunday 9th October – 1 to 3 rods
Tuesday 11th October – 1 to 3 rods
Thursday 13th October 1 to 12 rods
As well as the Broadlands Estate on the River Test, we have a large range of other beats throughout the chalkstream valleys, you can view our Spring 2022 availability HERE, and Mayfly 2022 availability HERE.
For more information about fly fishing the River Test on the Broadlands Estate please contact Alex Jardine or call our office on +44(0)1980 847389.