Holbury Beat

River Dun

Dunbridge

A third of a mile of single-bank dry fly water on the lower River Dun, the Dunbridge beat sits just upstream of the hamlet of Dunbridge in Hampshire's Test Valley, a short distance before the river joins the Test near Kimbridge. The Dun runs for around 11 miles in a generally easterly direction through rural parts of Wiltshire and Hampshire, and is smaller and less prolific than other rivers in Hampshire, but can be quieter during busy periods — a genuine advantage on a beat limited to one or two rods. The water here has classic chalk stream character: a long glide of relatively shallow water upstream of a footbridge, and a deep pool midway up where the river takes a left turn. From the car park, it is a walk of around 100 metres through a meadow to reach the river. A survey of all the Test's tributaries reportedly found that the Dun holds the highest numbers of wild trout of any of them, and the Dunbridge beat carries moderate stocking alongside that wild population. Brown trout and grayling are both present. Like the Itchen, the Dun is home to protected species including the great crested newt, so the environment is carefully managed. The season runs 1 May to 30 September, covering the full chalk stream hatch calendar. The hawthorn hatch falls in late April, with the mayfly running from mid-May to early June — the latter priced at £395 per rod. Medium olive and blue-winged olive hatches carry the fishing through summer, with dry fly the primary method throughout; nymphing is also permitted. The intimate scale and clear water make accurate presentation essential, and the beat is rated as adventurer difficulty. A 9ft 4–5wt rod with a fine tippet suits the conditions. Day rods are priced from £225 (early season) to £275 (main season). The fishing hut is sited near the top of the beat and is well appointed, with WC and car parking on site. The hamlet is served by Mottisfont & Dunbridge station on the Wessex Main Line, making this one of the more accessible chalk stream beats in Hampshire for car-free anglers.

Dun Beat

Dun Beat is the Mottisfont Abbey estate water on the River Dun, a tributary of the River Test in , running about 0.45 mile. It is a smaller and more intimate stream than the Test beats, and it carries some of the best fly life anywhere on the estate. The beat divides into two. The lower half is slow moving, with long sweeping glides where the river turns through the deciduous woodland of Bitterne Grove, and this is usually where the larger fish sit. The upper section runs through meadows and is much narrower, with thick marginal growth on both banks. Both halves have fairly high banks, which makes spotting easier but leaves you visible to the fish. Much of the beat can be waded, though depths vary, so it is worth deciding whether a cast from the bank will do before you get in. The water is unstocked and catch and release, and holds Brown Trout, Grayling. Fishing is upstream dry fly and nymph from 1 April to 30 September. Mayfly is exceptional, and in June the evening hatches of blue-winged olive can be the best of the season. The fish are small and easily spooked, so a light outfit and some patience pay off. A 7ft 2 or 3 weight is the fun choice, an 8ft 6in 5 weight the safer one. There is a small hut for shelter, but lunch is taken back at the Oakley hut. Day tickets start at £270 and cover all three Mottisfont beats.