Big things coming to FishingBeats

Join the newsletter

River Test · Bossington Estate

House Beat

main river

Verified beat. Information confirmed by FishingBeats.

House Beat is a fishing beat on the River Test at Bossington Estate. Day tickets from £328.

Book now from £328 View on map Visit website

Pricing and season

Indicative prices only. This calendar does not show whether a beat is bookable or already booked out, and other prices may apply. Always confirm availability and the final price with the booking provider before you travel.

Price calendar

October 2026
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
1£328
2£328
3£328
4£328
5£328
6£328
7£328
8£328
9£328
10£328
11£328
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
November 2026
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Day ticketEarly Season
13 Apr – 14 May
£328
per day
Day ticketMain Season
13 Jun – 11 Oct
£328
per day
Day ticketMayfly Season
15 May – 12 Jun
£398
per day
Closed or not available, hover a day for the reason

How House Beat compares on the River Test

Typical, lowest and highest full-day rod, from 50 beats with published day rates

£100£200£300£400£260AprMayJunJulAugSepOctAprilmedian £220 (£130–£367, 24 beats)this beat £328Maymedian £260 (£125–£367, 49 beats)this beat £328Junemedian £260 (£125–£388, 50 beats)this beat £328Julymedian £260 (£125–£388, 50 beats)this beat £328Augustmedian £260 (£125–£328, 50 beats)this beat £328Septembermedian £260 (£125–£328, 50 beats)this beat £328Octobermedian £260 (£55–£328, 44 beats)this beat £328
typical (median) cheapest to dearest beat this beat

Day tickets on the River Test run from £55 to £388. The typical full-day rate is around £260, peaking in May.

Compare with other rivers

Fishing details

House Beat at a glance

Rods
Up to 12
Difficulty
Beginner (1/5)
Length
–
Water type
main river

Fishing methods

Fly Only

Fly methods

Dry Fly Nymph Emerger
Wading allowed
Bank fishing only
Double bank

Sitting at the confluence of the River Test and Wallop Brook, between the Home Beat and Bossington Mill, the House Beat occupies one of the more characterful positions on the middle Test in Hampshire. The Georgian Bossington House, framed by cedars of Lebanon and set against west-facing water meadows, forms the backdrop, a pastoral setting that gives the beat a strong sense of place. An 800-metre length of chalk stream habitat was restored on the House and Home beats as part of a significant river restoration project, replacing degraded, canal-like flows with streaming flows and beds of water-crowfoot over a gravel substrate. The beat offers a mix of manicured Test fishing and additional sport from a small island that carries terrestrial SSSI designation.

The River Test is fly fished for wild brown trout, stocked rainbows, and grayling, and all three are present here. Stocking is light, with wild fish a genuine part of the catch. The season opens with Large Dark Olive, grannom caddis, and hawthorn in April; the mayfly runs from mid-May to early June, commanding its own premium price tier at £398 per rod. June brings blue-winged olives and medium olives, with dry fly and emerger fishing carrying through the summer. The beat suits beginners and those new to chalk stream fishing, GAIA and AAPGAI-qualified instructors are available for one-to-one or group tuition covering fly-fishing fieldcraft and casting.

The season runs 13 April to 11 October, with day rods priced at £328 in early and main season. Up to 12 rods can fish the beat, making it well-suited to corporate or group days. Access is via the back drive to a designated parking area and bespoke fishing hut; toilets, nets, and flies are also provided on-site, and accommodation is available through the estate. Bossington Estate is approximately one hour and fifty minutes' drive from central London, with rail connections via Winchester also practical.

Stocking and fish species

light stocking
Wild Trout

Rules and policies

Catch & release
EA rod licence required
Dogs allowed
Ghillie available
Ghillie required
Season: 13 Apr to 11 Oct

Amenities

Designated parking area Bespoke fishing hut fishing hut toilets nets flies accommodation

Where House Beat is

The beat's boundary, with parking where we have it.

51.08262, -1.51356

The fishery and river

River

Rising at Ashe, near Overton, the River Test runs for 40 miles through Hampshire, flowing south through Whitchurch, Longparish, and Wherwell before the Rivers Dever and Anton join the main channel near Chilbolton. For much of its length the Test is not one river but an amalgam of main channel, mill leats, carriers,…

Flies for this beat

Expected in October on the River Test

October

Typical months from the river’s hatch calendar, which applies along its whole length rather than to this beat. Not a live report.

In season

Caperer

Sedge · #10-12

Heavy hatchLarge Dark Olive

Kite's Imperial

Dry fly · #14-16

In season

Daddy Long Legs

Terrestrial · #10-12

In seasonFreshwater Shrimp

Sawyer's Killer Bug

Nymph · #12-16

The year ahead

Full calendar

Every hatch on the River Test and the months it usually runs.

FlyJFMAMJJASOND
Kite's Imperial
Grannom£2.25
Hawthorn Fly£1.75
Black Gnat£2.25
Grey Wulff
Iron Blue Dun£2.25
Elk Hair Caddis£2.25
Last Hope
Lunn's Particular£2.25
Pale Watery£2.25
Blue Winged Olive£2.25
Red Ant
Daddy Long Legs
Caperer
Black Buzzer£1.45
Sawyer's Killer Bug
Build a fly box for a date

We get a small commission if you buy through these links, and it costs you nothing extra. If the calendar has been useful and you feel like supporting an independent site, buying your flies this way is an easy way to do it.

FishingBeats is an independent guide with no affiliation to the fisheries we list. Listings are editorial and unpaid, and are not supplied or approved by the fishery. See our listings policy. Listing details are compiled by FishingBeats and may change or contain mistakes. Some services, such as tuition, ghillies, or accommodation, may only apply to certain packages and not to standard day tickets. Always confirm pricing, fishing details, and what is included directly with the beat before you book. Spotted something wrong? Email hello@fishingbeats.com and we will correct it.

FAQ

House Beat FAQs

Practical questions anglers ask before fishing House Beat, from tickets to tactics.

01How many rods are allowed on House Beat at any one time?
House Beat allows a maximum of 12 rods at any one time. Contact Bossington Estate directly if you need to confirm current availability.
02What species can I expect to catch on House Beat?
House Beat holds Wild Trout, Pike, Brown Trout, Grayling, Rainbow Trout. The beat is light-stocked to supplement the wild fish — see the Stocking section on the page for details.
03Do I need to wade, or can I fish from the bank?
House Beat is bank-fishing only — no wading is permitted.
04Is a ghillie available, and do I need one?
A ghillie is available on House Beat and can be requested through the provider — particularly useful for first-time visitors to the River Test.
05Where do I park, and how do I access the beat?
Parking details for House Beat are shown on the beat page, including a map pin where one is provided. Always confirm access arrangements with the provider when you book.
06What tackle should I bring?
House Beat permits the following fly methods: dry_fly, nymph, emerger. The fly recommendations section on the House Beat page suggests the most effective patterns month by month.
07What happens if conditions are poor on the day I've booked?
River conditions can change quickly, especially after rain. Contact the provider as early as possible if you're concerned about House Beat at Bossington Estate — many are happy to offer an alternative date if the river is unfishable. Cancellation and rescheduling policies vary by provider; check the notes on the booking page or ask when you book.
08Are dogs allowed on the beat?
Dogs are welcome on House Beat — please keep them under control near the water and respect any local rules shown on the page.

@fishingbeats

From the riverbank

Follow →

Newsletter

Stay in the loop

Exciting new features, fresh beats, season news, and fly fishing tips, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to receive the FishingBeats newsletter by email. We will send a link to confirm your address first, and you can unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.