Leckford Beat 10

Beat 10 is home to the iconic Eel Pot Hut — one of the most photographed scenes on the River Test — sitting on the middle Test, north of Stockbridge, within the Leckford Estate. The beat covers both banks of the main river and a small stretch of carrier, making it a genuine double-bank day on one of Hampshire's most celebrated chalk streams. The surrounding water meadows form part of the Test Valley SSSI, giving the beat a setting rich in chalk stream flora and invertebrate life — the natural larder that keeps the trout in good condition.

The River Test's clear, nutrient-rich chalk stream waters provide the perfect home for rainbow and brown trout, as well as grayling, and Beat 10 holds all three. Behind the Eel Pots, fast water produces some surprisingly robust trout each season, while upstream on the true right bank a long, deep glide known as Rainbow Run is the scene of many a hard-fought battle with large, powerful fish. The beat is rated beginner-friendly and fished on a fly-only basis with both dry fly and nymph permitted. Expect olives, caddis, and a reliable mayfly hatch through the season, with freshwater shrimp patterns also worth carrying sub-surface. May brings the first mayfly of the year alongside other upwings, while June sees blue-winged olives and medium olives come through. The beat runs from 1 June to 15 October, with up to two rods on the water.

All fish are stocked with trout hatched and grown on the Leckford Estate itself, giving a moderate stocking level that complements whatever wild fish are present. Day rod prices are £260 in the main season and £320 during the mayfly period. Four full-time river keepers maintain the fishery to a high standard. A fishing hut, toilets, and on-site accommodation are all available, making Beat 10 a practical choice for an overnight or multi-day visit to the Test Valley.