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River Test · Leckford Estate Fishing

Testside Lake

stillwater

Testside Lake is a fishing beat on the River Test at Leckford Estate Fishing. Day tickets from £40.

Book now from £40 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£80
2£80
3£80
4£80
5£80
6£80
7£80
8£80
9£80
10£80
11£80
12£80
13£80
14£80
15£80
16£80
17£80
18£80
19£80
20£80
21£80
22£80
23£80
24£80
25£80
26£80
27£80
28£80
29£80
30£80
31£80
November 2026
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
1£80
2£80
3£80
4£80
5£80
6£80
7£80
8£80
9£80
10£80
11£80
12£80
13£80
14£80
15£80
16£80
17£80
18£80
19£80
20£80
21£80
22£80
23£80
24£80
25£80
26£80
27£80
28£80
29£80
30£80
Day ticketDay Ticket
1 Jan – 31 Dec
£80
per day
Open all year. Limited to six anglers a day.
Day ticketHalf Day Ticket
1 Jan – 31 Dec
£40
per ½ day
Open all year.

Fishing details

Testside Lake at a glance

Rods
1 – 6
Difficulty
Explorer (2/5)
Length
–
Water type
stillwater

Fishing methods

Fly Only

Fly methods

Dry Fly Nymph
Wading allowed
Bank fishing only
Double bank

Testside Lake is one of Leckford Estate’s two stillwaters, created in 1997 when the site of Spedan Lewis’s old wildfowl collection was excavated into two linked lakes. Between them they hold rainbow and brown trout up to double figures in weight, and the water is limited to six anglers a day, so it never feels crowded.

Unlike the river beats, which keep to the standard chalk stream season, the lakes here fish all year round. There’s no catch and release: trout over 13 inches must be kept until you reach the daily bag limit of five, or eight on a two-rod guest ticket. Fishing is fly only, from the bank, dry fly or upstream nymph.

A day ticket starts from £80, with a half-day option too. Day rods are booked online through Leckford’s own booking system, or by calling the fishing office on 01264 812110.

Stocking and fish species

heavy stocking
Brown Trout
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Rainbow Trout

Rules and policies

Catch & release
Bag limit: 5 fish
EA rod licence required
Dogs allowed
Ghillie available
Ghillie required

Fishing rules for Testside Lake

No catch and release. Trout over 13in must be retained until the daily bag limit of 5 is reached (8 on a two-rod guest ticket). Fishing is fly only, dry fly or upstream nymph, from the bank only; no wading. The lakes are open all year, unlike the river season (1 May to 15 October).

Where Testside Lake is

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

51.13960, -1.46900

The fishery and river

Fishery

River Test Example photo

River Test

Leckford Estate Fishing

from £40 per half day 16 beats

River

River Test

Hampshire

River Test

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,…

View the River Test guide

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

Testside Lake FAQs

Practical questions anglers ask before fishing Testside Lake, from tickets to tactics.

01How many rods are allowed on Testside Lake at any one time?
Testside Lake allows a maximum of 6 rods at any one time. Contact Leckford Estate Fishing directly if you need to confirm current availability.
02What species can I expect to catch on Testside Lake?
Testside Lake holds Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout. The beat is heavy-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?
Testside Lake is bank-fishing only — no wading is permitted.
04Is a ghillie available, and do I need one?
No ghillie service is listed for Testside Lake at Leckford Estate Fishing — contact the provider directly if you'd like informal guidance on your first visit.
05Where do I park, and how do I access the beat?
Parking details for Testside Lake 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?
Testside Lake permits the following fly methods: dry_fly, nymph. The fly recommendations section on the Testside Lake 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 Testside Lake at Leckford Estate Fishing — 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 not listed as permitted on Testside Lake. Check the Beat Rules section on the page or contact the provider before bringing a dog, as policies can vary by season and stretch of the River Test.

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