Fly Fishing on the River Wallop Brook

A compact chalk stream in Hampshire, the Wallop Brook rises near Over Wallop and runs south for approximately 8 miles through the three Wallop villages before joining the River Test at Bossington. Among the five Test tributaries generally considered fishable, it is probably the smallest and shortest. The brook meanders through traditional ridge and furrow water meadows in a mix of fast riffles and deeper pools, fed by the same chalk aquifer that gives the Test its clarity and consistent temperature.

The fishing is entirely wild. The brook is well suited to anglers who want to test their skills against spooky wild trout in a small, intimate stream. Olives are the bread-and-butter hatch, present on most days throughout the season, while early season visitors can expect grannom and hawthorn alongside the first olives. Grannom has re-established itself as the April fly of choice, mayfly follows in late May and June, and sedges continue to be prolific into the back end of the season. Dry fly is the primary method, though nymphing is permitted on some beats. The fish sit deep and rise quickly, so a measured approach and accurate presentation matter more than distance. Wading is generally required given the intimate nature of the water.

Bossington Estate owns two miles of the brook, managed as an entirely unstocked, catch-and-release fishery where rods are limited to one or two per day. Nether Wallop Mill, set up for private tuition and small groups, offers a section of the brook holding canny wild brown trout, used specifically for developing more advanced techniques. A fishing school has operated at Nether Wallop Mill for over 50 years, making it England's longest established. Currently 0 beats are listed on the Wallop Brook across 0 fisheries, with among the species present.