Friday 28th August 2026

Greetings!

‘Where’s the bloody river gone?’ was my reaction/question last weekend as I travelled up the Wallop valley from where the Brook joins the Test. I am sure you, like me, always sneak-a-peak as you cross a river bridge. This particular peek revealed no river. I slammed on the brakes, reversed back to confirm what I did not expect, a small chalkstream that had become nothing more than stones and a few puddles.

I did not expect it as it made no sense; two miles upstream at The Mill the river is still flowing, albeit in a much reduced state. This was an inversion of commonsense. How can a river suddenly disappear in the space of a mile or two. This called for some investigation, so we started to track the Wallop Brook at all its crossing points from the source at Over Wallop, through Nether Wallop to the village of Broughton where it has dried up, a total of four miles.  But then downstream of Broughton, closer its confluence of the Test, the Brook reappears again.

Wallop Brook in name alone

And the odd thing is that it really does just disappear. One moment there it is and then, a few hundred yards of wild meadows later, there it isn’t. All this happens in the vicinity of the Broughton Water Pumping Station which might be an explanation in itself except for one important factor – it was mothballed over two decades ago.

I must admit I am genuinely baffled. I guess it could be a gradient thing or, perhaps, in the time that the pumping station operated, it altered the subterranean geology. I am no geologist so I cannot opine as to whether that is a likely scenario or not. Or perhaps that immediate area is a relatively dry part of the valley and the reason the station was closed.

As I say, baffled of Nether Wallop.

Fish rescue

The hunt for the Wallop Brook took us across the ford in Broughton which, as you can see, is dry as a bone. Quite a change from March when the ford was closed to traffic, the water being too deep and perilous for all except the most intrepid 4x4 drivers.

Broughton ford

A dry river is a sad sight in itself but this was heighted by the heavy smell of rotting fish in the vicinity of the ford. We could see stranded puddles with dozens of tiny, dead trout but the fast diminishing pools were not entirely without life- with minnows, sticklebacks, small bullheads (the larger ones had gone the same way as the trout) and masses of shrimp.

It seemed an almost pointless exercise set against the length of the Brook and the probability that there were many other similar pools we would not find but along with my daughter Minnie, we could not leave them to die. So, armed with buckets and nets we scooped whatever we could and took them back upstream to the relative sanctuary of the streams around The Mill. I say relative because our streams have plenty of year two and three trout and the one thing fish love to eat is smaller fish, so I suspect the rescued remain in a life-or-death struggle but of a different kind.

Longstock Kingfisher Lodge

When Longstock Kingfisher Lodge beside the River Test was featured in Country Life at the time of its sale back in 2022 the property correspondent Toby Keel said of it, “If there are more beautiful houses in Hampshire than this one, we'd certainly love to see them.”  Frankly, it is hard to disagree.

Unusually for homes on this prime section of the River Test, it actually has fishing rights. Now admittedly it is, at just under a hundred yards a very short beat but if you are in the area and wish to idle away a few hours there are truly few more beautiful spots.

As most of you will be aware historically, we have not offered river fishing by the half day, but Longstock Kingfisher Lodge is the perfect candidate in this respect. So, I am delighted to break with that tradition. The fishing is available for one or two Rods for morning or afternoon sessions. Non fishing guests are welcome (no dogs) and there is a lovely gazebo to relax and enjoy this stunning location. More details here …..

Last gasp for August special offers

This weekend marks the last few days of our traditional August special offers with a few spaces still left if you want a last minute fish.

Compton Chamberlayne River Nadder

August 29, 30 & 31

£105/Rod minimum two Rods

Book here

Deans Court

River Allen

August 29, 30 & 31

£50/Rod. One or two Rods

Book here

Ilsington

River Frome

August 29, 30 & 31

£65.50/Rod minimum two Rods

Book here

That was the month that was August

August has been quite the ride from the extremes of heat to times when the normal English summer service returned but as yet, at least for life south of the Watford Gap, no significant rain has moved the river gauges.

There is no doubt on the smaller chalkstreams and headwaters, which do rely during the height of summer from rain replenishment, life is is tough; you will have noticed some our beats are closed and likely to remain so for the remainder of the season. However, once you travel further down the catchments where the rivers are wider and deeper, the effects of the dry summer are only marginally noticeable.



So, what of September? Well, as you know this is the month the locals go fishing and I suspect, with cooler weather ahead, it will be a bumper month. Fly-wise it is one of my favourite months as really anything goes and the weirdest fly in your box, you know that one you bought goodness knows where just because it looked funky, may well do the business.

In that vein I think our vice master Nigel Nunn has gone to the dark side with his terrestrial quartet for the month ahead. So, well done to Michael Duck, a Fishing Breaks customer since the last century and also a draw winner back in 2010, who wins the August draw and the September selection. I am pretty sure that makes Michael is our first ever double winner.

Black Beetle #16

A highly visible (thanks to the white wing post) black deer hair beetle. Straggly and incredibly buggy it imitates an insect very much stuck in the film. 

Chalkstream Red Ant #18

A hit literally as soon as it touched the water! This scruffy red ant with an X of boar bristle legs is a very tempting snack for both trout and coarse.

Ugly Ant #18

No, your eyes don’t deceive you… that is a bead. A simple ant pattern, that probably doesn’t deserve its ugly moniker. Fish either singly or NZ style. 

Derek #14

A terrestrial that has purists clutching at their pearls… high riding (thanks to the exaggerated cdc wings) and as much at home for brook trout in the states as for trout over here. Why is it called Derek? Well that’s a tale best told over a pint or two… 

Quiz

The usual random collection of questions this week inspired by the Newsletter topics.

1)     Which British pop-rock band broke up on this day in 2009?

2)     On this day in1983 Joseph Kreckman sets a record for the number of clay pigeons shot in an hour. How many was it? A) 615 B) 1,015 C) 1,515 or D) 2,215

3)     What is the difference between a geomorphologist and a geologist?

The answers are below.

Have a good Bank Holiday weekend.



Best wishes,

Simon Cooper simon@fishingbreaks.co.uk

Founder & Managing Directorwww.fishingbreaks.co.uk

1)     Oasis

2)     2,215. Roughly 37 clay targets every minute, or about one target every 1.6 seconds

3)     A geologist studies the entire solid Earth, whereas a geomorphologist focuses specifically on the surface landscape and the processes that shape landforms.