Two spring-fed fly-and-nymph-only lakes 200 yards from the River Test on the outskirts of King's Somborne, Test Valley, stocked with quality rainbow and brown trout and benefiting from the Test's natural fly life and mayfly hatch. NOTE: batch listed this as Lancashire, but no Lancashire 'John O Gaunt' fly fishery exists; the operational venue is in Hampshire (a North Yorkshire reservoir of similar name is club-only).
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Pheasant Tail Nymph on the bob and Diawl Bach on the point.
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
5 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
John O Gaunt's Fishery, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedJohn O Gaunt's Fishery · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
Two spring-fed fly-and-nymph-only lakes 200 yards from the River Test on the outskirts of King's Somborne, Test Valley, stocked with quality rainbow and brown trout and benefiting from the Test's natural fly life and mayfly hatch. NOTE: batch listed this as Lancashire, but no Lancashire 'John O Gaunt' fly fishery exists; the operational venue is in Hampshire (a North Yorkshire reservoir of similar name is club-only).
- Fishery
- Chalk
John O Gaunt's Fishery · directions
How to get to the water
John O Gaunt's Fishery · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
- Trout1 April → 30 September
John O Gaunt's Fishery
Two spring-fed fly-and-nymph-only lakes 200 yards from the River Test on the outskirts of King's Somborne, Test Valley, stocked with quality rainbow and brown trout and benefiting from the Test's natural fly life and mayfly hatch.
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Pheasant Tail Nymph on the bob and Diawl Bach on the point.
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Terrain map
Two spring-fed fly-and-nymph-only lakes 200 yards from the River Test on the outskirts of King's Somborne, Test Valley, stocked with quality rainbow and brown trout and benefiting from the Test's natural fly life and mayfly hatch. NOTE: batch listed this as Lancashire, but no Lancashire 'John O Gaunt' fly fishery exists; the operational venue is in Hampshire (a North Yorkshire reservoir of similar name is club-only).
- Fishery
- Chalk
- Trout1 April → 30 September
Two spring-fed fly-and-nymph-only lakes 200 yards from the River Test on the outskirts of King's Somborne, Test Valley, stocked with quality rainbow and brown trout and benefiting from the Test's natural fly life and mayfly hatch. NOTE: batch listed this as Lancashire, but no Lancashire 'John O Gaunt' fly fishery exists; the operational venue is in Hampshire (a North Yorkshire reservoir of similar name is club-only).