Diary Of An Everyday Angler - Testing Times

Jem Packer drives a Bentley to the River Test, is one of the first to use a brand-new state-of-the-art rod and lunch is prepared by an award-winning chef; not your normal day’s fishing.

- Jem Packer

Headlines can be misleading and as you read the banner above you would be forgiven for dropping your bobbies. Nevertheless, all of this happened, so come with me on a journey to see how the other half fish.

My day started at the glorious hidden gem that is the Stafford Hotel. Like most of you, my fishing day breakfasts generally consist of some gulped down cereal or at best a greasy-spoon fry-up. Breakfast in the opulence of a five-star hotel is a new experience and one that I would recommend.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t dawdle around the granola buffet because I had been tasked with driving fellow journalists down to the water – in a Bentley. As the proud driver of an orange Fiat Multipla – the car that screams off-duty window cleaner – I’m used to people staring and pointing at my car. These people are generally laughing. In a £200,000 Bentley Bentayga, plenty of people stare but no-one is laughing. Neither was I as I gingerly took to the wheel.

“I’ve never driven anything like this before,” I croaked nervously.

However, I had been told the car pretty much drives itself and we were soon on the road to the River Test.

Down To The Test

As an everyday angler, the River Test is not a place I know the way to. I had seen it once before at Romsey at a CLA Game Fair years ago. Nevertheless, with the satnav set and after a couple of false turns we were there. And what a place!

Orvis’ Kimbridge stretch is everything you would imagine a beat on the Test would be, and more. Even in the comparatively low water of my trip there is something imperious about it. The Test knows that it’s the best and as it glides past quietly but powerfully you cannot help but stop and admire it.