Each season the River Test and its tributaries undergo several weed cutting periods. This is necessary to help manage water flow and height as well as keeping the rivers open to anglers. The dates have now been confirmed for the 2026 season, see the full date breakdown below.
River Test Weed Cutting Dates 2026
Sector A: River Test from source to the A34 bridge near Whitchurch and Bourne
Sector A Cutting Days
Sector A Clearing off Days
Tuesday 9 June – Thursday 18 June (midnight)
Friday 19 June – Saturday 20 June
Tuesday 14 July – Monday 20 July (midnight)
Tuesday 21 July – Wednesday 22 July
Tuesday 18 August – Monday 24 August (midnight)
Tuesday 25 August – Wednesday 26 August
Sector B1: River Test from the A34 bridge near Whitchurch to top of Middleton Estate at Longparish
Sector B1 Cutting Days
Sector B1 Clearing off Days
Wednesday 10 June – Friday 19 June (midnight)
Saturday 20 June – Sunday 21 June
Wednesday 15 July – Tuesday 21 July (midnight)
Wednesday 22 July – Thursday 23 July
Wednesday 19 August – Tuesday 25 August (midnight)
Wednesday 26 August – Thursday 27 August
Anton, Pillhill and Dever
Anton, Pillhill, Bourne & Dever Cutting Days
Anton, Pillhill, Bourne & Dever Clearing off Days
Wednesday 10 June – Friday 19 June (midnight)
Saturday 20 June – Sunday 21 June
Wednesday 15 July – Tuesday 21 July (midnight)
Wednesday 22 July – Thursday 23 July
Wednesday 19 August – Tuesday 25 August (midnight)
Wednesday 26 August – Thursday 27 August
Sector B2: River Test from top of Middleton Estate at Longparish to top of Wherwell Priory (B3420)
Sector B2 Cutting Days
Sector B2 Clearing off Days
Thursday 11 June – Saturday 20 June (midnight)
Sunday 21 June – Monday 22 June
Thursday 16 July – Wednesday 22 July (midnight)
Thursday 23 July – Friday 24 July
Thursday 20 August – Wednesday 26 August (midnight)
Thursday 27 August – Friday 28 August
Sector C: River Test from top of Wherwell Priory (B3420) to the Stockbridge High Street
Sector C Cutting Days
Sector C Clearing off Days
Friday 12 June – Sunday 21 June (midnight)
Monday 22 June – Tuesday 23 June
Friday 17 July – Thursday 23 July (midnight)
Friday 24 July – Saturday 25 July
Friday 21 August – Thursday 27 August (midnight)
Friday 28 August – Saturday 29 August
Sector D: River Test from the Stockbridge High Street to the road between Horsebridge and Bossington Mill
Sector D Cutting Days
Sector D Clearing off Days
Saturday 13 June – Monday 22 June (midnight)
Tuesday 23 June – Wednesday 24 June
Saturday 18 July – Friday 24 July (midnight)
Saturday 25 July – Sunday 26 July
Saturday 22 August – Friday 28 August (midnight)
Saturday 29 August – Sunday 30 August
Sector E: River Test from the road between Horsebridge and Bossington Mill to the weed boom at Greatbridge plus Wallop Brook
Sector E Cutting Days
Sector E Clearing off Days
Saturday 13 June – Tuesday 23 June (midnight)
Wednesday 24 June – Thursday 25 June
Saturday 18 July – Saturday 25 July (midnight)
Sunday 26 July – Monday 27 July
Saturday 22 August – Saturday 29 August (midnight)
Sunday 30 August – Monday 31 August
RIVER DUN UPPER: from source to public footbridge above The School Farm
River Dun Cutting Days
River Dun Clearing off Days
Saturday 13 June – Saturday 20 June (midnight)
Sunday 21 June – Monday 22 June
Saturday 18 July – Wednesday 22 July (midnight)
Thursday 23 July – Friday 24 July
Saturday 22 August – Wednesday 26 August (midnight)
Thursday 27 August – Friday 28 August
RIVER DUN LOWER: from public footbridge above The School Farm to confluence with River Test at Kimbridge
River Dun Cutting Days
River Dun Clearing off Days
Saturday 13 June – Sunday 21 June (midnight)
Monday 22 June – Tuesday 23 June
Saturday 18 July – Thursday 23 July (midnight)
Friday 24 July – Saturday 25 July
Saturday 22 August – Thursday 27 August (midnight)
Friday 28 August – Saturday 29 August
Sector F: River Test from the weed boom at Greatbridge to the sea
Sector F Cutting Days
Sector F Clearing off Days
Saturday 13 June – Tuesday 23 June (midnight)
Wednesday 24 June – Thursday25 June
Saturday 18 July – Saturday 25 July (midnight)
Sunday 26 July – Monday 27 July
Saturday 22 August – Saturday 29 August (midnight)
For more information about fishing on the chalkstreams please contact Alistair Routledge or call our office on +44(0)1980 847389.
About the author
Alistair Routledge
A recent addition to the Aardvark McLeod team hailing from the leafy suburbs of Johannesburg, South Africa, Alistair enjoys chasing all manner of species on fly, and like any good South African is especially fond of yellowfish.
