English - Fresh water
beginner & intermediate
Southover Lakes, Dorset
Southover lakes were created by Richard Slocock in the 1980s to provide an ideal teaching environment . There are five lakes in total, all with different characteristics. Meadow the largest, with mixed deeps and shallows. School is smaller, as is Bowl. Church fishes well ,but is a bit out of the way and Ox Bow is just that like a small stream but deeper.
What to expect
- Normally start at 10am, finishing 4 - 5pm
- You will need to provide your own lunch or go to a local pub
- The water quality is excellent and sight fishing makes learning easier.
- Casting tuition will initially take place on grass then continue on the water .
- Basic tackle set up and Knots
- Fly selection and rudimentary entomology
- Practical fishing on the lakes which are stocked with Rainbow trout on a regular basis.
What it costs
Day course - £185 pp including all fishing and tackle.
Wessex Chalkstreams
The Chalk fed rivers of Dorset provide a perfect environment for all levels of experience. The Frome below Dorchester has wide open sections that do not require the levels of casting expertise of the upper river and the its smaller neighbor the Piddle. I can recommend fishing that suits the first time river fisher to the highly experience angler.
What to expect
- Normally start at 10am, finishing 4 - 5pm. However seasonal variations can alter timings.
- You will need to provide your own lunch or go to a local pub
- The water quality is excellent and makes for excellent sight fishing.
- Assistance with casting techniques, fly placement and line management will be an integral part of the day.
- Basic tackle set up and knots
- Fly selection and surrounding entomology
- Practical fishing on lightly stocked and largely wild fish beats.
What it costs
Day course - £200 pp including all fishing and tackle. Additional surcharges will apply in May - June. Contact for information.
River Frome, Dorset
The Frome at Morton is the ideal place to introduce river fly fishing to beginners and improvers alike, as well as providing challenges for the more experienced angler. It consists of main river and carrier beats so a variety of water is available. The main river is wide with a mixture of runs and pools with plenty of weed for food and cover. The carrier is fast and fairly narrow and deep with weed growth and bank side cover providing ideal trout and grayling habitat. Other upper river Frome beats above Dorchester are available and can be a better option early season (pre May) and for those who wish to engage in a degree of jungle warfare.
What to expect
- Normally start at 10am, finishing 4 - 5pm. However seasonal variations can alter timings.
- The whole day can be spent searching the huge variety of water and lunch can be taken in the hut or at a local pub
- Introduction to Chalk stream fly fishing
- Understanding equipment & tackle
- Basic casts, fly placement and line management.
- Practise routines
- Fly selection and knots
- Streamcraft and native entomology
What it costs
1 day course £200 including all fishing and tackle.
Hampshire & Wiltshire Rivers
During the season I do a lot of guiding work for Fishing Breaks Ltd of Nether Wallop. Simon Cooper has an excellent portfolio of fishing, including some of the most famous beats of what are possibly the best known rivers in the world.
You can sit in Halford's hut on the middle Test at Montisfont or scramble about on a fabulous and equally famous upper river beat.
I can be booked as a guide on any of the Fishing breaks beats. Contact fishing breaks and ask for me as a guide when you book your beat.
more experienced anglers
River Piddle, Dorset
The Piddle is a small crystal clear river that can provide a quality of fishing hard to match anywhere. It is small and deep and holds trout from three inches to over three pounds. Most casts on the Piddle are less than twenty feet and the terrain is testing. Not ideal for beginners but a great place to come to terms with the sight fishing with nymphs and accurate dry fly presentation.
What to expect
- Introduction to small stream fly fishing
- Understanding equipment & tackle
- Casting tight cover
- Fish spotting and streamcraft
- Fly selection and knots
The day will be spent putting your developing practical skills into practice on the river.
What it costs
1 day course £200 (surcharge in May/June) including all fishing and tackle.
