Events

Our fly fishing beats on the River Meon and the River Dun

River Meon fly fishing beat restored by Wild Trout Trust

Upstreamdryfly announce two new chalk stream fly fishing beats available for the 2010 season.

The River Meon near Droxford (Midlington), Hampshire.
We are proud to offer a beat of nearly 2 miles of pristine double bank fly fishing on the River Meon. Following extensive restoration works by the Wild Trout Trust this winter, the beat is in excellent condition and wild trout stocks are very healthy.

The River Dun (a tributary of the river Test). known as The Blue Pool Beat. The beat is just over 1 km. Another secluded nature spot where the river flows through old woodland. At the top of the beat is the Blue Pool - a spring directly out of the chalk aquifer giving the water a blue appearance. Available Mon, Fri or Sunday only.

Please enquire for details and availability these and our other chalk stream fly fishing beats.

Fly Fishing Gift Vouchers - a unique special treat!

Our Fly Fishing Gift Vouchers make the perfect gift for that special occasion.

Give one of our vouchers - a really special gift, for one of our unique fly fishing events (below),

....a fly fishing lesson or a day's instruction from a professional instructor.

....in conjunction with the wonderful Peat Spade Inn.

.....or a bespoke fly fishing day we'll arrange personally to your specific requirements.

Our gift vouchers can be redeemed towards any of our fishing days or events.

See our 'Lady of the Stream' weekend in February 2009, our Saltwater Fly Fishing weekend in March 2009, a trip of a lifetime to Cuba in April '09, and our very popular Ladies' Fly Fishing Day at mayfly time. All make a truly unique and enjoyable gift for any fly fisherman or woman.

Please email or call for details.

Ladies' Day - Presented by Upstreamdryfly, the Peat Spade Inn and Hardy Greys

Mrs. Hannah Wagstaff with rainbow trout on Ladies' Day 2009

Sunday May 23rd 2010

Slap, bang in the mayfly period!..........Ladies make excellent fly fishermen! Many of the largest game fish captured in the British Isles have been caught by ladies. The most famous, the British record salmon of 64lbs taken by Miss Georgina Ballantine at Glendelvine on the River Tay 7th October 1922 still stands today. On that particular day, Miss Ballantine had already caught three fine salmon of 17, 21 and 25lbs! Within two years, Mrs Morrison took a 61lb salmon from the Deverton and Miss Doreen Dover took the famous 51 pounder from the River Wye at Lower Winforton!

In a sport often thought of as a male preserve, today there are over 300,000 women anglers! In fact, at the highest level over 150 ladies compete in the Ladies’ National Championships and their results match those of their male counterparts. Famous fly fishing ladies have included, HRH The Queen Mother, The Queen, Diana Rigg, Faith Brown, Fiona Armstrong, and Jenny Hanley among others.

Fly fishing is male-dominated only by accident, not by design. The sport requires technique not physical strength – Moc Moragn of the Welsh Salmon and Trout Association acknowledges “When they are good, women anglers are very, very good – far better than most men for some reason.”

Come along to our private estate lake in the beautiful River Test valley and learn this most graceful and relaxing sport. Let one of our professional instructors take you through the basics of fly fishing in a relaxed and informal atmosphere well away from the crowds.

9am – 9.30am. Morning coffee at The Peat Spade. Introductions to course instructors and fellow pupils – Drive to the lake (10 minutes away).

9.45am – 1pm
• With fly rod in hand - learn how to set up your tackle.
• Go through the basic casts with an instructor. (Roll cast and overhead cast).
• Learn how to ‘match the hatch’ with some essential entomology.
• How to hook, play and land your first trout.
• Pack a trout or two to take home. Look at how to clean and prepare your catch for the pan!

1pm - Lakeside Peat Spade Inn hamper pic-nic luncheon

2pm onwards - more fishing!

4pm – Return to The Peat Spade for Sunday light supper (optional – booking
advisable).
4pm - You have the option to continue fishing on the lake.

Book now, cost £195.50 per person (including VAT). Including all instruction, tackle, EA rod licences and hamper lunch.