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The Mill
Heathman Street
Nether Wallop
STOCKBRIDGE
Hampshire SO20 8EW
T: 01264 781988
F: 01264 782590
info@fishingbreaks.co.uk
www.fishingbreaks.co.uk
 

2011 River Test One Fly – Friday April 29th

The River Test One Fly is a one-day contest in which all comers and celebrity guests battle it out to bag the most, biggest and best fish at a unique event on the River Test, historic home of British fly fishing.

But here’s the catch – each angler can only use one single fly throughout the contest as they hunt their quarry, the wily and elusive trout. Lose that fly – and you’re fired! One fly, one chance is all that stands between triumph and despair.

Every angler is accompanied for the duration of the contest by a Fishing Guide who acts as guide, netsman, scorer and referee. All fish must be released and the scoring is based on points according to the length of each fish caught.

The 2010 contest was a relaxed group of avid fly fishers, keen amateurs and those just there for the craic including TV’s Chris Tarrant and trotting supremo Bob ‘Passion for Angling’ James who had to brush up on his casting skills. In an exceptionally high scoring year, with eight anglers catching ten or more fish and only four of the thirty three blanking, the results were close. The overall winner was second time One Flyer Jeremy Croucher fishing a Pheasant Tail Hare’s Ear.

2010 One Fly Group Photo

The One Fly is not just about fishing; it is a celebration of everything that is good about fly fishing. The camaraderie, the challenges, the battle against our native brown trout, the highs and the lows. If you would like to enter you may do so as an individual or a team of three. There are prizes for the winning team, biggest fish, leading Guide and many more. The day runs from 10am-4.30pm, with a welcome breakfast hosted by The Peat Spade in Stockbridge starting at 8am

About the One Fly

The idea for the River Test One Fly (RTOF) was conceived by Fishing Breaks founder Simon Cooper having competed in the American equivalent since 2005. Though he has never come close to winning, every year Simon makes the 5,000 mile trek to Wyoming with ever increasing excitement. For this is a contest that pits man against man and fish against fly – it is an unequal contest as the trout always win, but you can share the passion of one of the world’s truly great fly fishing events which is now held in England, the true home of fly fishing.

The 2008 Inaugural RTOF was a great success, garnering praise and congratulations from all those who took part. It was filmed for Sky and a one-hour special is due to be broadcast later this year. The 2009 event was extensively featured in the angling press, Country Life and The Field, with over £2,000 raised for the Wild Trout Trust. In 2010 the One Fly increased in size to 11 teams and by common agreement all those taking part the Soldiers, Sailors, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association Forces Help was the chosen charity, nominated by Portsmouth Services Fly Fishing Association who kindly provided Guides and beat for the competition.

But the clue to the difference to other fly fishing tournaments is in the name - the One Fly is exactly that – at 10am each morning every competitor selects and ties on the fly that must last all day – lose it and you’re out! Points are awarded on a sliding scale according to the number and length of fish caught. There are no cash prizes – just the glory and kudos of winning. There are prizes for the best fish, top Guide, winning team and so on, all generously donated by sponsors.

This last point is important – the One Fly is a not-for-profit event. The entrance fees are used to cover the cost of running the annual event and any surplus is ploughed back into charitable causes.

Take a look at www.jhonefly.org for more details of the US competition or the New Zealand version www.onefly.co.nz

Entry Form

Individual entries will be allocated a team by the organiser. Any special requests will be fulfilled if possible. For team entries names may be changed/left open until 14 days prior to the competition. The cost of entry is £325/person. (£250 for RTOF Founder Members). Payment is due in March 2011. The organiser will contact you for payment.

2010 Results

Winning Team Award 1st ONLINEFISHING.TV 2nd Dunbridge Damsels 3rd Water Rats Top Individual Points Award 1st JEREMY CROUCHER 2nd Edward Dawes 3rd Ian MacKenzie Leading Guide Award 1st CHAS HOUSE 2nd Mark Bedford-Russell 3rd Ian Hockley Top Estate Score 1st WHITCHURCH FULLING MILL 2nd Compton Chamberlayne 3rd Wherwell Priory

2010 Results PDF file

2009 Results

Winning Team Award 1st THE FIELD 2nd The Peat Spade 3rd Robjents Top Individual Points Award 1st NICK ZOLL 2nd Howard Taylor 3rd John Graham Leading Guide Award 1st MARCUS MCCORKELL 2nd Howard Bennett 3rd Chas House Top Estate Score 1st WHERWELL PRIORY 2nd Whitchurch Fulling Mill 3rd Itchen Worthy

2009 Team Scores PDF file
2009 Guide Scores PDF file
2009 Individual Rankings PDF file

2008 Results

2008 Team Scores PDF file
2008 Guide Scores PDF file

Press articles

Fly Fishing & Fly Tying – October 2009

A Guides eye view of the 2009 River Test One Fly

The Field magazine – July 2009

Editor Jonathan Young recounts with great hilarity on how his team lifted the trophy.

Country Life Magazine – May 2009

David Profumo tells all from the River Test One Fly competition

Country Life Magazine May 2008

Country Life editor Mark Hedges spills the beans

Financial Times January 2008 - 2.5mb

Fear of Flying - The FT's Richard Donkin tells why he is fishing the River Test One Fly in April.

Our supporters

The River Test One Fly could not happen without the help of a great many people - apologies to anyone accidentally omitted.

Bullington Manor Estate
Compton Chamberlayne Estate
Donnington Grove Country Club
Clare & James Hogg
Jan Grimstone
Jo 0’Brien
Mottisfont Fly Fishing Club
Orvis
Portsmouth Fly Fishing Association
Robjents
The Peat Spade Inn

Rules and scoring

Teams
a) Each team will consist of three contestants. Teams may substitute contestants anytime until the morning of the competition. Individual contestants are welcome to enter & will be allocated a team by the organiser.
b) Only one member of a team may be a professional full-time or part-time fresh or saltwater fly fishing instructor or guide. A professional is defined as anyone who, within the last 3 years, has received income for services performed as a fly fisher.

Equipment
a) Type of rod and fly reel is the choice of the contestant.
b) The use of fly floatant, leaders or other accessories will be at the discretion of the contestant. Only floating lines are permitted
c) No real or artificial fish attractants, such as scents, are allowed.

Event Flies
a) Any conventional dry or nymph pattern may be used as long as it is no larger than size #10.
b) Lead or other metal-moulded heads, cone heads and dumbbell lead eyes are prohibited. Tube flies are prohibited. A fly with a single metal or glass bead is allowed.
c) Flies must be tied on a single barbless hook or on a hook with the barb pushed down.
d) Contestants may select a different fly for the morning (10am-1.15pm) & afternoon (1.15pm-4.30pm) sessions. Morning & afternoon flies are not interchangeable.
e) Contestants must inform the Guide of their chosen fly by 10am/1.15pm & submit it for the approval of the Guide.
f) Repair of flies may only be done with the use of glue or any adhesive. Any re-tying of the fly with thread or fly tying materials is prohibited. Broken hooks may be honed or filed to a usable sharpness via any sharpening tool.
g) Traditional strike indicators are allowed. Flies, even those with broken hooks, are not allowed to be used as indicators. Only a single fly may be attached to the leader.

Fishing Procedure
a) All trout species will be counted in the scoring. No other fish species will be counted.
b) The only permitted fishing method is upstream dry fly or nymph.
c) Fishing hours are 10.00am-4.30pm.
d) With the permission of the fisherman who has a fish ‘on the line’, team partners may assist in landing any fish to be scored in the event.
e) If a contestants’ fly becomes caught in tree, branch or snag, it may be recovered and reattached to the leader. The contestant may continue fishing in the event.
f) The morning or afternoon session scoring ends for a contestant when his official fly becomes irretrievably lost. That person may continue to fish for the remainder of the session, but no fish caught after the contest fly is lost will count for that sessions’ scoring.
g) Contestants may not, under any circumstances, swap or exchange flies or rods with other contestants or team members.

Sharing a beat
a) Contestants will mutually agree how to share a beat & observe the customary chalkstream etiquette.
b) Guides are not allowed to assist other contestants.

Duties of the Guide
a) The Guide is solely responsible for the contestant allocated to him or her & will not assist, advise or collaborate with other contestants or Guides during fishing hours.
b) The Guide may assist in netting the fish if the contestant so requests

Dispute Resolution
a) In the event of a dispute the decision of Official Referee will be final.

Scoring
a) To be counted in the score, the angler or Guide, must touch the leader whilst a trout is ‘on’ and then that fish is counted 15 points.
b) Each contestant will be allowed to select six (6) trout to measure during the day. All trout not selected for measurement will be released immediately, preferably without removing them from the water.
c) Measurement should be done in gutter provided by the Guide & the score recorded by the Guide. Any fish length will be rounded to the next full inch e.g. 17 ¼” equals 18” for scoring purposes.
d) Any fish killed will not count to the points total, for whatever reason killed.
e) Each for the six (6) fish for bonus scoring by a contestant will be scored as follows:

Contact us

River Test One Fly HQ
Nether Wallop Mill
Stockbridge
Hampshire
SO20 8EW
T: 01264 781988
E: info@rivertestonefly.co.uk