Private Tuition & Courses
We recently celebrated 50 years of fly fishing at Nether Wallop Mill; it is quite a legacy.Originally created by the legendary Dermot Wilson in 1968 literally thousands of would-be fly fishers have cast a line and caught their first fish here at The Mill. As far as I know we remain the only place in the British Isles solely dedicated to fly fishing tuition and I am proud to have followed in Dermot’s tradition for the past twenty plus years. Nestling at the head of the Test valley, beside the burbling Wallop Brook and with a well-stocked trout lake we have every facility for a wonderful day catching fish and relaxing by the water in our oak, thatched Fishing Lodge with all the tackle and flies provided. |
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In broad terms the season runs from April to October during which time we run a variety of courses and days that are hosted by resident instructors Mark Bedford-Russell, Bob Preston, Steve Batten, Malcolm Price and Angus Campbell.
- One Day Foundation Course – suitable for novices or the very rusty
- Private Tuition – a good choice if you prefer individual coaching or putting together your own group
- One Day Chalkstream Course – ideal if you are already competent on stillwaters or other types of river
- Weekend Chalkstream School – prime May weekend dates for improvers
- NEW Ladies Foundation & Chalkstream Course – new and exclusive for 2024
- One Day Grayling Course – speciality techniques for the Lady of the Stream
- NEW Yorkshire – full and half day tuition with Charlie Clive
- NEW Co. Durham – river tuition with Eric Hope
Visit the Children & Family section for the Adult & Child, Family Days and Kids Camp.
The village of Nether Wallop is in Hampshire, nine miles to the west of Winchester and just fifteen miles from the M3. There is a direct train London Waterloo-Andover (9 miles) that takes 63 minutes. We are open every day of the season for individuals or small groups. No experience is required; novices are very welcome with all the equipment provided. Do bring non-fishing guests if you wish.
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"Great venue for my 'taster' session. ” “Fantastic day. Lovely setting with excellent tutoring. ” “The patience of the instructor coupled with the beauty and tranquillity of The Mill.” |
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9m
7m
2.3mOne Day Foundation Course
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The Foundation Courses are ideal for novices or anyone returning to fly fishing after a break. The Courses are run from April to October, all the equipment is provided and group sizes are kept small (four pupils) to ensure maximum individual coaching. This is a very practical course, where we aim to have a rod in your hand and you fishing with confidence in the shortest time possible. Here is a brief, but far from exhaustive list, of the topics that will be covered:
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• Selecting the right tackle
• Tackling up
• Casting; overhead, roll cast and shooting the line
• Fly lines, knots and tippets
• Flies and fly selection
• Hooking and landing a fish
Each day runs from 9.30am-5.30pm, with a break for lunch. There is a fully equipped Fishing Lodge and a wide choice of local accommodation in Stockbridge, just four miles away.
Max Group Size |
Tackle & flies |
Ideal for beginners |
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Couples |
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| Price per person for a full day (9.30am-5.30pm) to include all fishing charges, tuition, licence and tackle. |
Private Tuition
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For those who prefer individual coaching, our instructors are available by the day. The coaching will be at our fly fishing school at Nether Wallop Mill, on any date to suit, mid-week or weekend. You will be able to fish on both the lake and the Wallop Brook. A private lesson may be shared with a friend or bring a small group. If you want to make use of the BBQ to cook the catch you’ll be very welcome! All tackle is provided.
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Singles & upwards |
Tackle & flies |
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Prices are for a full day (9.30am-5.30pm) to include all fishing charges, tuition, licence and tackle. |
One Day Chalkstream Course
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As a fishing guide and instructor, one of the questions I am most often asked is whether chalkstream fishing is more difficult than other types of fly fishing. My answer is no but it is distinctly different, so you will need to adapt your strategies and techniques. That, in brief, is what this course will help you do. We take the skills you have learnt thus far and adapt them to defeat the considerably wilier river trout. You will alter your casting, rig your rod and line differently, have a whole new boxful of flies, be more observant of fly hatches and take your cue from the prevailing weather conditions. |
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The small group will be fishing at Bullington Manor on a tributary of the famous River Test. One of our highly experienced fishing guide/instructors will lead the course, which will cover all the following, plus much more, along with plenty of time dedicated to fishing itself.
• Tackling up for rivers
• Nymph vs. dry fly
• Tactics for brown trout vs. grayling
• What flies and when to use them
• Entomology in a nutshell
• Stalking and river tactics
The day runs from 9.30am-5.30pm, with a break for lunch. There is a
fully equipped Fishing Cabin at Bullington Manor and a wide choice of
local accommodation in Stockbridge, just six miles away.
Maximum group size |
Tackle & flies |
Not suitable for |
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Min age |
Couples |
Location: |
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Price is per person (9.30am-5.30pm) to include all fishing charges, tuition and tackle. |
Weekend Chalkstream School
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With 2.5 miles of the amazing river at Bullington Manor this is a wonderful opportunity to really enjoy chalkstream fishing in the company of great instructors and fellow fly fishers, sharing the highs (and lows!) of stalking brown trout and grayling. The weekend school offers an easy balance of both instruction and fishing. Yes, we do spend some time around the table in the fishing cabin but for the most part this is a very practical, fun weekend where you will be able to lose yourself on one of the most exclusive and private beats in the prime months of the season. |
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By way of a guidance, we recommend this school as suitable for anyone with some fly fishing experience be it on stillwater or other types of river; this is not a school for beginners. Tackle and flies are provided at no extra charge. Just bring lunch!
Day 1
Welcome coffee and introductions |
Lunch |
Day 2
Coffee with catch up Q&A |
Lunch |
Each day runs from 9.30am-5.30pm, with a break for lunch. There is a fully equipped Fishing Cabin at Bullington Manor and a wide choice of local accommodation in Stockbridge, just six miles away.
Maximum group size |
Tackle & flies |
Not suitable for |
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Min age |
Couples |
Location: |
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| Price is per person for two days (9.30am-5.30pm) to include all fishing charges, tuition and tackle. Group size limited to eight. |
Ladies Foundation & Chalkstream Courses NEW FOR 2024
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Fishing Breaks is delighted to welcome to the team Gilly Bate, one of England’s most accomplished and well known instructors. A Hampshire girl, who has fished for most of her life, Gilly is a wonderful and patient teacher who leads the way in showing that fly fishing is not just for men and boys. This season Gilly will be running two different days to cover all abilities. The Foundation Course at Nether Wallop Mill is ideal for novices or anyone returning to fly fishing after a break. The Chalkstream Course at Bullington Manor is for anyone with a few days fly fishing experience, self-taught or otherwise, on a river or lake, who wants to hone those skills to outwit our native brown trout on dry fly and nymph. Each day is run at our dedicated teaching facility, where all the equipment is provided with group sizes kept small to ensure maximum individual coaching. |
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One Day Foundation Course
This is a very practical course where instructor, Gilly Bate, will aim to have a rod in your hand and you fishing with confidence in the shortest time possible. Here is a brief, but far from exhaustive list, of the topics that will be covered:
• Selecting the right tackle
• Tackling up
• Casting; overhead, roll cast and shooting the line
• Fly lines, knots and tippets
• Flies and fly selection
• Hooking and landing a fish
Each day runs from 9.30am-5.30pm, with a break for lunch. There is a fully equipped Fishing Lodge at Nether Wallop Mill and a wide choice of local accommodation in Stockbridge, just four miles away.
Maximum group size |
Tackle & flies |
Ideal for beginners |
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|
Min age |
|
Location: |
|
||
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Price is per person (9.30am-5.30pm) to include all fishing charges, tuition, license and tackle. |
One Day Chalkstream Course
The small group will be fishing at Bullington Manor on a tributary of the famous River Test. Gilly Bate will lead the course, which will cover all the following, plus much more, along with plenty of time dedicated to fishing itself.
• Tackling up for rivers
• Nymph vs. dry fly
• Tactics for brown trout vs. grayling
• What flies and when to use them
• Entomology in a nutshell
• Stalking and river tactics
The day runs from 9.30am-5.30pm, with a break for lunch. There is a fully equipped Fishing Cabin at Bullington Manor and a wide choice of local accommodation in Stockbridge, just six miles away.
Maximum group size |
Tackle & flies |
Not suitable for |
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Min age |
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Location: |
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| Price is per person (9.30am-5.30pm) to include all fishing charges, tuition and tackle. |
One Day Grayling Course
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Bullington Manor is a prime grayling beat, the crystal clear water perfect for honing sight fishing using a variety of specialist grayling techniques. Fishing Breaks guide and instructor Bob Preston is passionate about grayling, having studied their unique ways during the course of his working life on the rivers. He will pass on his decades of experience during a day that will be packed with information and tips. The day is limited to just four people, running from 9.30am-5.30pm, with a break for lunch. There is a fully equipped fishing cabin at Bullington Manor and a wide choice of local accommodation in Stockbridge, just six miles away.
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Maximum group size |
Tackle & flies |
Not suitable for |
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Min age |
Couples |
Location: |
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Price is per person for a full day (9.30am-5.30pm) to include all fishing charges, tuition and tackle. |
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