One-Day Trout Fishing Courses

Trout Fly Fishing Courses in the UK

Fly fishing for trout on a stillwater is how the majority of people enter the sport and with lakes all over the country it's easy to grab a day, or a couple of hours after work, without any real planning or preparation. It's a great way to unwind surrounded by great scenery, wildlife and the occasional like-minded angler, relaxing in the fresh air and, hopefully, catching a fish or two along the way. If this is something you have fancied having a go at, or want to improve, then why not join us for a full day of instruction and fishing - but most of all fun.

We are now also offering one day courses on how to Euro nymph, with tuition on the famous river Test.

We're Back

We’re delighted to bring back our excellent Sportfish one-day fly fishing courses, with tuition from former England Fly Fishing team member, qualified guide & instructor Ben Bangham. Our Beginner / Improver & Intermediate / Advanced stillwater trout courses in June were both a huge success, and we are running them again in October. We will look to add more courses during over time, for now below are those currently confirmed:

CONFIRMED DATES & VENUE:

• Beginner / Improver: stillwater trout Thurs 15 October Sportfish Game Fishing Centre
• Intermediate / Advanced: stillwater trout Fri 16 October Sportfish Game Fishing Centre
• Beginner / Improver: Euro nymphing Tues 10 & Thurs 12 November, river Test, Romsey
• Intermediate / Advanced: Euro nymphing Mon 9, Wed 11 & Fri 12 November, river Test, Romsey

OTHER FISHING COURSES, DATES & VENUES TO BE CONFIRMED: 

• Beginner / Improver: saltwater
• Intermediate / Advanced: saltwater
• Beginners / Improvers: winter pike (river)
• Intermediates / Advanced: winter pike (river)
• Beginners / Improvers: winter grayling (river)
• Intermediates / Advanced: winter grayling (river)
• Beginner / Improver: river trout, chalkstreams
• Intermediate / Advanced: river trout, chalkstreams

Please book early to avoid disappointment as these courses are very popular.

BEGINNER / IMPROVER ONE DAY EURO NYMPHING FLY FISHING COURSE

WHO IS IT FOR

• Those who’ve never done any Euro nymphing before
• Those with some Euro nymphing experience who want to improve
• Anglers moving from lakes to rivers

While we accept adults of any age and ability on this course, it’s hard to teach children under 10 years old to fly fish as they struggle to cast. In light of this we only accept children aged 10-16 years old, and they must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

WHERE & WHEN IS IT?

The course will take place on the Broadlands Estate near Romsey on the famous river Test, one of the world’s most iconic chalkstreams. Details for how to get there (postcode and gate numbers) will be provided upon booking confirmation.

We have identical courses running on Tuesday 10 November and Thursday 12 November (both start at 09.30).

HOW MUCH DOES THE COURSE COST?

This one-day introduction to Euro nymphing course is £175 per person, paid in advance of the day.

WHAT WILL THE COURSE COVER?

During the session we will cover the basics, including the history of this very effective technique, equipment setup, casting techniques, fly selection and positioning, how to approach the water and what types of water are most suitable. The first part of the day will be lesson based, the second part on the river, with a loose structure as follows:

• 09:30 - Meet at Broadlands Estate
• 10:00 - Kit overview
• 10:30 - Flies masterclass
• 11:30 - Knots & set up
• 12:30 - Break for lunch (lunch not included)
• 13:00 - Head to river
• 13:30 - Fishing session
• 14.30 – Final tuition
• 15:30 - Final fishing session
• 16:00 - Session concludes (you are welcome to carry on fishing after this)

A qualified instructor will be on hand throughout the entire day, offering offer one-on-one guidance tailored to your specific needs. The course is limited to 4 people to ensure everyone gets sufficient tuition.

WHO ARE THE INSTRUCTORS?

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

All necessary fishing equipment is provided, so there is no need to bring your own (we have the latest Greys combo kits).

However, if you prefer to use your own gear, you are more than welcome. We can spend time reviewing your current equipment and suggesting potential improvements to help you get the most out of your set-up.

Please do however ensure that you bring:

• A hat and sunglasses, preferably with polarised lenses (essential for safety and spotting fish)
• Weather-appropriate clothing and footwear
• Your own waders (if you don’t have any let us know your size in advance - there will be a £10 charge to hire waders)

Coffee, tea and water will be available throughout the day, however please bring your own lunch.

You will need a current EA Rod Licence, which is available buy online here via the .Gov website.

There are a couple of options but as a minimum you will need a one day non-migratory licence dated for the day of your chosen course, which will cost £7.30 (under 16s are free but still need to book a licence). This license is a legal requirement and must be purchased before any fishing can be carried out.

HOW TO BOOK

Spaces for this session are limited to 4 people per day, so please use the button below to enquire about reserving your place and for details of how to make your payment.

INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED ONE DAY EURO NYMPHING FLY FISHING COURSE

WHO IS IT FOR

• Those with some Euro nymphing experience who want to improve
• Experienced Euro nymphing practitioners who want to take it to the next level
• Competent anglers moving from lakes to rivers

While we accept adults of any age and ability on this course, it’s hard to teach children under 10 years old to fly fish as they struggle to cast. In light of this we only accept children aged 10-16 years old, and they must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

WHERE & WHEN IS IT?

The course will take place on the Broadlands Estate near Romsey on the famous river Test, one of the world’s most iconic chalkstreams. Details for how to get there (postcode and gate numbers) will be provided upon booking confirmation.

We have identical courses running on Monday 9 November, Wednesday 11 November and Friday 13 November (all start at 09.30).

HOW MUCH DOES THE COURSE COST?

This one-day introduction to Euro nymphing course is £175 per person, paid in advance of the day.

WHAT WILL THE COURSE COVER?

During the session we will cover the basics, including the history of this very effective technique, equipment setup, casting techniques, fly selection and positioning, how to approach the water and what types of water are most suitable. The first part of the day will be lesson based, the second part on the river, with a loose structure as follows:

• 09:30 - Meet at Broadlands Estate
• 10:00 - Kit overview
• 10:30 - Flies masterclass
• 11:30 - Knots & set up
• 12:30 - Break for lunch (lunch not included)
• 13:00 - Head to river
• 13:30 - Fishing session
• 14.30 – Final tuition
• 15:30 - Final fishing session
• 16:00 - Session concludes (you are welcome to carry on fishing after this)

A qualified instructor will be on hand throughout the entire day, offering offer one-on-one guidance tailored to your specific needs. The course is limited to 4 people to ensure everyone gets sufficient tuition.

WHO ARE THE INSTRUCTORS?

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

While we do have equipment available if required (we have the latest Greys combo kits), we strongly encourage you to bring your own gear so we can spend time reviewing your current equipment and suggesting potential improvements to help you get the most out of your setup.

Please do however ensure that you bring:

• A hat and sunglasses, preferably with polarised lenses (essential for safety and spotting fish)
• Weather-appropriate clothing and footwear
• Your own waders (if you don’t have any let us know your size in advance - there will be a £10 charge to hire waders)

Coffee, tea and water will be available throughout the day, however please bring your own lunch.

You will need a current EA Rod Licence, which is available buy online here via the .Gov website.

There are a couple of options but as a minimum you will need a one day non-migratory licence dated for the day of your chosen course, which will cost £7.30 (under 16s are free but still need to book a licence). This license is a legal requirement and must be purchased before any fishing can be carried out.

HOW TO BOOK

Spaces for this session are limited to 4 people per day, so please use the button below to enquire about reserving your place and for details of how to make your payment.

BEGINNER / IMPROVER ONE DAY RIVER TROUT FLY FISHING COURSE

WHO IS IT FOR

• Those who’ve never picked up a fly rod and want to learn how to fly fish
• Beginners who need a refresher to get their skills honed
• Those with some river experience who want to improve
• Anglers moving from lakes to rivers

While we accept adults of any age and ability on this course, it’s hard to teach children under 10 years old to fly fish as they struggle to cast. In light of this we only accept children aged 10-16 years old, and they must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

WHERE & WHEN IS IT?

Our base for this one-day course on Thurs 16th July is the Donnington & Co Hotel & Spa, Old Oxford Road, Donnington, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 3AG. The venue is easily accessible from junction 13 of the M4 and from the A34.

The course will take place on the nearby river Lambourn, a beautiful Berkshire Chalkstream, ideal for sight fishing with its clear water, bright gravel and flowing weedbeds.

HOW MUCH DOES THE COURSE COST?

This one-day introduction to river fly fishing course is £130 per person, paid in advance of the day, and includes a light lunch.

WHAT WILL THE COURSE COVER?

During the session we will cover the basics, including equipment setup, casting techniques, fly selection, watercraft and river dry fly & nymph fishing techniques and tactics. The first part of the day will be lesson based at the hotel, the second part on the river, with a loose structure as follows:

• 09:45 - Meet at Donnington & Co Hotel & Spa
• 10:00 - Kit overview
• 10:30 - Flies masterclass
• 11:30 - Knots & set up
• 12:30 - Break for lunch (light lunch included)
• 13:00 - Head to river
• 13:30 - Fishing session
• 15:30 - Final fishing session
• 16:00 - Session concludes (you are welcome to carry on fishing after this)

A qualified instructor will be on hand throughout the entire day, walking the banks to offer one-on-one guidance tailored to your specific needs. The course is limited to 8 people to ensure everyone gets sufficient tuition.

WHO ARE THE INSTRUCTORS?

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

All necessary fishing equipment is provided, so there is no need to bring your own (we have the latest Greys combo kits).

However, if you prefer to use your own gear, you are more than welcome. We can spend time reviewing your current equipment and suggesting potential improvements to help you get the most out of your set-up.

Please do however ensure that you bring:

• A hat and sunglasses, preferably with polarised lenses (essential for safety and spotting fish)
• Weather-appropriate clothing and footwear
• Your own waders (if you don’t have any let us know in advance as we do have some spares)

Coffee, tea and water will be available throughout the day.

You will need a current EA Rod Licence, which is available buy online here via the .Gov website.

There are a couple of options but as a minimum you will need a one day non-migratory licence dated for the day of your chosen course, which will cost £7.30 (under 16s are free but still need to book a licence). This license is a legal requirement and must be purchased before any fishing can be carried out.

HOW TO BOOK

Spaces for this session are limited to 8 people, so please use the button below to enquire about reserving your place and for details of how to make your payment (the button below will email Ben Bangham, our course leader).

INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED ONE DAY RIVER TROUT FLY FISHING COURSE

WHO IS IT FOR

• Those with some rivers experience who want to get better
• Experienced river anglers who want to turn good days into great ones
• Competent anglers moving from stillwaters to rivers

While we accept adults of any age and ability on this course, it’s hard to teach children under 10 years old to fly fish as they struggle to cast. In light of this we only accept children aged 10-16 years old, and they must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

WHERE & WHEN IS IT?

Our base for this one-day course on Fri 17th July is the Donnington & Co Hotel & Spa, Old Oxford Road, Donnington, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 3AG. The venue is easily accessible from junction 13 of the M4 and from the A34.

The course will take place on the nearby river Lambourn, a beautiful Berkshire Chalkstream, ideal for sight fishing with its clear water, bright gravel and flowing weedbeds.

HOW MUCH DOES THE COURSE COST?

This one-day introduction to river fly fishing course is £130 per person, paid in advance of the day, and includes a light lunch.

WHAT WILL THE COURSE COVER?

During the session we will explore advanced techniques, tactical approaches and specialised setups to maximise your success on the water, deep diving into technical aspects of lines, leaders, flies and more. The first part of the day will be lesson based at the hotel, the second part on the river, with a loose structure as follows:

• 09:45 - Meet at Donnington & Co Hotel & Spa
• 10:00 - Set up review
• 10:30 - Leader construction and tips
• 11:30 - Flies masterclass
• 12:30 - Break for lunch (light lunch included)
• 13:00 - Head to river
• 13:10 - Reading the water
• 13:30 - Fishing session
• 14:30 - Approaching the water
• 15:00 - Fishing session
• 16:00 - Session concludes (you are welcome to carry on fishing after this)

A qualified instructor will be on hand throughout the entire day, walking the banks to offer one-on-one guidance tailored to your specific needs. The course is limited to 8 people to ensure everyone gets sufficient tuition.

WHO ARE THE INSTRUCTORS?

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

While we do have equipment available if required (we have the latest Greys combo kits), we strongly encourage you to bring your own gear so we can spend time reviewing your current equipment and suggesting potential improvements to help you get the most out of your setup.

Please do however ensure that you bring:

• A hat and sunglasses, preferably with polarised lenses (essential for safety and spotting fish)
• Weather-appropriate clothing and footwear
• Your own waders (if you don’t have any let us know in advance as we do have some spares)

Coffee, tea and water will be available throughout the day.

You will need a current EA Rod Licence, which is available buy online here via the .Gov website.

There are a couple of options but as a minimum you will need a one day non-migratory licence dated for the day of your chosen course, which will cost £7.30 (under 16s are free but still need to book a licence). This license is a legal requirement and must be purchased before any fishing can be carried out.

HOW TO BOOK

Spaces for this session are limited to 8 people, so please use the button below to enquire about reserving your place and for details of how to make your payment (the button below will email Ben Bangham, our course leader).

How To Get To The Donnington & Co Hotel & Spa

The Donnington & Co Hotel & Spa is located just one hour from London, 40 minutes from Oxford, one hour from Bristol and 40 minutes from Winchester by car. Please view the map below for directions and travel options.

BEGINNER / IMPROVER ONE DAY STILLWATER TROUT FLY FISHING COURSE

WHO IS IT FOR

• Those who’ve never picked up a fly rod and want to learn how to fly fish
• Beginners who need a refresher to get their skills honed
• Those with some stillwater experience who want to improve
• Anglers moving from rivers to lakes

While we accept adults of any age and ability on this course, it’s hard to teach children under 10 years old to fly fish as they struggle to cast. In light of this we only accept children aged 10-16 years old, and they must be accompanied by an adult at all times. 

WHERE & WHEN IS IT?

This one-day course on Thurs 15th October is hosted at the Sportfish Game Fishing Centre, Theale, Berkshire, RG7 4AS.

The course will take place on Hobby Lake, a beautiful 5-acre stillwater, stocked with trout, that you will have exclusive use of for the day (there will be flexibility to move to the bigger Haywards Farm lake main lake as the day progresses).

HOW MUCH DOES THE COURSE COST?

This one-day introduction to stillwater fly fishing course is £99 per person, paid in advance of the day.

WHAT WILL THE COURSE COVER?

During the session we will cover the absolute basics, including equipment setup, casting techniques, fly selection, watercraft and stillwater fly fishing techniques and tactics. The structure of the day will be as follows:

• 09:30 - Meet at Sportfish Game Fishing Centre
• 10:00 - Head up to the lake
• 10:10 - Introduction to basic kit setup and assembly
• 10:30 - Casting demonstration followed by guided practice
• 11:00 - On-water fishing session
• 12:30 - Break for lunch
• 13:00 - Masterclass on flies: selection, timing, and presentation techniques
• 13:30 - On-water fishing session
• 15:00 - A practical overview of essential knots and setups
• 15:30 - Final on-water fishing session
• 16:00 - Session concludes

A qualified instructor will be on hand throughout the entire day, walking the banks to offer one-on-one guidance tailored to your specific needs. The course is limited to 8 people to ensure everyone gets sufficient tuition.

WHO ARE THE INSTRUCTORS?

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

All necessary fishing equipment is provided, so there is no need to bring your own (we have the latest Greys combo kits).

However, if you prefer to use your own gear, you are more than welcome. We can spend time reviewing your current equipment and suggesting potential improvements to help you get the most out of your set-up.

Please do however ensure that you bring:

• A hat and sunglasses, preferably with polarised lenses (essential for safety and spotting fish)
• Weather-appropriate clothing and footwear
• Your own packed lunch and drinks

Coffee, tea and water will be available throughout the day.

You will need a current EA Rod Licence, which is available buy online here via the .Gov website.

There are a couple of options but as a minimum you will need a one day non-migratory licence dated for the day of your chosen course, which will cost £7.30 (under 16s are free but still need to book a licence). This license is a legal requirement and must be purchased before any fishing can be carried out.

HOW TO BOOK

Spaces for this session are limited to 8 people, so please use the button below to enquire about reserving your place and for details of how to make your payment (the button below will email Ben Bangham, our course leader).

INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED ONE DAY STILLWATER TROUT FLY FISHING COURSE

WHO IS IT FOR

• Those with some stillwater experience who want to get better
• Regular stillwater anglers who want to turn good days into great ones
• Competent river anglers moving to stillwaters

While we accept adults of any age and ability on this course, it’s hard to teach children under 10 years old to fly fish as they struggle to cast. In light of this we only accept children aged 10-16 years old, and they must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

WHERE & WHEN IS IT?

This one-day course is hosted on Friday 16th October at the Sportfish Game Fishing Centre, Theale, Berkshire, RG7 4AS.

The course will take place on Hobby Lake, a beautiful 5-acre stillwater, stocked with trout, that you will have exclusive use of for the day (there will be flexibility to move to the bigger Haywards Farm lake main lake as the day progresses).

HOW MUCH DOES THE COURSE COST?

This one-day stillwater fly fishing course for intermediates is £99 per person, paid in advance of the day.

WHAT WILL THE COURSE COVER?

During the session we will explore advanced techniques, tactical approaches and specialised setups to maximise your success on the water, deep diving into technical aspects of lines, leaders, flies and more. The structure of the day will be as follows:

• 09:30 - Meet at Sportfish Game Fishing Centre
• 10:00 - Head up to the lake
• 10:10 – Review of basic setups
• 10:30 – Leader construction and practical applications
• 11:00 - On-water fishing session
• 12:30 - Break for lunch
• 13:00 – Masterclass on fly lines and when to use what
• 13:30 - On-water fishing session
• 15:00 – Detailed focus on specific, advanced fishing techniques
• 15:30 – Final on-water fishing session
• 16:00 - Session concludes

A qualified instructor will be on hand throughout the entire day, walking the banks to offer one-on-one guidance tailored to your specific needs. The course is limited to 8 people to ensure everyone gets sufficient tuition.

WHO ARE THE INSTRUCTORS?

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

While we do have equipment available if required (we have the latest Greys combo kits), we strongly encourage you to bring your own gear so we can spend time reviewing your current equipment and suggesting potential improvements to help you get the most out of your setup.

Please do however ensure that you bring:

• A hat and sunglasses, preferably with polarised lenses (essential for safety and spotting fish)
• Weather-appropriate clothing and footwear
• Your own packed lunch and drinks

Coffee, tea and water will be available throughout the day.

You will need a current EA Rod Licence, which is available buy online here via the .Gov website.

There are a couple of options but as a minimum you will need a one day non-migratory licence dated for the day of your chosen course, which will cost £7.30 (under 16s are free but still need to book a licence). This license is a legal requirement and must be purchased before any fishing can be carried out.

HOW TO BOOK

Spaces for this session are limited to 8 people, so please use the button below to enquire about reserving your place and for details of how to make your payment (the button below will email Ben Bangham, our course leader).

HOW TO GET TO THE SPORTFISH GAME FISHING CENTRE

If you’re driving, simply leave the M4 at Jn 12 and follow the A4 towards Theale. Look out for the signs to Theale Station and follow them. Once you reach the station, proceed for 150yds (over hump backed bridge) and take the first turning on the right-hand side. Theale train station is a less than a 5-minute walk away and can be reached by overland trains services and the Elizabeth tube line.

T&Cs

Cancellations & Refunds
Please note that fishing is an outdoor activity subject to environmental conditions, therefore refunds cannot be made in the event of unfavourable conditions beyond our control e.g. adverse weather, water levels etc. We reserve the right to cancel a course in the event of any factors beyond our control, such as staff sickness or unavailability. Under these circumstances we will offer you the choice of a full refund or an alternative course. In the event of the customer making a cancellation, we will endeavour to resell the booking where possible. In the event of Sportfish being unable to sell on behalf of the client, no refund can be given.

Liability
We accept no responsibility for loss or damage to participants personal belongings during the courses. Participants on Sportfish courses should remember that fishing takes place in potentially hazardous environments. If you have any medical conditions, please ensure you inform staff beforehand to ensure you, or they, are not put at risk.

Conduct
Customers using fisheries and land where Sportfish courses are being held should familiarise themselves with the rules imposed by the landowner. These rules should not be broken under any circumstances. People breaking fishery rules will be asked to leave the property immediately and will not be refunded.

Complaints
If you have a complaint or issue with your course, you should immediately cease the activity and either speak to your course leader or contact Sportfish to resolve the issue on 0118 930 3860.

Rod Licences
All persons undertaking fishing activities with Sportfish must be in possession of a current Environment Agency Rod Licence appropriate to the type of fishing being undertaken.