The upper Itchen

To celebrate the launch of Today’s Flyfisher we’ve teamed up with Orvis to offer one lucky person (and an even luckier friend) two days guided fishing on the rivers Test and Itchen.

The Test and the Itchen are classic English chalk streams. The springs provide a reliable, constant water supply so the rivers rarely flood or dry out. The plants are maintained in the streambed and on the banks to provide ideal conditions for trout and the insects they eat. The aquatic plants are cut regularly during the summer and the bushes and trees are trimmed to provide access. Hatches are frequent, trout are plentiful, and the water is clear enough so that you will be able to target each fish that you catch.

As if that wasn’t enough we have two complete 9ft 6wt mid flex Orvis TLS outfits to giveaway. Each rod comes with a Rocky Mountain large arbor reel, a double taper 6wt Wonderline Advantage and the backing. As soon as you arrive in the beautiful Test valley, you will be ready to rock and roll with some top of the range kit.

Today’s Flyfisher editor Andy Petherick will come along to offer some pointers and get some pictures for a follow up feature, so you will be famous too! Andy (a qualified casting instructor) has guided professionally on the Test and Itchen for many years, knows the beats intimately and has a wealth of secret patterns he devised while he worked on the rivers.


We will send you the outfits ready to go in time for your first days fishing. The fishing is to be booked at your convenience with the Orvis fishing department and they don’t (but they could be if you wanted to make a weekend of it) have to be taken consecutively.

Today’s Flyfisher

Today’s flyfisher, priced at only £ 2.70, will hit the shelves on May 16th 2003. The focus of the magazine will be on new methods and secrets that are catching fish today. This will be complemented by coverage on traditional material, particularly traditional fly fishing patterns and their evolution. There will be a strong emphasis on ‘live’ features and subject matter will alter on a monthly basis.

Regular contributors to the magazine will include international fly fisherman Charles Jardine and England international Simon Kidd. Editor, Andy Petherick, is a qualified game angling (STANIC) instructor and has over 15 years fly fishing experience. A former manager for Orvis, one of the game world’s top brands, Andy is extremely passionate about the sport and hopes his enthusiasm will be transferred to readers through the magazine.

The Beats

The Timsbury 5 beat is mid to lower stretch of the main river Test with an idyllic chalk stream carrier. There is just under half a mile of main river fishing and 370 yards of carrier, which is catch and release. The main river has a moderate flow rate with shallows and deep runs. It has good aquatic fly with a good may fly and prolific sedge hatches later in the summer. This beat can accommodate up to 5 rods and can be booked exclusively with a gillie.

The Orvis Itchen beat is found near Kings Worthy. This idyllic piece of water is very carefully maintained as a catch and release stretch only. Pristine clear water running over clear gravel interspersed with lumps of Ranunculus make for some of the most challenging dry fly fishing in the area. This beat allows two rods only and you are sure to have one of the most memorable day’s sport you have ever had here as a guest of Orvis. Make sure that you take some small CDC’s!

To stand a chance of winning this fabulous prize send an e-mail to info@dhpub.co.uk include your name, address and contact numbers. Please state ‘no’ on your email if you do not wish to be contacted in the future by Orvis or Today’s Flyfisher.

Closing date 31st May 2003.

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