A FISHING business based in a village near Stockbridge will be offering special fishing days for women in 2024.

Fishing Breaks, based in Nether Wallop, is offering the experience to women after finding an increase in demand.

It will be led by Gilly Bate, considered one of the most experienced fly fishers and guides in England.

Gilly believes that fly fishing is more than just fishing as it provides the whole experience in the outdoors, and it isn’t just for men and boys.

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She's running two different events to cover all abilities. 

The foundation course is for novices or anyone returning after a break and needing to brush up their skills. 

This will be held at Nether Wallop Mill, the home of Fishing Breaks, and where there's a fully equipped fishing lodge with WC. 

This practical one-day confidence-building course will include tackling up, casting, flies and fly selection, knots, hooking and landing a fish and more.

There's also a one-day chalkstream course on the River Test - a Mecca for fly fishing.

This course is for anyone with some experience and will ensure you develop the skills to outwit the native brown trout.

The course will include tackling up for rivers, stalking and river tactics, which flies to use and when, entomology (study of insects) and more. 

Just as with the beginner's course, Bullington Manor has a fully equipped Fishing cabin.

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More and more women are turning to fishing, due to the pandemic which encouraged people to get into the outdoors, as well as the popular series on BBC TV Mortimer & Whitehouse Go Fishing.

Gilly said: “Fly fishing is for everyone and that very much includes women, who can then pass the joy of the sport onto their friends and family and make it a lifelong passion.”

For full details, dates and prices, visit the Fishing Breaks website: fishingbreaks.co.uk