Chalk Streams
	The Test, England
	The Itchen, England
	The Kennet, England
	The Frome, England

The chalk streams mostly flow from the chalk hills of England's south and east. They are spring-fed, gin-clear, and mineral-rich. Lush with water plants harboring vast populations of insects, they sustain large heads of big fish. Fishing for trout on the chalk streams runs from late April to the end of September, with the cream of the season being mid-May to mid-June and September. Tactics are entirely restricted to the use of upstream dry flies and small nymphs. All the fishing is in private hands, but day rods can be acquired on many beats either from the U.K. websites that specialize in offering chalk stream fishing or via tackle shops or hotels in the main centers.

The Test
	Hampshire, England

The Test River

The Test, Hampshire
This is probably the most famous trout stream in the world, the place where dry flyfishing as a sport was refined and codified by a group of anglers led by Frederic Halford in the 1880s and 1890s. Anglers make pilgrimages from all over the world to fish it, and pressure on the river today is immense. Most of the fishing is for large, stocked browns and rainbows of two to six pounds and more. A typical day rod costs between #80 and #250. At last light, when the small spinners are up, even these fish can challenge the most skillful. Outside of mid-May to mid-June, when the huge mayfly Ephemera danica is up, most dry flyfishing will be with small upwinged and caddis imitations. Good base: Stockbridge.

The Itchen
	Hampshire, England

Itchen, Hampshire
The Itchen is just a back-cast away from the Test and nearly as famous. This is the water where G.E.M. Skues developed the world's first artificial nymphs. It is somewhat smaller than the Test and, in the main, its fishing is more demanding at any time of the day or season, though the same tactical approaches and flies prevail. Its upper reaches are virtually inaccessible to the visitor, but day rods—generally somewhat less expensive than those on the Test—can be had most days. Good base: Winchester.

The Kennet
	Berkshire, England

The Kennet, Berkshire
The Kennet grows the biggest wild, resident browns of any stream in Britain. (The fishing hut on one beat I have fished has its walls lined with cased brown trout to 18 pounds—taken, alas, in the 19th century.) Even today, wild browns to five-plus pounds are taken every year. The Kennet is a brilliant dry fly river early in the season and in September—and last thing at night in high summer. But it is a tough river in the middle of a hot summer's day; then the ability to fish a weighted nymph is essential. Good base: Hungerford.

The Frome
	Dorset, England

The Frome, Dorset
The Frome flows through a small, intimate valley and has myriad tiny tributaries so bright and clear that they are like threads of tinsel cast aside. For all the miniature scale of its waters, the Frome and side streams are home to some spectacular trout and grayling. Much of the fishing is tricky, and chest waders are needed on some of the overgrown side streams. It is intimate fishing, with short casts often having to be accurately made between dense beds of swaying ranunculus (buttercups). Same tactics as elsewhere. Good base: Dorchester.

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European rambles United Kingdom - Take in the rolling green hills, the clear streams, and the famous British beer. France - France's romantic countryside and delicious food capture the imagination. Italy - The mountains, the meadows, the wine, the pasta...ah, Italia!

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