Beat One

Beat One on the East Burton Estate is the furthest beat upstream on the estate, running from the cattle bridge down to where the North Stream carrier joins the River Frome, in Dorset. It covers 0 mile of single-bank water, fished from the left-hand bank, with parking right at the start of the beat (please park off the track, since it's shared with estate workers). The water alternates between deep pools and shallow gravel runs, and wading is often the better way to cover it properly. The estate maintains a good head of wild brown trout, with light supplementary stocking on the main river, and grayling are plentiful, including fish over three pounds. Fly only is the rule, with upstream dry fly and nymph covering both species through the season. The Frome opens in April with strong grannom hatches, followed by hawthorn fly and blue-winged olives, then mayfly from late May into June bringing larger fish to the surface; after mayfly, evening falls of spinners and sedges extend the dry fly fishing, with pale wateries and blue-winged olives producing daytime rises through to the end of the season. The Frome is less affected by abstraction than any other chalk stream, and the fishing holds up well as a result throughout the season. The river has three times produced the British grayling record, each fish over four pounds. Standard 8-9ft rods suit this beat well. Day tickets start from £60 during the main season. Grayling days are available from £35. Accommodation can be arranged through the estate, and a riverside hamper, lovingly prepared by the estate and full of home-made breads and pastries, can be ordered and delivered to the beat at a time of your choosing.