The Club is a private one, founded in 1877, of approximately sixty-four members and six Town Rod subscribers. The Club's waters consist of about 7 miles of wild brown trout & grayling fishing in the main River Frome, River Cerne and River Piddle, together with attendant carriers and side streams. The waters extend both above and below the town of Dorchester and the Club employs a part-time keeper.
If you have any news or a fishing trip report please email to admin@grhe.co.uk
Latest Post
Big Fish Week
As mayfly season slowly drifts away, I have witnessed two big fish this week and I was lucky enough to catch the first. Lucky that at the end of a long days fishing, I persuaded my tired body to walk back down the river to cover a fish I saw rise to a mayfly dun.
What a fish it was too – a beautiful young fish that was 21 inches (54cm) long, thick and fat, it has been estimated to have been at least 4lb – a stunning way to celebrate my 32nd year fishing the Club’s waters.
While I was chatting to John Aplin & Kev Ackerman down by the river the following day, Trev Stroud telephoned to say he had just landed another big fish. A quick dash down (also bumping into Matt Rosekilly (ex Hon.Treas)) we found Trev with another beautiful fish, this one weighed at 3lb 7oz.
The big fish are still about and feeding on the mayfly – so get out ASAP and catch one yourself….
Shhhhh it’s Started
Today, for the first time in months we had proper rain (at last)…. So Bryan Sennett, Robin Ayles and myself headed to the clubs rather fine new fishing at Affpuddle to trim back a few trees to make wading (with a little care) of the whole beat possible. DONE….
Bryan decided that it could be a good move to bring his trusty “Hardy Smuggler” and a handful of Mayflies… Great plan Mr Chairman, there was a huge hatch of Mayfly and the fish were going bonkers, so in between fuelling the chainsaw Bryan and his net gillie Robin landed over ten Trout and rose probably another twenty… Amazing….
Those rainy muggy days, simply the best fishing days!
So words from Mr Chairman ” I officially declare that the DFC Mayfly season has begun” enjoy ladies and gentlemen…
Yours
Keeper
Three to a dry fly
A pleasant couple of hours on our lovely river this morning resulted in three fish, and of these, the one pictured was by far the best. A beautifully coloured native trout, and although neither weighed nor measured, it was certainly over 14 inches and pretty chunky. I had quite a bit of trouble holding this feisty individual long enough to get some sort of picture with the other hand – and then only got part of it. The two others were of about a pound or so each. These were the only fish I saw rising and all took a dry grannom type pattern happily enough. Strangely my nymph on this occasion found nothing.
Will Bown
Affpuddle Beat – New Stiles
All of the rather lovely fishing at Affpuddle now has much improved access for members, brilliant help from Robin and Bryan.. John Aplin (River Keeper)
Affpuddle Beat
Here are a few snaps taken while fishing the new Affpuddle Beat yesterday – there were grannom & olives hatching, along with a few rising fish. Access to the lower beat is difficult at the moment, but new stiles are on their way.
Please remember the following rules apply to the “Affpuddle Beat”:
1. The fishing is double bank between the Lower and Upper Limits, as shown on the plan. The very bottom section flows through the garden of the Mill House, so please be particularly respectful of the residents if fishing this part. The Mill stream flowing in front of the Mill Cottage is not included in the fishing.
2. The only parking place to be used is shown on the plan, and is restricted to two cars only. If you arrive to find two cars already parked, please move on to other beats ( the Southover Beat of the Piddle is a short distance upstream ).
3. Catch and release only. Please use barbless hooks.
4. No day tickets permitted on this beat, except for guests accompanied by DFC Members.
5. When recording catches, please use the letter “Q” on your catch return card.
6. The meadows adjoining the river have livestock (the farmer is Roger Prideaux). Please ensure to close all gates. No dogs permitted.
7. All other DFC Rules apply as normal.
Rising Trout
Pretty wild trout
New Stiles
Top Hatch
Grannom Hatching
Richard Miller (Honorary Secretary) arrived at the river mid morning yesterday and was lucky enough to witness a enormous hatch of grannom. The first video shows hatching fly & shucks drifting downstream. The second video shows two fish rising and the photograph is of one of the rising fish caught on a grannom emerger pattern.
Link to Dave Collin’s Grannom Pupa Emerger Pattern
April 1st – 2017
Very changeable weather today, with warm sun, rain and a cold wind blowing down the valley. But I know a few little spots were spring starts a little sooner and found hatching grannom, with a few willing trout to my GRHE pattern.
Spring seems a lot more advanced than previous years, with leaves bursting from the majority of trees and lush meadows of grass. The river too has more ranunculus than in the last few years and I think John Aplin will be busy this year controlling the bank-side vegetation.
ORVIS – Discount
Orvis – As a Club Member you can have a 10% discount on any fishing related product – just say you are a Member of the Dorchester Fishing Club, in any Orvis retail shops.
Flyfishing & Flytying – April
We are in this months edition of Flyfishing & Flytying, a wonderful article on the history of our Club, written by Dominic Garnett.
We spent a very chilly but enjoyable day in January with Dominic. We talked about the history of the Club and how we collaborate with other organisations to improve our fishery, for both flora & fauna. Click to read more on the Club’s History
It is also the Club’s 140th anniversary this year and I do hear rumour of a few plans to celebrate it – more to follow……..
More Fencing
Were out again today, but although depleted in numbers still managed to move and re-wire about 40 posts, about 20 of which were renewed. It was hard graft as all the posts had to be hand carried from Whitfield hatches about half a mile upstream – this was necessary as John’s truck was bogged down axle deep requiring a shove out by the team as job #1.
John’s chariot safely un-bogged, the team set to work. The banter came thick and fast but the jokes are still awful. Excellent coffee break [thanks Brian] picnic lunch [thanks John] and even fortified with mulled wine. My word these guys know how to do it!
As you can see from the pictures, the work was tackled cheerily and with a sense of stile (!).
Trevor Prince
Cormorant Watch
Angling’s representative body, the Angling Trust, has launched a new web site for anglers to record sightings of cormorants, goosanders and mergansers throughout the UK: www.cormorantwatch.org The new site is easy to use and will gather vital data to help persuade government of the need for action to protect fisheries. Friends
