Dorchester Fishing Club

Founded in 1877
Building our heritage,
offering sustainable brown trout & grayling fishing
for this and future generations

Wasp Nests **Updated**

July 11, 2020 / John Grindle / 0 Comments

Weeding Cutting and Day Tickets

June 16, 2020 / John Grindle / 0 Comments

A few willing trout on a wild morning

May 23, 2020 / John Grindle / 0 Comments

It was a grey start to a short session this morning with a brisk wind and some wild gusts. Casting was going to be tricky. A few mayflies were drifting down; Green Drakes struggling to stay upright in the wind and being driven into the banks, but not being molested by any trout. After a …

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Opening Day – 13th March

May 13, 2020 / John Grindle / 0 Comments

Fishing resumed today and amongst the chaos that we are currently living through, normality edged it’s way slowly our way. Conditions didn’t look good, bright sun and a cold northerly wind blowing. But the Piddle brown trout are generous and they eagerly took my mayfly imitation, nothing over 10 inches, but the whole experience did …

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One Lucky Member

April 20, 2020 / John Grindle / 0 Comments

I see the Frome is out of bounds until the preventive measures can be relaxed. In Czech we are lucky that fishing, hunting and beekeeping are all considered sufficiently agricultural to remain permitted activities for the time being (with compulsory mask), so I was able to get out on our opening day, April 16th. I …

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Memories and Blue-winged Olives

April 13, 2020 / John Grindle / 0 Comments

I thought I would send you this picture in case it brings back pleasant memories of happy times on the river. Blue-winged Olives have recently become a regular feature again on our little village stream… the North Winterborne, which has been classed as a ‘Main River’ – mainly because of the need for flood management …

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Positive News

April 6, 2020 / John Grindle / 0 Comments

John Aplin our River Keeper is still able to work on the Club’s water. After a winter of flooded fields, he has along list of jobs to do. He will be concentrating on repairs to stiles and bridges, also where possible removing any winter fallen trees. Once we get the green light from the Government …

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April 1st 1986

April 1, 2020 / John Grindle / 0 Comments

It wouldn’t be the same without an entry on the 1st April, so here is an extract from my fishing diary 1st April 1986. This was my first day fishing the Club water and my first ever attempt at fly fishing – it didn’t go well… Sunny/Windy Left home approximately 9am – arrived at Gascoyne …

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Fly Culture Podcasts

March 28, 2020 / John Grindle / 0 Comments

With all forms of fishing currently out of bounds and I’m not even preparing for the start of the season on 1st April. To combat this, I suspect a lot of fly fishers are busy fly tying and reading old forgotten fishing books. There is however an excellent series of podcasts, produced by the Fly …

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Coronavirus Update

March 25, 2020 / John Grindle / 0 Comments

Following the country wide restrictions which have been introduced due to Coronavirus, and the fact that there is now emerging clarity that fishing is not among the approved forms of daily exercise (and the associated essential travel) it is with regret that the Committee of Dorchester Fishing Club have decided that Members must not visit …

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Angling Support Hub

The Angling Trust's guidance for anglers on how to resume fishing safely during the COVID-19 health pandemic. These guidelines are designed to help you prepare for phase one of making angling compliant with current Covid-19 regulations. Click Here :-- Advice for Individual Anglers

Biosecurity for Anglers

Invasive plants and animals can carry diseases that kill fish, block waterways and banks, interfering with fishing. They can be small and hard to spot, so are easily spread on damp clothing and equipment. Protect the environment and fishing you enjoy, by keeping your kit free of invasive plants and animals.
To find out more please visit
the NNSS Website

The Club

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 12 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.

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Important Dates

  • TBA


Illegal Fishing

If you see any fishing, netting or trapping you think is illegal, please don’t tackle it yourself.
Contact the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60
For more details
Click here…

Cormorant Watch

Angling’s representative body, the Angling Trust, has a web site for anglers to record sightings of cormorants, goosanders and mergansers throughout the UK: www.cormorantwatch.com The site is easy to use and will gather vital data to help persuade government of the need for action to protect fisheries.

Webcam & River Level

River Frome Webcam
River Level @ Maiden Newton
River Level @ Louds Mill
River Level @ Stinsford
River Piddle Level

Casterbridge Fisheries

Frome, Piddle & West Dorset Fisheries Association

Dorset Wildlife Trust

Westcountry Rivers Trust


Environment Agency


Salmon & Trout Conservation


The Wild Trout Trust

Angling Trust


Dorset Chalkstreams Club