The Club

The Club is a private one, founded in 1877, of approximately fifty-nine members and six Town Rod subscribers. The Club’s waters consist of about 12 miles of wild brown trout fishing in the main River Frome (mostly both banks) together with attendant carriers and side streams, including half a mile of the River Cerne and two beats on the River Piddle at Tolpuddle. The waters extend both above and below the town of Dorchester and the Club employs a part-time keeper.

The waters hold a good head of wild trout as well as specimen grayling. Although trout are not stocked on a regular basis the Managing Committee review the position from time to time and restock with brown trout as circumstances permit.

During the early spring days the Club is blessed with some astounding hatches of Grannom and as the weather improves these are joined by Large Dark Olive’s, falls of Hawthorn Fly and Black Gnat. Towards the end of May early June the Mayfly appear, bringing the larger fish to the surface. After the Mayfly and until the end of the season, there is always the evening fall of spinners and sedges, during the day fish can still be found rising to hatching Pale Watery’s and Blue Winged Olives. After the trout season Members are entitled to fish the River Frome for Grayling and Pike through until February.

Fishing is limited to a single upstream dry fly or nymph. No dog may accompany a member or guest along the river. The Club also promotes the true sporting traditions of upstream fishing with imitative dry fly and nymph patterns and focus attention away from limit bags of unnaturally large easy to catch, stew-fed fish. Fishing for River Frome ‘wild’ trout can be, at times, very challenging and it requires a combination of drab clothing, slow wading, stalking and subtle and precise casting.

The Club maintains a very healthy Waiting List and an application for membership should be made to the Honorary Secretary (to cover administration there is now a £20 fee for all applications – Please Email for application form) You will be notified when a vacancy is available, usually about January/February each year. It is regretted that applications cannot be accepted from persons under 18 years of age. (Applicants under 18 can apply to join the waiting list, but those under 18 when at the top of the list will remain there until they reach this minimum qualifying age) To view waiting list Click Here

Day Tickets: The Club does issue day tickets during the trout season, only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Bank Holidays, but not during mayfly season (16th May – 15th June) when the water is reserved exclusively for members. Day tickets (maximum 45 per year).

trout fishing Season 1st April – 14th October
grayling & pike 15th October – 28th February

For more details please email the Honorary Secretary  Richard Miller

To receive an application form please  email here

Interactive Map showing all the Club’s water

Detailed Maps of the Club’s Water Dorchester-Fishing-Club-Maps.pdf