Late Sunday afternoon John Aplin calls to say the mayfly were pouring off and trout feeding, so my planned relaxing evening was quickly cancelled! I parked at the top of our water and noticed the Hon.Sec car so was already fishing, no worries there is plenty of water so I started tackling up. Only to be disturbed by the sound of vehicles ploughing through the ford. It appears that the whole of Dorset’s 4×4 Club where having fun driving backwards and forwards through the river, the latter now was completely filthy – time to head to a new location.
I decided to fish a carrier that hasn’t looked good in the recent years, but after all the rain was again looking like old times. In through the gate and fish where already crashing about grabbing mayfly duns & spinners. It took a couple of changes of mayfly patterns before a fish grabbed the fly and for next hour I was transported back to when this little carrier was at it’s peak. Fish ranging from 8 inches to healthy looking 14 inch fish, all great fun in such confined quarters. I did have one huge head suck in my fly ‘God Save the Queen’ and struck, but only pricked the fish! As in the last few previous seasons, I was also covered with hatching Caenis!!
By 8pm the action died away as the air cooled – thank you John for calling and thank you Dorset 4X4 Club for such a special evening.. I hope the Hon.Sec evening wasn’t spoilt by filthy water?
PS> I don’t know if there is really a Dorset 4×4 Club, but there was a lot of them!
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.
The Angling Trust's guidance for anglers during this second lockdown. Fish safely, locally and respect the ‘rule of two’ during lockdown Click Here :-- Advice for Individual Anglers
Price £50 per ticket per day or three days for £100
Day Tickets are only available during the trout season and only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Bank Holidays. (season 1st April – 14th October)
The Police have made it quite clear that poaching is a crime in progress covered by the 1968 Theft Act. Members should always call 999 to report it and not phone the keeper. Without a report the police will not be aware of the extent of a problem.
If possible note or photo vehicles.
Stress if you are vulnerable/elderly or at risk of intimidation..
In order to give the call handler an accurate location they recommend putting the “what3words” app on your smartphone. Click here…
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.
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