A lovely Autumnal day and a chance to fish the Upper water, also to see all the work the River Keeper has been doing. He is working with the Dorset Wildlife Trust on this enhancement work project. He and his team have been busily installing new willow islands and flow deflectors.
I only viewed those below the Withy Bed and after a good winters flood they will start to do there work, providing the trout with more riffle runs and fresh gravels to spawn.
The fishing was hard because I had three swans determined to fight wherever I was, but caught a nice grayling and a few small trout on the dry. After slowly making my way upstream I suddenly realised that I had herded 40-60 trout and grayling into one small pool and all were very, very skittish. This seems to happen every September in the low and crystal clear water.. Also saw a grey squirrel jump from a 3 foot bank, belly flop into the river and then calmly swam across – amazing!
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.
Price £60 per ticket per day or three days for £120
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