I hadn’t been out fishing for weeks, it was never quite right – too windy, too cold, too lazy!! Today I was going even if it was snowing!!
I started fishing with two small nymphs and quickly lost them stuck on an underwater rock, this provided me with the pleasure of re-tackling with numb hands – great fun! I fished this small pool and again I lost my flies… So this time I just tied on one larger heavier fly and off I went again. First drift down and I had a fish on, netted it and looked and couldn’t believe what I was looking at – my single fly had tangled with one of my previously lost flies and the grayling was attached to the other fly – result, flies retrieved and a grayling as well.
I had a few more on the single nymph and hands & feet had gone into the numb stage when there at the head of the pool was a splashy rise! There was a very mini hatch happening, large dark olives hatching in the lunchtime gloom! A Jenny Wren was also enjoying the hatching flies.
Switching to a dry fly meant removing my nymph leader replacing it with my dry fly leader, was it worth it I thought. But when three fish rose at the same time I was soon ferreting in my bag!
I tied on a CDC plume and to my surprise I was quickly catching grayling on a dry fly in February!!
Here is what was hatching and it also shows I really do need to buy a new line!!
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