Dorchester Fishing Club - Annual Report 2000

It was certainly worth delaying the first cast of the season to hold a Managing Committee Meeting on the morning of 1st April. This was to debate the purchase of the fishing rights on the River Cerne. The decision was made and for those who ventured up the Cerne Valley to find this little gem, were rewarded with it's idyllic setting and plenty of free rising fish.

The wet weather that wiped out the first two months of the season continued right through to October. It helped keep the water levels up and the strong flow restricted the growth of the gravel choking algae. When anglers could venture out to cast a fly, there were still plenty of rising fish to be caught, especially to some of the fantastic summer evening falls of BWO spinners. In general fly hatches, both small fly and large mayfly were excellent.

The Institute of Fresh Water Ecology has noticed a sharp increase of trout parr in the area around Whitfield Hatches during their annual salmon parr count. Hopefully our continuing work, cleaning the gravels and the in-stream hatchery project, are both contributing to this encouraging report.

This year saw the return of Dorchester Show to the banks of the Frome at Cokers Frome. The Club records show that when the show was held in 1928 the keeper had problems with poachers and was asked politely as to the nearest "unwatched water"! This year there were no such problems and was a very successful show.

In August the Club attended a seminar on river habitat management techniques to help the recovery of the water vole population. This was run jointly by the Environment Agency & the Dorset Wildlife Trust. It was reassuring to hear that all the improvement 'best practices'  many of which the Club have already initiated, are also excellent for salmo trutta. It is also beneficial that we have such a first-rate relationship with the Trust and the conservation side of the Environment Agency. 

The Managing Committee

Keepers Corner

September already, the Country has run dry of fuel can you believe it. By luck I have enough fuel for the strimmer and the mower, for now any way, my Land rover on the other hand is a little low.

Where has this season gone, fortunately we have had no shortage of water, which resulted in healthy weed growth, and a steady hatch of fly throughout, with possibly the best Mayfly for a number of years.

The fencing has now been in place for its second year and the improvement in the bank side ecology speaks for its self, notably more vegetation for our valued fly life.

The project at Blue Bridge, in my eyes has also proved its self, some lovely holes scoured out adjacent to the Hazel and Willow groynes I actually filled my chest waders up during the first weed cut.

Thank you to everyone who gave up an evenings fishing to help with the major weed cut that took place from Whitfield Hatches downstream to Gifford's Pool, this stretch had four cuts this year and with the fence in place protecting the banks from Bovine Poachers I think you will agree we have recreated some marvelous fishing.

The eel trapping unfortunately did not happen this year due to the market value of the eel dropping to an all time low and a three fold increase in the licensing of the traps, I hope this situation improves for next year and we can begin harvesting again.

The day ticket sales, after a slow start due to flood conditions, did in fact pick up nicely I cannot remember the exact figure but it certainly helped towards the purchase of our new mower and gravel washing pump, the mower has been superb, the pump comes into action any day now.

Another few weeks and we will be Electro fishing again; I wonder how many Pike we will get.

With all the summer duties nearly behind us I can look forward to my winter projects.

John E Aplin

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