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Dorchester Fishing Club - Annual Report 2002
The 2002 season started and
ended with low water. Some very wet weather from late spring
helped to keep the levels up and certainly brought on the
ranunculus growth. There have been many reports of
excellent fishing during the mayfly season and once again the
BWO’s were in abundance during the summer evenings.
It was also excellent to see good hatches of
pale waterys and BWO right through until the end of the season. Ending
with an evening rise as late as the 5th October, including a
dipper spotted on the Upper Water.
Grayling have now found their way into the
Upper Water and several large specimens have been
spotted on the Withy Bed bend. (has anyone caught one?) Why
they have moved up is unknown and it will be interesting to see how they
develop over the next few years. We may also be able to increase the area
that we can fish for them during the winter months.
We now have permission from the Environment Agency to fence the river from
Gascoyne Bridge down to Fisherman’s Hut. Included will be two cattle
drinks built to the specifications drawn up by the Agency and an otter
holt that the Dorset Wildlife
Trust will be building in one of the brush areas along this stretch. Once
we know the final amount raised from the rod raffle, we will then be able
to instruct the fencing contractor to commence work.
As you will notice the waiting list to join
the Club is amazing and there appears to be no end to the applications
coming in. This is good news for the Club and gives it a secure base on
which we can build. It also shows that the Managing Committee are doing a
grand job, although we are sure that, John Aplin’s contribution as the
River Keeper, is a major factor.
During our annual
electro fishing, we were accompanied by TV presenter Nick Fisher and three
scientists from the Institute
of Fresh Water Ecology. Nick is
writing an article for Shooting Times and the three from the IFE
were recording and tagging salmon parr. Both groups were very impressed
with the quality of the fishery, especially the lunch time curry!
The Managing
Committee
Nick
Fisher tucking into the VERY hot Salsa
Autumn already and only a day or two of the season left. These days will not be fishable, as it has at last rained all day and all night, the first proper rain for a month or two if not longer.
Where does it go, grannom, mayfly, blue winged olives, sedges, pale waterys then it’s the 15th October. For me as River Keeper, I can now breathe a sigh of relief as I lock the mower in the workshop and believe me, it has earned its rest this year again. I dread to think how many miles it has done, these mowing trips are used as fish observation trips, a good pair of sunglasses and I can spot a fish as I am mowing, you don’t even notice the drum of the old braggs and stretton engine.
The end of the season for me signifies the next part of the Keepers year, getting ready for the next season. I do enjoy the winter, you can get out and tidy the banks, knowing that they won’t grow back until the spring, the summer seems to be taken up with mowing, strimming and lots of chatting. The closed season, gravel washing, electro fishing, hatchery repairs, tree trimming, keeping an eye on the salmon, the list goes on, but its all good fun.
If any of you feel like a few hours out on the bank helping this winter, please give me a ring.
On the 24th October, I am spending the day with the Taunton Fly Fishing Club to talk about how we manage our fishery. They are keen to operate a hatchery during the winter as we do down here.
During this season I have seen lost of small trout which is encouraging, loads of salmon parr which is very promising, grayling moved up as for as the Withy beds, I have heard of a grayling spotted as far up as Maiden Newton.
The day ticket sales were excellent this year, a superb Flying Fishing Club with fantastic fishing, I am very proud to be the Club’s River Keeper. I will be working hard again this winter to maintain the high standards of fishing for the next season. I can ensure you the pleasure is all mine.
See you all at the AGM.
John E Aplin
John
stirring his cauldron of curry!
