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Dorchester Fishing Club - Newsletter July 2004
News
The start of 2004 season was fair with small hatches of grannom. The river looked in fine shape, with plenty of rununculas and a few rising fish. As April progressed, the weather began to get warmer and the grannom started to show. Then the rain clouds swept in and fishing was washed out for several weeks.
As I write this, we are now deep into mayfly season and there have already been some wonderful hatches during late afternoons. But don't be fooled into thinking these are the only fly on the water. I have witnessed several fine hatches of Pale Wateries (Baëtis fuscatus) in the mornings, and the trout seem to prefer these to the odd mayfly that hatches during this period.
The cycle path behind Loders Garage to Burton Mill, will be started in the very near future. The County Council were blissfully unaware of the consequences that the path will have on the fishing. So, there were plenty of intense negotiations between the County Council and our agent. There will be a complete report at the AGM.
One of the "No Fishing" signs on the opposite bank of the River Cerne was found uprooted and thrown into the river. The Committee assume that no Member of the Club would be responsible for such behaviour.
Members may have also noticed some changes to the right hand riparian bank, at the top of the Upper Water. It has been pruned right back to bring on fresh growth and to encourage wild life. It has already helped the rununculas and more is planned for next year - read on for more information…………………..
New Agri-Environment Scheme to encourage Wildlife on Frome Meadows
Work is about to start to restore a series of one new and six old ditches on the Frome Meadows. This is on Colin Hawkins’ tenancy land where the Dorchester Fishing Club erected the fence two years ago. Colin Hawkins gained a Countryside Stewardship agreement with help from both Bronwen Bruce and Jeremy Powne of the Dorset Wildlife Trust. The scheme not only features ditch restoration but grassland and arable options to improve the whole area for wildlife.
The ditches run between the River Frome and the Wrackle and should produce a range of wet conditions, some may seasonally dry out, others may stay wet all year. It is hoped that it should create conditions on site that will encourage an array of wildlife including water voles, snipe, wintering widgeon and maybe a refuge or even spawning area for fish.
Bronwen Bruce
Conservation Officer for Rivers and Wetlands
Dorset Wildlife Trust
Keepers Corner
By
John E. Aplin
I have just had my best mayfly fishing ever, in the Gulf of Mexico, 700lb Bull Shark, 170lb, 160lb and 130lb Tarpon, 200lb String ray, I could go on and on.
On returning to my beloved Frome, I find you are also enjoying some fine mayfly fishing with a few large Trout showing themselves.
I had all the beats looking immaculate before I went away, ten days later on my return, I found I had a little catching up to do, the mower and the strimmer were red hot.
Just the other day I was sitting, I mean working up at the Cuckoo Pound when it hit me just how these upper beats have transformed over the last year or two, to say they look fantastic is an understatement, I thought I would never say it but I love fences!
A year or so ago we worked with the Dorset Wild Life Trust building an Otter Holt on the upper water, I recently found a Trout that had defiantly been eaten by an Otter, good news, Mink will not hang around for long with an Otter, I wonder if they eat Cormorants?
We seem to have more weed growing than the last few years this is very good for the whole ecology of the river, perhaps the dry winter gave the roots time to establish themselves, the weed will in turn help to keep the water levels up, I think we will see some low water this summer.
The stock fish that went in early May seem to be playing well, I know a few of you have caught plenty; the larger fish have been a success, now that the Mayfly are in full swing.
I have seen a few more water voles this year; maybe they are making a comeback after a few sparse years.
On the whole I am very pleased with the way the River is looking this season, the hatchery box is paying off, the gravel washing is helping the spawning, plenty of fish showing, lots of fly life, we are all optimists, and we are all anglers get out and enjoy yourselves.