Wessex Chalk Streams Winter Newsletter 2009

The first part of the '09 season produced our usual splendid sport culminating in the excitment of the Mayfly season - with us c.May 12th to c.June 2nd on the Piddle and c.May 12th to considerably later in June on the Frome.

Thereafter the season was less predictable; June and early July saw no rain and I began to fear that the Piddle would run perilously low, especially in the Tolpudddle to Briantspuddle reach. Torrential rain later in July rescued the situation but by the end of the season we had little further rain and once again flows were fragile.

Things are somewhat different now following the spectacularly unsettled weather throughout November. Salmon and sea trout will be tearing up the swollen chalk streams as I write and, as always, I am looking forward to watching them spawning; here at Tolpuddle the river is so small that it is easy to enjoy a grandstand view.

It is very satisfying to know that the old weir at Louds Mill Dorchester on the Frome is no longer any problem to upstream migration thanks to our state–of–the–art fish pass now in its second year of service. Improvements to migration at Notton on the Frome and on the Cerne are now also complete; it should be possible to see spawners way up in the headwaters from now on.

Along with riparian interests the length and breadth of the British Isles we are doing our bit for the these magnificent fish – if only we knew why so few manage to return to the waters of their birth and infancy, perhaps the current research project out on the oceans will tease out the problem.

Many of our rods encountered some really decent sized trout this season, on the Piddle, fish of way over the 2lbs mark were not uncommon, particularly on the Culeaze and Warren Lane beats. Massive sedge hatches with fish rising everywhere were reported by one intrepid rod who stayed out very late on a few summer evenings.

So often day ticket holders leave the river to go home (or to the pub!) just before the main action of the day; understandable but a pity nonetheless!

Many of our loyal regulars have already booked in for the Mayfly. However with our huge range of beats there is still plenty for everyone. Click Here to remind yourself of the beats (prices as for 2009) and then get in touch. I look foward to hearing from you.

Richard Slocock
November 2009