River Frome (Dorset) in Dorset

Fly fishing to the flow

River trout hold where food is delivered by the current. Most trout waters are fly-only — check the rights holder's rules first.

• Upstream nymph or dry fly in the riffles and glides.
• Approach from downstream and keep low.

Bait to consider

• Flies only on most trout waters — check the lodge rules
• Bait/worm ONLY where expressly permitted

Each stretch page has its own rules, matched gauge and full "How to fish this stretch" panel. Pick a stretch

Deadbait in slacks and eddies

River pike often sit out of the flow in slacks, bays and eddies. A static deadbait there is the traditional approach — only where deadbaits are allowed.

• Fish the slacker water and back eddies.
• Wire trace, strike early, and have long forceps and a mat ready.
• Check the rights holder's predator rules and season before you go.

Bait to consider

• Sea deadbaits (sardine, smelt, mackerel) where deadbaits are allowed
• Lures: spinners, shads, jerkbaits
• Livebait ONLY where the venue and law allow

Each stretch page has its own rules, matched gauge and full "How to fish this stretch" panel. Pick a stretch

Worm or small lure near slacks and structure

Perch hunt around bridges, slacks, boat moorings and drop-offs out of the main push of water.

• Fish a lobworm under a float or on a light leger in slacker water.
• Where lures are allowed, work small soft plastics slowly near structure.

Bait to consider

• Lobworm or dendrobaena
• Prawn (where allowed)
• Small lures

Each stretch page has its own rules, matched gauge and full "How to fish this stretch" panel. Pick a stretch

Groundbait feeder in the slower, deeper water

Bream shoal in slower, deeper areas. A feeder delivering groundbait to one spot is the common river approach.

• Look for deeper, slower glides.
• Clip up and hit the same spot every cast.
• Worm, maggot or corn over groundbait.

Bait to consider

• Groundbait with casters/chopped worm
• Maggot
• Worm
• Small pellet or corn

Each stretch page has its own rules, matched gauge and full "How to fish this stretch" panel. Pick a stretch

Trotting a stick float with maggot or caster

Running a float through the swim at the speed of the current is the traditional way to find roach on moving water.

• Feed a few maggots or casters every trot.
• Set the float so the bait just trips bottom, then adjust.
• Hold back slightly to let the bait lead.

Bait to consider

• Maggot or caster
• Hemp and tare (where allowed)
• Bread punch or flake

Each stretch page has its own rules, matched gauge and full "How to fish this stretch" panel. Pick a stretch

Static bait in the slower stretches

River carp tend to use the slower, deeper water and slacks.

• Find slower water, often near cover.
• Bottom bait over a little feed; use enough lead to hold.

Bait to consider

• Boilies or wafters
• Pellet
• Sweetcorn or tiger nuts (only where nuts are allowed)
• Bread on the surface in warm weather

Each stretch page has its own rules, matched gauge and full "How to fish this stretch" panel. Pick a stretch

Feeder or float in slack margins

River tench are usually in the slowest, weedier water.

• Fish slacks and backwaters close to cover.
• Corn, maggot or worm.

Bait to consider

• Dead red maggot or caster
• Sweetcorn
• Small wafters or 6–8mm pellet
• Worm

Each stretch page has its own rules, matched gauge and full "How to fish this stretch" panel. Pick a stretch

Feeder or straight lead with pellet

Barbel feed hard on the bottom in the faster, gravelly runs and in front of snags. A bait held still on the bottom over a little feed is the standard starting point.

• Find steadier water by a crease, gravel run or overhanging cover.
• Use enough lead to hold bottom without rolling — go up in weight before you go up in bait.
• Fish a pellet or small boilie on a hair, with a modest bed of feed.

Bait to consider

• Halibut pellet
• Small boilie or meat
• Hemp and pellet feed (where allowed)

Each stretch page has its own rules, matched gauge and full "How to fish this stretch" panel. Pick a stretch

No general method set for this fish yet.

Bait to consider

• Large halibut pellet
• Fish-based hookbaits
• Squid or worm bunches (where allowed)

Each stretch page has its own rules, matched gauge and full "How to fish this stretch" panel. Pick a stretch

Shallow float near reeds

Rudd feed high in slower river margins.

• Shallow waggler and loose-fed maggot.

Bait to consider

• Maggot or caster fished shallow
• Floating bread in summer

Each stretch page has its own rules, matched gauge and full "How to fish this stretch" panel. Pick a stretch

Delicate float in slack water

Crucians are rare on rivers and keep to still backwaters.

• Small float over-depth by an inch, corn or pellet.

Bait to consider

• Small pellet
• Corn
• Maggot
• Bread punch

Each stretch page has its own rules, matched gauge and full "How to fish this stretch" panel. Pick a stretch

Worm on the bottom after dark

Eels feed mostly at night and in coloured water.

• Lobworm on a size 4–6; strike promptly to avoid deep hooking.

Bait to consider

• Lobworm
• Small deadbait (where allowed)

Each stretch page has its own rules, matched gauge and full "How to fish this stretch" panel. Pick a stretch

Small deadbait or slow lure at dusk

Zander hunt in low light and dislike resistance.

• Low-resistance running rig with a small fish section (where allowed).
• Or a soft lure bumped slowly along the bottom.

Bait to consider

• Small coarse-fish deadbait sections (where allowed)
• Soft lures worked slowly

Each stretch page has its own rules, matched gauge and full "How to fish this stretch" panel. Pick a stretch