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Casterbridge Fisheries – Dairy House Home Beat

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A cracking, totally wild stretch of the River Frome near West Stafford, with about a mile of secluded main river plus another half mile of North Stream carrier. Crystal-clear water, proper sight-fishing and a mix of riffles, pools and glides make this a lovely fly-only beat.

Run by Casterbridge Fisheries Ltd · checked 27 Oct 2026

Fish the club names

  • Trout
  • Grayling

River level

Measured — Environment Agency

Stinsford gauge

Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.

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The lowdown

  • The Dairy House Home Beat is private and secluded, with the main river winding past a central fishing hut beside a bridge pool.
  • There’s roughly one mile of main-river fishing, plus another half mile on the North Stream carrier to the north. Plenty of water to explore.
  • The river mixes shallow riffles, steady glides and deeper pools, with overhanging trees adding cover and a few cheeky casting challenges.
  • It’s crystal clear, so sight-fishing is a big part of the game. Keep a low profile, watch the water and make that first cast count.
  • This is wild fish water only. The beat has historically never been stocked, with totally wild Brown Trout and Grayling the target.
  • Grayling over four pounds have been recorded here, which is a proper incentive to fish the deeper runs and pools carefully.
  • Wading is allowed on both the Home Beat and North Stream carrier, but take care: there are several deeper holes. The mown path also gives a no-wading option.
  • The central hut beside the bridge pool is a handy base, while parking for both sections is at the Dairy House. Leave room for agricultural vehicles and shut every gate firmly.
  • Fishing runs from dawn until one hour after sunset. Brown Trout are in season from 1 April to 15 October, while Grayling run from 16 June to 14 March.
  • The beat’s upstream-only approach keeps things wonderfully traditional: stalk fish with a dry when conditions allow, then switch to an upstream nymph through the runs and deeper water.

Methods: Fly fishing only, using upstream dry-fly or upstream nymph methods. The clear water lends itself to careful sight-fishing, with a bit of wading where safe or fishing from the mown path.

Popular general approaches · plus anything the venue documents

How to fish this stretch

Starts with anything Casterbridge Fisheries Ltd documents for this stretch, then common river approaches for the fish they name. General advice is labelled — it isn't proven here.

Game-fish seasons are set by the rights holder and EA byelaws — check them before you go.

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Documented by the rights holder · checked 27 Oct 2026

Methods the rights holder lists: Fly fishing only, using upstream dry-fly or upstream nymph methods. The clear water lends itself to careful sight-fishing, with a bit of wading where safe or fishing from the mown path.

— Casterbridge Fisheries Ltd — home, 2026-10-27

Target species

Rigs & methods

  • Typical approach, not confirmed at this stretch

    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.

    How to set it up
    • Upstream nymph or dry fly in the riffles and glides.
    • Approach from downstream and keep low.

    Typical kit: Rod: 8–9ft #4–5 · Tippet: light fluorocarbon or copolymer. Starting points only — match line and hook to the venue rules and the fish present.

Bait to consider

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

Common starting baits, not a local "top bait". Bait bans override everything here.

When it suits

Depends on the water's season and stocking — ask the lodge what's open.

General seasonal pattern, not a forecast.

Check the rules

  • Brown Trout season: 1 April to 15 October.
  • Grayling season: 16 June to 14 March.
  • Only upstream dry-fly and upstream nymph methods are allowed.
  • Barbless or de-barbed hooks must be used at all times.
  • Landing nets must be knotless; shut firmly all gates passed through.
  • Night fishing: Fishing may begin at dawn and continue until one hour after sunset.
All key rules for this stretch
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Access & tickets

Brown Trout day ticket — 1 April to 15 May

Home Beat day ticket

£65 (as listed 27 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Brown Trout day ticket — 15 May to 16 June

Home Beat day ticket

£85 (as listed 27 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Brown Trout and Grayling day ticket — 16 June to 15 October

Home Beat day ticket

£65 (as listed 27 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Grayling day ticket — 15 October to 28 February

Home Beat day ticket

£45 (as listed 27 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Evening ticket

Published evening ticket

£30 (as listed 27 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

North Stream carrier-only ticket

Published carrier-only ticket

£30 (as listed 27 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Book through the official booking page by emailing john@riverworks.co.uk. Day, evening and North Stream carrier-only tickets are published by Casterbridge Fisheries Ltd.

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Key rules

  • Brown Trout season: 1 April to 15 October.
  • Grayling season: 16 June to 14 March.
  • Only upstream dry-fly and upstream nymph methods are allowed.
  • Barbless or de-barbed hooks must be used at all times.
  • All fish must be returned.
  • Wading is permitted on the Home Beat and North Stream carrier, but take care around several deeper holes.
  • A valid Environment Agency rod licence is required.
  • Landing nets must be knotless; shut firmly all gates passed through.

This is a game-fishing beat: trout, grayling, salmon and sea-trout seasons are set by the rights holder and local byelaws, so check the season dates in the rules above before you book. If coarse fish are allowed too, the coarse close season (15 March to 15 June) still applies to them.

GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fish

Where it is

Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.

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