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Casterbridge Fisheries – Dairy House Home Beat / Frome Day Ticket Water

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A proper wild-trout and grayling fly-fishing beat near West Stafford, with roughly a mile of main river plus the North Stream carrier. Expect clear water, riffles, pools, glides and some cracking sight-fishing beneath overhanging trees.

Run by Casterbridge Fisheries Ltd · checked 28 Oct 2026

Fish the club names

  • Trout
  • Grayling
  • Brown trout

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 Home Beat sits beside The Dairy House near West Stafford, with the main river offering approximately one mile of fly fishing.
  • There’s another half mile of carrier water north of the main beat, known as the North Stream carrier. Handy if you fancy a change of scene.
  • The river mixes up riffles, deeper pools and steady glides, so there’s plenty to keep you moving and reading the water.
  • Clear water and overhanging trees make this a lovely spot for stalking fish. Take your time, keep a low profile and look hard before covering anything.
  • A central fishing hut sits beside a bridge pool, giving the beat a useful focal point and a place to regroup between runs.
  • The brown trout and grayling are totally wild, and the main river beat has historically never been stocked. That’s a proper wild-river feel.
  • Wading is allowed on both the Home Beat and North Stream carrier, but there are several deeper holes. Take care and don’t rush into the dark stuff.
  • You can also fish from the mown path without wading, which is bob on when the river is pushy or you’d rather stay mobile and dry.
  • Upstream dry fly and upstream nymph are the only permitted approaches. Clear water should make a careful upstream dry fly worth trying when fish are showing.
  • Grayling run through the colder months, while brown trout have their spring-to-autumn season. Evening tickets are available, so the last light can be well worth a cheeky session.

Methods: Fly fishing only, using upstream dry-fly or upstream nymph methods. The clear water, riffles, glides and overhanging trees suit careful upstream presentation and sight-fishing.

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 28 Oct 2026

Methods the rights holder lists: Fly fishing only, using upstream dry-fly or upstream nymph methods. The clear water, riffles, glides and overhanging trees suit careful upstream presentation and sight-fishing.

— Casterbridge Fisheries Ltd — home, 2026-10-28

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.
  • Night fishing: Fishing may begin at dawn and end one hour after sunset; evening tickets are available.
All key rules for this stretch
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Access & tickets

Brown Trout day ticket — 1 April to 15 May

Home Beat fly fishing

£65 (as listed 28 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Brown Trout day ticket — 15 May to 16 June

Home Beat fly fishing

£85 (as listed 28 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

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

Home Beat fly fishing

£65 (as listed 28 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Grayling day ticket — 15 October to 28 February

Home Beat fly fishing

£45 (as listed 28 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Evening ticket

Fishing may begin at dawn and end one hour after sunset

£30 (as listed 28 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

North Stream carrier-only ticket

Fishing on the North Stream carrier

£30 (as listed 28 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 both the Home Beat and North Stream carrier, but anglers should take care around several deeper holes.
  • Fishing may begin at dawn and end one hour after sunset.
  • A valid Environment Agency rod licence is required.
  • Landing nets must be knotless.
  • Shut firmly any gates you pass 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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