River guide
River Stour (Dorset) in Dorset
19 checked stretches so far — day tickets, club waters and guest tickets, each checked against the club's own pages.
The lowdown
The River Stour through Dorset is a varied chalkstream-style river with a mix of steady glides, medium-paced runs and slower edges. Around this stretch, the water averages 4–6ft and can become weedy during summer, with conditions generally improving as the fishing season progresses.
Blandford & District Angling Club manages Bridge Meadow under agreements with landowners and agents. The club names roach, dace, large perch, chub, pike and gudgeon across this stretch, giving you plenty to target with float, feeder and predator approaches.
Close season reminder
Coarse fishing on English rivers is closed from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. That's the law for coarse fish on rivers — it's not a club rule, and game-fishing seasons work differently.
GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fishStretches
19 of 19 checked stretches. No rankings — we don't know which is "best" on your day, and neither does anyone else.
Bridge Meadow
River Stour (Dorset) · Day ticket or members
Bridge Meadow is a cracking 400-metre bit of River Stour near Durweston, with medium-paced water, a steady 4–6ft depth and fishing from the true right bank. It’s a tidy roach, dace, perch, chub, pike and gudgeon stretch, with conditions generally improving as the season rolls on.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
Bull and Steart stretches, River Stour
River Stour (Dorset) · Day ticket
A proper varied bit of the Stour immediately south of Sturminster Newton, with easy-access water at The Bull and quieter options down towards Steart, Coach Road and Ham. Expect shallow streamy runs, slow deep meanders and some serious depth in places.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
Becketts
River Stour (Dorset) · Members or guest ticket
Becketts is a proper little roving stretch on the River Stour, downstream of Buggs and tucked into open Dorset countryside. Two short sections offer chub, dace and bigger fish, with island access possible when conditions behave.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
Bounds Farm
River Stour (Dorset) · Guest ticket or members
Bounds Farm is a cracking two-mile run on the Dorset Stour at Parley Green, managed by Ringwood & District Anglers Association. It’s a mixed coarse stretch, with seasonal trout and salmon fishing too, plus guest-ticket access and night fishing by permit.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
Canford Weir
River Stour (Dorset) · Members or guest ticket
Canford Weir is a proper traditional River Stour stretch near Canford Magna and Canford School, controlled by Wimborne & District Angling Club. The northern bank gives access to the productive weir pool, with specimen-sized barbel, chub and bream among the main attractions.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
Canford Bridge – Dorset Stour
River Stour (Dorset) · Members only
A short, productive and generally quiet bit of the Dorset Stour around Canford Bridge. Expect slow, deep fields, with a livelier main flow by and above the bridge — a cracking spot for roach, dace and perch.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
Colber Stretch – Sturminster Newton
River Stour (Dorset) · Day ticket or club members
Colber is a cracking little Stour stretch just north-west of Sturminster Newton, with fishing on both banks around Colber Bridge. It’s a relatively quiet, deep section with slower water, reed-fringed banks and a proper chance of a big perch.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
Christchurch Harbour – lower River Stour
River Stour (Dorset) · Day ticket or members
A cracking tidal and estuarine fishery below Tuckton Bridge, running towards Christchurch Quay and out into Christchurch Harbour. It’s managed by South West Lakes Trust with Ringwood & District Anglers Association on behalf of South West Water.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
Common Mead Lane/Chantry
River Stour (Dorset) · Day ticket or members
Common Mead Lane and Chantry make up a handy pair of River Stour stretches through Gillingham, running from Watersmeet towards Eccliffe Mill. Chantry is the tighter, more accessible section, while Common Mead Lane is a quieter roving water with fewer swims.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
Catholics
River Stour (Dorset) · Day ticket or members
Catholics is one of G&DAA’s most prolific River Stour stretches, tucked near Marnhull and split across pegs 43–50 and 52–62. It’s a proper chub water, with enough pace for stick-float fishing and plenty of chances for roach and dace too.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
Cutt Mill – Hinton St Mary
River Stour (Dorset) · Club members only
Cutt Mill is SHAA’s most upstream River Stour stretch in Dorset, centred on a peaceful, attractive pool with limited access to the swims. There’s a mix of pike and perch sport around the pool, plus roach, dace and chub upstream.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
Dudsbury – Dorset Stour
River Stour (Dorset) · Members only
Dudsbury is a proper varied bit of the Dorset Stour, with two weirs, a big island and plenty of different water to pick apart. It’s a Christchurch Angling Club venue, with cracking chub and barbel water plus slower areas for perch, pike and carp.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
River Stour at Durweston Mill
River Stour (Dorset) · Members only
A peaceful River Stour fishery at Durweston, run by Wimborne & District Angling Club. It’s a cracking mix of mill-pond water, a weir, shallow runs and deeper river, with pike, bream, chub and game fishing for trout and sea trout.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
Eccliffe (Downstream of Mill Pool)
River Stour (Dorset) · Day ticket or members
A long, varied River Stour stretch downstream of Eccliffe Mill Pool, with bends, changing depths and plenty of roach and dace. It’s a bit overgrown in places, but there are some cracking swims above the concrete bridge and a proper walk to the lower water.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
Crown Meadows (also known as Bryanston Park)
River Stour (Dorset) · Day ticket or members
Crown Meadows, also known as Bryanston Park, gives you roughly a mile of River Stour fishing on the town-side bank upstream from Blandford Bridge. It’s a proper mixed coarse stretch, with big chub, plenty of classic river species and the odd cheeky carp.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
Deepwater to Highbridge Mill
River Stour (Dorset) · Day ticket or members
A proper deep-water upper-Stour stretch from Deepwater to Highbridge Mill, run by Gillingham & District Angling Association. The flow is fairly gentle, with the mill, loop and deeper water all offering cracking options on the right day.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
France Farm & Durweston/Bryanston
River Stour (Dorset) · Day ticket or members
A varied River Stour venue around France Farm and Durweston/Bryanston, with good flows, weedy summer margins and clearer, deeper pools holding some proper fish. Run by Blandford & District Angling Club, with fishing on both banks across the adjoining sections.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
Hammoon Stretch
River Stour (Dorset) · Day ticket or members
Hammoon is a long, quiet SHAA stretch on the River Stour, just west of Hammoon hamlet. It’s right-bank only, with shallow, streamy swims and plenty of weed to keep you thinking.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
Eccliffe (Mill and upstream)
River Stour (Dorset) · Day ticket or club members
A shallow, tidy-looking bit of Upper Stour at Eccliffe, running from the bottom of Common Mead Lane up to Eccliffe Mill pool. There are gravel runs, Watersmeet and a handful of developed swims, with chub, roach, dace, perch and grayling in the mix.
Checked 12 Oct 2026
Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.
Access & tickets
Adult annual membership
Blandford & District Angling Club
Membership runs for 12 months from purchase.
£50 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Bridge Meadow
Senior annual membership
Blandford & District Angling Club
Membership runs for 12 months from purchase.
£40 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Bridge Meadow
Junior annual membership
Blandford & District Angling Club
Membership runs for 12 months from purchase.
£15 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Bridge Meadow
Day ticket
Sturminster and Hinton Angling Association
Must be bought before fishing begins. Available online or from listed local outlets with cash payment.
£10 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Bull and Steart stretches, River Stour
Weekly ticket
Sturminster and Hinton Angling Association
Must be bought before fishing begins. Available online or from listed local outlets with cash payment.
£20 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Bull and Steart stretches, River Stour
WDAC adult membership
Wimborne and District Angling Club
Club membership providing access to club waters, including River Stour stretches.
£135 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Becketts
WDAC OAP/disabled membership
Wimborne and District Angling Club
Club membership.
£110 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Becketts
WDAC junior/minor membership
Wimborne and District Angling Club
Junior membership is for ages 16 and 17; minor membership is up to age 16.
£35 / £15 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Becketts
Guest ticket
Ringwood & District Anglers Association
Guest tickets are available for Bounds Farm. The official venue page does not publish a specific price.
Covers: Bounds Farm
RDAA membership
Ringwood & District Anglers Association
Provides access to RDAA’s Dorset Stour waters, subject to the club’s current terms.
Covers: Bounds Farm
Night permit
Ringwood & District Anglers Association
Required for fishing at night.
Covers: Bounds Farm
Adult membership — new member
Wimborne and District Angling Club
Wimborne & District Angling Club membership
£135 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Canford Weir
Adult membership — renewal
Wimborne and District Angling Club
Wimborne & District Angling Club membership
£120 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Canford Weir
OAP/Disabled membership — new member
Wimborne and District Angling Club
Wimborne & District Angling Club membership
£110 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Canford Weir
Junior membership — ages 16 and 17
Wimborne and District Angling Club
Wimborne & District Angling Club membership
£35 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Canford Weir
Minor membership — up to age 16
Wimborne and District Angling Club
Wimborne & District Angling Club membership
£15 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Canford Weir
Adult guest ticket
Wimborne and District Angling Club
Guest access
£10 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Canford Weir
Junior guest ticket
Wimborne and District Angling Club
Guest access
£3 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Canford Weir
Night-fishing permit
Wimborne and District Angling Club
Night fishing
£30 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Canford Weir
Full membership
Christchurch Angling Club
Daytime fishing across the club’s venues with up to two rods. New members also pay a £20 joining fee.
£182 plus a £20 joining fee for a new member (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Canford Bridge – Dorset Stour
Adult guest ticket
Christchurch Angling Club
Must be accompanied by a full-paying club member.
£10 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Canford Bridge – Dorset Stour
Junior guest ticket
Christchurch Angling Club
Must be accompanied by a full-paying club member.
£5 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Canford Bridge – Dorset Stour
River night permit
Christchurch Angling Club
Listed by the club for night fishing.
£50 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Canford Bridge – Dorset Stour
Day ticket
Sturminster and Hinton Angling Association
Purchase before fishing. Available online through the association website or from listed local cash outlets.
£10 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Colber Stretch – Sturminster Newton
Weekly ticket
Sturminster and Hinton Angling Association
Purchase before fishing through the association’s ticket arrangements.
£20 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Colber Stretch – Sturminster Newton
Annual association membership
Sturminster and Hinton Angling Association
Allows fishing on association waters. Members must hold a current Environment Agency rod licence.
Covers: Colber Stretch – Sturminster Newton
Bankside day ticket
South West Lakes Trust, with the Christchurch Harbour and Lower Stour fishery managed jointly with Ringwood & District Anglers Association on behalf of South West Water
Adult ticket; fishing from 7:30am to sunset.
£13 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Christchurch Harbour – lower River Stour
Bankside 24-hour ticket
South West Lakes Trust, with the Christchurch Harbour and Lower Stour fishery managed jointly with Ringwood & District Anglers Association on behalf of South West Water
Runs for 24 hours from 7:30am.
£20 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Christchurch Harbour – lower River Stour
Junior bankside day ticket
South West Lakes Trust, with the Christchurch Harbour and Lower Stour fishery managed jointly with Ringwood & District Anglers Association on behalf of South West Water
For ages 14–17.
£6 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Christchurch Harbour – lower River Stour
River day ticket
Gillingham & District Angling Association
Day ticket for the association’s Upper Stour stretches during the published season, 16 June to 15 March.
£6 per day (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Common Mead Lane/Chantry
River-only annual membership
Gillingham & District Angling Association
Annual membership for the Upper Stour River stretches during the published season.
£40 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Common Mead Lane/Chantry
Annual basic membership
Gillingham & District Angling Association
Includes the association’s Upper Stour River stretches during the published season.
Covers: Common Mead Lane/Chantry
Annual senior membership
Gillingham & District Angling Association
G&DAA membership
£75 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Catholics
Annual membership for over-65s or disabled anglers
Gillingham & District Angling Association
G&DAA membership
£65 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Catholics
River-only annual membership
Gillingham & District Angling Association
G&DAA membership
£40 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Catholics
SHAA general River Stour day ticket
Sturminster and Hinton Angling Association
Explicitly not valid for Cutt Mill.
£10 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Cutt Mill – Hinton St Mary
SHAA general River Stour weekly ticket
Sturminster and Hinton Angling Association
Explicitly not valid for Cutt Mill.
£20 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Cutt Mill – Hinton St Mary
7-day holiday membership
Christchurch Angling Club
Christchurch Angling Club holiday membership.
£90 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Dudsbury – Dorset Stour
14-day holiday membership
Christchurch Angling Club
Christchurch Angling Club holiday membership.
£120 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Dudsbury – Dorset Stour
Full annual membership
Christchurch Angling Club
Plus a £20 joining fee for new members.
£182 plus a £20 joining fee (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Dudsbury – Dorset Stour
WDAC membership
Wimborne and District Angling Club
Fishing is for Wimborne & District Angling Club members, subject to the club’s membership arrangements.
Covers: River Stour at Durweston Mill
River day ticket
Gillingham & District Angling Association
Available during the course-fishing season, 16 June to 15 March.
£6 per day (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Eccliffe (Downstream of Mill Pool)
River-only annual membership
Gillingham & District Angling Association
Annual association membership.
£40 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Eccliffe (Downstream of Mill Pool)
Full senior annual membership
Gillingham & District Angling Association
Annual association membership.
£75 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Eccliffe (Downstream of Mill Pool)
Over-65 or disabled annual membership
Gillingham & District Angling Association
Annual association membership.
£65 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Eccliffe (Downstream of Mill Pool)
Junior membership
Gillingham & District Angling Association
For ages 14 to 17.
£25 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Eccliffe (Downstream of Mill Pool)
Children up to age 13
Gillingham & District Angling Association
Free, but membership is still required.
free (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Eccliffe (Downstream of Mill Pool)
Adult annual membership
Blandford & District Angling Club
Blandford & District Angling Club membership
£50 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Crown Meadows (also known as Bryanston Park)
Senior annual membership
Blandford & District Angling Club
Blandford & District Angling Club membership
£40 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Crown Meadows (also known as Bryanston Park)
Junior annual membership / day ticket
Blandford & District Angling Club
Junior membership £15; day tickets are booked through Clubmate.
£15 membership; £3.50 day ticket (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Crown Meadows (also known as Bryanston Park)
River day ticket
Gillingham & District Angling Association
Available during the course-fishing season.
£6 per day (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Deepwater to Highbridge Mill
River-only annual membership
Gillingham & District Angling Association
Covers the association’s upper-Stour river stretches.
£40 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Deepwater to Highbridge Mill
Senior annual membership
Gillingham & District Angling Association
Annual club membership.
£75 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Deepwater to Highbridge Mill
Over-65 or disabled annual membership
Gillingham & District Angling Association
Annual club membership.
£65 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Deepwater to Highbridge Mill
Junior membership
Gillingham & District Angling Association
For ages 14 to 17.
£25 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Deepwater to Highbridge Mill
Adult membership
Blandford & District Angling Club
Blandford & District Angling Club membership; valid for 12 months from purchase.
£50 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: France Farm & Durweston/Bryanston
Senior membership
Blandford & District Angling Club
Blandford & District Angling Club membership; valid for 12 months from purchase.
£40 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: France Farm & Durweston/Bryanston
Junior membership
Blandford & District Angling Club
Blandford & District Angling Club membership; valid for 12 months from purchase.
£15 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: France Farm & Durweston/Bryanston
Day ticket
Sturminster and Hinton Angling Association
Valid on SHAA River Stour venues. Must be bought before fishing; available online through the SHAA website or from listed cash ticket outlets.
£10 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Hammoon Stretch
Weekly ticket
Sturminster and Hinton Angling Association
SHAA ticket for its River Stour venues.
£20 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Hammoon Stretch
River day ticket
Gillingham & District Angling Association
Applies to the association’s Upper Stour stretches.
£6 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Eccliffe (Mill and upstream)
Annual river-only membership
Gillingham & District Angling Association
Gillingham & District Angling Association membership.
£40 (as listed 12/10/2026)
Covers: Eccliffe (Mill and upstream)
Species
We only tag a stretch with a fish when the club names it. Some clubs name fish across all their water rather than stretch by stretch — those are flagged on the card.
| Stretch | Carp | Tench | Bream | Roach | Pike | Perch | Barbel | Trout | Rudd | Chub | Eel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge Meadow | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||||
| Bull and Steart stretches, River Stour | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ||||
| Becketts | ● | ● | ● | ||||||||
| Bounds Farm | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||
| Canford Weir | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||||
| Canford Bridge – Dorset Stour | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ||||
| Colber Stretch – Sturminster Newton | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||
| Christchurch Harbour – lower River Stour | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||||
| Common Mead Lane/Chantry | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||
| Catholics | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||
| Cutt Mill – Hinton St Mary | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||
| Dudsbury – Dorset Stour | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||
| River Stour at Durweston Mill | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||||
| Eccliffe (Downstream of Mill Pool) | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||||
| Crown Meadows (also known as Bryanston Park) | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||
| Deepwater to Highbridge Mill | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ||||
| France Farm & Durweston/Bryanston | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | |||||
| Hammoon Stretch | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||
| Eccliffe (Mill and upstream) | ● | ● | ● | ● |
● named by the club for this stretch · ●* named across the club's waters · blank = not named (not "absent").
Rules — who runs what
Blandford & District Angling Club
Day tickets and memberships are obtained through Blandford & District Angling Club’s online Clubmate system. Listed prices are adult membership £50, senior membership £40, junior membership £15, day ticket £8 and junior day ticket £3.50.
Club pageSturminster and Hinton Angling Association
Day tickets can be bought online through the Sturminster and Hinton Angling Association website or from listed outlets. Outlet purchases require cash, and tickets must be sorted before you start fishing.
Club pageWimborne and District Angling Club
Access is available through WDAC membership, or with a club guest ticket. The official pages do not publish a separate Becketts day-ticket price; check the club’s current ticket arrangements before heading over.
Club pageRingwood & District Anglers Association
Arrange membership or ask about guest tickets through Ringwood & District Anglers Association, and make sure you have the required club key. Public day tickets aren’t advertised here; the club’s ordinary day-ticket offering is restricted to Throop and Lower Stour.
Club pageArrange membership or an eligible guest ticket through Christchurch Angling Club; annual membership runs for 365 days from joining. Buy holiday membership before entering, and follow the current guest-ticket page’s one-guest limit rather than the venue table’s two.
Club pageDay tickets and season tickets are listed by South West Lakes Trust. Ringwood & District Anglers Association members need the relevant ticket for boat fishing, and night fishing requires a night permit.
Club pageGillingham & District Angling Association
River day tickets are open to anyone wishing to fish the Upper Stour stretches and cost £6 per day. Buy them through G&DAA’s online booking system; a river-only annual membership costs £40, while basic annual membership also includes the river stretches.
Club pageFished the river recently?
Pick the stretch you fished and add a 20-second update there — one stretch at a time keeps it useful.
Each stretch page lists its own key rules. You'll need an Environment Agency rod licence on all of them.
River levels
Measured readings straight from the Environment Agency. These are the nearest gauges we've matched — not readings from the stretches themselves.
Measured — Environment Agency
Blandford gauge
Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.
Loading latest reading…
We don't publish an "ideal level" — nobody can promise one. Flood water is dangerous: if it's up and coloured, stay well back from the edge. Open River Ready
Measured — Environment Agency
Hammoon gauge
Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.
Loading latest reading…
We don't publish an "ideal level" — nobody can promise one. Flood water is dangerous: if it's up and coloured, stay well back from the edge. Open River Ready
Measured — Environment Agency
Ensbury gauge
Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.
Loading latest reading…
We don't publish an "ideal level" — nobody can promise one. Flood water is dangerous: if it's up and coloured, stay well back from the edge. Open River Ready
Tips & reports
Our take (editorial, not club advice): on any decent-sized river, a lead that holds bottom without dragging is half the battle — go up in weight before you go up in bait. A bit of extra colour after rain often brings barbel and bream closer in, but a fast-rising, debris-filled river is dangerous; if in doubt, don't. Weather tools built for still lakes don't translate neatly to rivers, so we haven't bolted a lake-style weather score on here.
No angler reports on these stretches yet — we'll only show real ones once our moderated river reports are live.
Where this comes from · checked 12 Oct 2026
- GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fish
- Blandford & District Angling Club — home (blandfordangling.co.uk)
- Sturminster and Hinton Angling Association — home (s-haa.co.uk)
- Wimborne and District Angling Club — home (wimbornefishing.com)
- Ringwood & District Anglers Association — lower severals avon castle (ringwoodfishing.co.uk)
- Christchurch Angling Club — lower winkton (christchurchac.org.uk)
- South West Lakes Trust, with the Christchurch Harbour and Lower Stour fishery managed jointly with Ringwood & District Anglers Association on behalf of South West Water — christchurch harbour (swlakestrust.org.uk)
- Gillingham & District Angling Association — home (gillinghamanglingclub.co.uk)
Rules, prices and ticket availability change — the rights holder's own page always wins.