Duck weed

Trust me, you really do not want Duck weed in your pond, or lake!

Today we came up with a method for removing it, fairly hard work, but if done on a regular basis you can beat the problem, you just need a sense of humour....

No good for float fishing...

Pumping is only part of the plan...

What a day

Spring sunshine, how good does that make you feel?

All our river beats look fantastic, fish rising, lots of fly, and fisher folk out enjoying themselves!

Catching up at last now its dry, lots of mowing (that time of year again), a spot of fishing, and we are off to the Keys in a week!

We are joined by Henry Gilbey for the first five days, for some awesome Tarpon fishing at seven mile bridge, near to Marathon Key, with FISH THE DREAM, if you have not yet experienced the thrill of hooking a TARPON you need to get in touch with me, or Rodney at fish the dream to plan a trip, life is to short not to do it.....So exciting is it, that I have planned a trip for my wife and daughter to tour the keys next spring...

We cut trees in all sorts of places!

One weight or a ten weight its always enough to keep you awake at night...


Watch out for Mayfly soon...

A couple of pictures

I have just been browsing through hundreds of pictures, with a view to adding a few updates to my website (Cheers John!).

And I thought that I would just pick a few for my blog, another cold evening, huge easterlies, not much fly, but there is a few anglers out doing their stuff, FAB.................

Great, just when you are making progress, the blogger comes up with an error report, not now, its late ....

Shut it all down, a glass of wine and all seems fine!

The River Frome, Fish the rest then come to the best.....

The Ranunculus on the Frome is at its finest for many years, great news for the whole eco system.

Messing about with yet more fish!

The good old blog is playing up, cant load any more pictures, try again later....
Great fun these here computers, I am sure its just me.

Ah here we are, its working again, breakfast on a special ocassion...

Blog does not want to play tonight, lots going on, resume diary tomorrow, lots of exciting stuff going on, John G and Glyn off fishing in Poland, the gang off in search of a record Permit in the Florida Keys, Tony and Claire back from Africa after three months fly fishing, watch this space for their adventure stories...

If you fancy any of the Top Cat dates can you please confirm with me ASAP

More pond weed

It is that time of year again, clearing pond weed.....

Weed choked...

But not for long...

With the warm weather approaching it is always worth considering the installation of an aeration
system to help protect your valuable fish stocks!

The Riverworks team out covering all things watery...

Orvis open day

A great day was had by all on the "Ginger Beer Beat", on the river Test at Kimbridge, we all got to play with their entire range of rods, including the new (AWESOME) Helios range, trust me you need to try one....

Breakfast when we arrived..

Rob Spey casting...I think....

Dave trying some of the finest single malt...

On the way back we popped into Stockbridge for a spot of man shopping, fishing stuff nothing more nothing less! oh and a fish smoker and a fast sinking leader....

Team work

A great day with a great bunch of friends, doing what fisher folk do.

I forgot to mention how hard we all worked today, many thanks to all involved!

Looking after our beloved chalk streams, talking, eating, sleeping, dreaming and on the odd occasion actually going fishing!

Fish and chippings....

Catfish and Bass

Having spent all of Wednesday submerged in cold water, cutting and removing the prolific Canadian pond weed on a local Fishery Specimen Lake, the end result was quite amazing to see.

If you invest a little capital into your fishery in terms of a maintenance contract, the financial returns can not only cover the cost of contractors but you can reep the rewards of a well maintained fishery....

Look after your assets...

After work tonight, Elliot and I tried yet again for an early Bass on rod and line. I know one or two friends have been getting them whilst spearfishing !!!

We fished at Redcliff with a very cold SW wind, managing to stick at it till high water. Three hours later and with no bites, I have to say it was good to get out and feel sure it wont be long before we get one, !!! Watch this space .....

Its just being there that matters....

Orvis open day on the"Ginger Beer Beat" on Saturday, great fun, watch this space..........

Work party

Plenty of rain to start the day, but this soon gave way to plenty of spring sunshine.

We had mustered the troops from both sides (of the river), to join forces in opening up some rather fine fishing for this season.

Left completely un-fishable for the last seven or so years, we had great fun in re creating another quater of a mile of fishing, great chainsaw work and lots of hard work by the troops clearing as I cut....

Before...

After....

Friends of the Chalkstream...

The end of an era...

Having spent a year or two in my mid-teens building and repairing fishing rods in my tiny workshop in the attic of my parent's house, it was decided (due to demand) to temporarily set up a small tackle shop, well this temporary shop lasted twenty three years !

Time Flies....

As with all things good, they eventually come to an end. As from the end of April, "Specialist Angling Supplies" will cease trading, enabling my Father, Ray the time he deserves to fish and me more time on the River.

Dorchester Fishing Club tickets will be avaliable as normal.

Huge thanks to all our loyal customers over the years and above all my Dad Ray, my hero and inspiration...............

Which rod is best for Tarpon Grandad?

More fallen trees

Part of our routine maintenance on the River Piddle today included, the removal of a large fallen Alder tree that if not dealt with promptly, would have led to extensive damage of an old boulder weir.

Large unwanted flow deflector.

Elliot made me pull it out with my teeth.....

Ringstead Beach

Spring sunshine, did my rounds on the river early, quite a few Grannom, paper work in the office, then spent some quality family time on our favourite beach, had an ice cream threw a few stones in the sea and made a few wishes...

Having spent a lot of time traveling and fishing around the world you cannot beat whats on your own doorstep, we are very lucky to live in such perfect surroundings .....

Perfect in every way...

Cherrish every moment!

We arrived, high tide, coloured water, perfect for an early Bass, no fishing gear, just looking..... Just my family... Just perfect!

Pictures Andrea Aplin

A breezy start

Warm in the sun, cold wind, SW getting stronger.

Not many fisherfolk about today, just one dedicated angler on one of our smaller beats, battling with a 4wt and a downstream gale.

Bought my rod licence on line, easier than putting the kettle on, which reminds me, thanks to the folks in the EA office in Blandford for issuing our stocking and weed cutting consents so promptly.

Went and took some pictures of some willow work we did a couple of years ago, also visited two more properties with river frontage, this willow weaving is becoming popular, lovely projects to keep the team busy for a while....

Au natural.....