Throop Fishery – River Stour, Dorset

Throop Fishery is one of the best-known coarse fisheries on the lower Dorset Stour, on the northern edge of Bournemouth. It has over five miles of fishable bank, with boulder weirs, bridges, side streams, deep glides and gravel shallows. The fishery is split into three beats, each with its own character. Operator, day tickets and membership Throop is run by Ringwood & District Anglers Association (RDAA). Non-members can fish Throop Beats 1–3 on a day ticket. RDAA publishes day tickets at £14 (2 rods, full day), with £10 tickets for OAPs, disabled anglers and juniors. One-week tickets cost £80 standard and £60 concession. Tickets can be ordered online through the RDAA website and cannot be used during the river closed season. Annual RDAA membership is also available and covers a much wider range of rivers and lakes on the Hampshire Avon and Dorset Stour. Members-only extras such as night permits are not included in a day ticket. Beat 1 – Hurn From the top boundary (the bottom end of the Muscliffe free stretch) down to New Weir. Overhanging willows, clear gravel shallows and deep holes, with long deep glides that give first-class chub and roach fishing, especially at the top end. Bream are found in the deeper swims. Species: roach, chub, bream, pike, barbel, eels and dace, with a few carp. The beat can be weedy in summer. Some swims involve long walks. This section joins RDAA's Bounds Farm fishery on the north bank. Fishing times: sunrise to two hours after sunset. 24-hour fishing is available only to members with a night permit. No bivvies; maximum 24 hours in one swim. Beat 2 – Bournemouth From below New Weir, over two weirs and through tree-lined banks, to Blackwater Bridge on the A338. This is the most popular beat, with weir pools, fast shallow glides, reedmace and bulrush islands, and deep channels. Species: barbel, chub, dace, roach, perch, bream, eels and pike. The Mill Pool is worth trying for carp and tench. No entry before 6.30am. You must leave the estate by 11.15pm in June, 10.30pm in July, 10pm in August, 9.30pm from 1 September to 31 March, 9.45pm in April and 10.45pm in May. There are no concessions for night permit holders on this beat. The Mill Pool is closed in the closed season, and game permits exclude it. Beat 3 – Littledown & Jumpers From Blackwater Bridge to the bottom boundary. Species: barbel, chub, dace, roach, bream, perch, eels and pike. Fishing times: 6.30am to two hours after sunset. Night fishing is for members with a night permit only, with no bank access outside these times otherwise. Limited daylight-only parking is available at the golf course; park behind the sheds where indicated. No dogs in the caravan park. No bivvies; maximum 24 hours in one swim. Season, access and rules The coarse season runs from 16 June to 14 March. Trout and salmon need a game fishing ticket. A club key is required, and there is no access during the closed season without a game permit. Use only the permitted parking areas. Overhead power lines cross the fishery, and RDAA recommends fishing at least 20m from any cable. A valid Environment Agency rod licence is required. Check the official website, ringwoodfishing.co.uk, for current rules before travelling.