Cutt Mill – Hinton St Mary

River level

The lowdown

• The Cutt Mill pool is the star of the show — peaceful, attractive and properly varied, although access to the pool swims is limited.
• The mill-house side and weir area are out of bounds, so don’t wander where you shouldn’t. The downstream pool footpath is used for pike and perch fishing.
• The pool is deepest upstream, right in front of the mill house. It’s snaggy on the bottom, so heavier ledgering tackle is the sensible shout.
• Dead-baiting, spinning and drop-shotting are all mentioned for the pike and perch. A cheeky perch or smaller pike is the main target on the downstream footpath.
• Upstream of the pool, both banks can be fished in sections. The left-bank access ends at the first field, while dense bankside growth can make summer access a bit of a faff.
• The upstream right-bank section reaches around 10 feet deep before shallowing towards the weir. Water lilies become abundant in summer, so pick the clearer gaps.
• Further upstream, the river gets deeper and wider, with less weed in the swims. Roach and dace run through here, with chub tucked under the far-bank trees.
• A short downstream right-bank section is fishable, apart from in front of the cottage and gardens. It can be very weedy before the autumn floods, with occasional bream showing alongside perch and smaller pike.
• Parking is gated and needs an access code available to members. It’s limited and informal, and can turn wet and muddy in winter — keep valuables and tackle out of sight.

Methods: Try dead-baits, spinning or drop-shotting for pike and perch around the pool and downstream footpath. Upstream, lighter trotting or feeder approaches suit the roach and dace, with chub worth looking for under the far-bank trees.

Access & tickets

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.

Fish the club names

roach, perch, pike, eel, chub, bream, barbel

Key rules

• All fish, including pike and eels, must be returned unharmed.
• Live bait, gorge hooks, gaffs, night lines, trimmers and bank runners are prohibited.
• Fishing is allowed from sunrise until one hour after sunset.
• Dogs are not allowed with members while fishing Association waters.
• Fires are prohibited.
• Do not fish within 20 yards of another angler on the same bank without agreement.
• Do not leave gates open, and do not block gateways or lanes.
• The derelict mill-house side and weir area are out of bounds. The section in front of the cottage and gardens is also not fishable.

Where it is