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Dorchester — Church Farm Fishery

Church Farm is a proper Thames stretch near Dorchester-on-Thames, with the fishing starting upstream of Day’s Lock and running towards that famous lock and weir. It’s Dorchester Angling Society water, so this is a membership job rather than a turn-up-and-pay day-ticket venue.

Run by Dorchester Angling Society · checked 12 Oct 2026 · boundaries only partly described by the club

River level

Measured — Environment Agency

Days Lock gauge

Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.

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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

The lowdown

  • The Church Farm signpost marks the start of the fishery upstream of Day’s Lock. The Society’s map then shows access along the river towards the lock.
  • Day’s Lock and Weir are the big landmarks here. Expect classic Thames character, with river features shaping the swims and the flow.
  • The Society describes its waters as river coarse-angling water, with shoals of roach and bream. Proper float-fishing territory when conditions behave.
  • The first 100 yards into the second field at Church Farm is singled out as a noted bream area. Worth having a good look before settling in.
  • Roach can run to about 2lb and bream to around 8lb in the Society’s waters. That gives you plenty to aim for on float or feeder.
  • Chub to roughly 6–7lb are reported in the colder months. A bit of colour and extra pace can make those winter sessions properly interesting.
  • Barbel over 10lb have been caught in recent years, while perch of about 2–3lb and pike over 10lb are resident. Tench and some carp are also present.
  • Trotting, feeder work and targeting the crease all make sense on a Thames stretch like this. Keep looking for changes in pace and depth rather than fishing it all the same.
  • The general coarse-fishing closed season runs from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. All fish must be returned unharmed.
  • Night fishing is permitted on Church Farm according to the Society’s membership page. Parking is shown near Little Wittenham and Day’s Lock, but it’s at anglers’ own risk.

Methods: Float-fishing and trotting for the roach and bream, with feeder tactics handy when the river’s pushing. Keep an eye on the crease, the lock-and-weir influence and any quieter water for chub, barbel and perch.

Access & tickets

Senior annual membership

Dorchester Angling Society membership

£20 (as listed 12 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Concessionary and OAP annual membership

Dorchester Angling Society membership

£15 (as listed 12 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Junior annual membership

Up to age 18

£5 (as listed 12 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Day tickets are not currently available. Fishing is through Dorchester Angling Society membership, with an Environment Agency rod licence also required.

Fish the club names

bream, roach, chub, barbel, perch, pike, tench, carp

Key rules

  • Fishing is membership-based; day tickets are not currently available.
  • Fishing may be arranged through an eligible external club booking.
  • An Environment Agency rod licence is required.
  • The general coarse-fishing closed season is 15 March to 15 June inclusive.
  • All fish must be returned unharmed.
  • Night fishing is permitted on Church Farm.

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 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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