Beat Four

Beat Four on the East Burton Estate sits on the lower River Frome in Dorset, covering just under 0 mile of double-bank chalk stream on the main river channel. This is a genuinely wild beat that draws salmon and sea trout anglers, and has produced grayling to 3 lb and brown trout to 6 lb. Wading is permitted, and the character of the water rewards an angler prepared to read the river carefully and cover it methodically.

The River Frome is one of the few Dorset chalk streams that carries a meaningful run of migratory fish on its lower reaches, and the hatch pools and runs here give a real opportunity to fly fish for salmon and sea trout alongside resident Brown Trout, Grayling, Sea Trout, Salmon. The estate stocks the main river with brown trout from time to time to complement a good head of wild fish, and grayling are plentiful throughout. The season opens with a grannom hatch, followed by hawthorn, mayfly and blue-winged olives as the season progresses, with sedges rounding off the year. The Frome has a growing reputation as one of the best rivers in the country for big grayling, with sight nymphing the dominant method through late summer and autumn, giving way to deeper nymphing techniques in winter.

Fly fishing only, with both dry fly and nymph permitted. A 7.5 ft rod with a 3 to 4 wt floating line and tippet to 6x is the recommended trout outfit, though a longer 9 ft rod suits the deeper glides when nymphing for grayling. The beat is rated for the more adventurous angler who is comfortable working challenging, lightly stocked water. Day tickets start at £60 for the main season. Grayling season rods are available from £35. A fishing hut, BBQ and on-site accommodation make this a practical base for a multi-day visit.