River Frome · Dorset
7 Hatches
£75 today Up to 1 rods Season 1 Apr to 31 Jan
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Day tickets
Buy a ticket for a single day, with rates and dates further down.
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Double bank
You can fish from both banks.
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Beginner level
Rated 1 out of 5 for difficulty.
About 7 Hatches
Seven Hatches is a half-mile, double-bank day-ticket beat on the River Frome at Wrackleford Estate, set just north of Dorchester in Dorset. The estate waters sit on the Frome just north of Dorchester, and the estate occupies the lush Frome valley, with the river flowing through a series of water meadows and withybeds. The beat runs from a road bridge at the lower end upstream to a footbridge, taking in a varied mix of character: the lower section carries faster, more complex currents with eddies and braided flow, while the river narrows and deepens as it moves upstream, finishing in a broad, slow pool just below the footbridge.
The decline of migratory fish on the Frome has been matched by a rise in brown trout fishing, with the river and its tributaries gaining a reputation for a thriving wild trout population. Over recent years, the Frome has also built a growing reputation as one of the best rivers in the country to target big grayling, making this beat fishable well beyond the trout season — the ticket runs from 1 April through to 31 January. The Frome is less affected by abstraction than most chalk streams, and fishing holds up well throughout the season. It opens with a grannom hatch, followed by hawthorn, mayfly and blue-winged olives, with sedges rounding off the year. Mayfly day tickets are priced at £190, reflecting the quality of the hatch; grayling days are available from £75. The beat is rated suitable for beginners and is limited to a single rod, keeping the water uncrowded. Wrackleford offers a good blend of wild fish supplemented by healthy stocking, and in recent years the estate has improved access with banks that are groomed without being over-manicured. A thatched fishing hut sits roughly 50 metres from the parking area overlooking the river. A 7.5 ft rod with a 3–4 weight floating line and tippet to 6x suits the Frome well.
How you can fish here
- Methods
- Fly Only
- Fly methods
- Dry Fly, Nymph
- Banks
- Double bank
Pricing and season
Indicative prices. They don't show whether a day is still free and other rates may apply, so confirm availability and the final price with whoever you book through before you travel.
Tickets
- Grayling Day ticket · 16 Oct to 31 Jan
- £75 per day
- Trout - April Day ticket · 1 Apr to 30 Apr
- £100 per day
- Trout - Summer Day ticket · 20 Jun to 15 Oct
- £130 per day
- Trout - Early May Day ticket · 1 May to 15 May
- £145 per day
- Trout - Mayfly Day ticket · 16 May to 19 Jun
- £190 per day
Day tickets and booking
- Wrackleford Estate Day tickets£75–£190 Book
Prices by date
November 2026
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December 2026
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Day rate, hover a day for the ticket
How 7 Hatches compares on the River Frome
Typical, lowest and highest full-day rod, from 23 beats with published day rates
typical (median)
cheapest to dearest beat
this beat
Day tickets on the River Frome run from £30 to £145. The typical full-day rate is around £60, peaking in May.
Compare with other riversFishing details
- Rods
- Up to 1
- Difficulty
- Beginner (1/5)
- Length
- 0.5 miles
- Water type
- Main river
Rules and policies
Catch & release
EA rod licence required
Dogs allowed
Ghillie available
Ghillie required
Season: 1 Apr to 31 Jan
Amenities
Thatched fishing hut Parking area
Where you'll fish
Location
The beat's boundary, with parking where we have it.
50.74210, -2.50991
Conditions on the River Frome
The river and fishery
England's most westerly major chalk stream, the River Frome rises from St John's Well in the village of Evershot and runs for 35 miles through the heart of Dorset. From Evershot it passes through…
View the River Frome guideFlies for this beat
Expected in November on the River Frome
Typical months from the river’s hatch calendar, which applies along its whole length rather than to this beat. Not a live report.
We get a small commission if you buy through these links, and it costs you nothing extra. If the calendar has been useful and you feel like supporting an independent site, buying your flies this way is an easy way to do it.
Similar beats on the River Frome
FishingBeats is an independent guide with no affiliation to the fisheries we list. Listings are editorial and unpaid, and are not supplied or approved by the fishery. See our listings policy. Listing details are compiled by FishingBeats and may change or contain mistakes. Some services, such as tuition, ghillies, or accommodation, may only apply to certain packages and not to standard day tickets. Always confirm pricing, fishing details, and what is included directly with the beat before you book. Spotted something wrong? Email hello@fishingbeats.com and we will correct it.
FAQ
7 Hatches FAQs
Practical questions anglers ask before fishing 7 Hatches, from tickets to tactics.
01How many rods are allowed on 7 Hatches at any one time?
7 Hatches allows a maximum of 1 rod at any one time. Contact Wrackleford Estate directly if you need to confirm current availability.
02What species can I expect to catch on 7 Hatches?
7 Hatches holds Brown Trout, Grayling. The water is unstocked, relying entirely on the wild population.
03Do I need to wade, or can I fish from the bank?
Wading arrangements for 7 Hatches are listed on the beat page — contact the provider if you need to confirm before arriving.
04Is a ghillie available, and do I need one?
No ghillie service is listed for 7 Hatches at Wrackleford Estate — contact the provider directly if you'd like informal guidance on your first visit.
05Where do I park, and how do I access the beat?
Parking details for 7 Hatches are shown on the beat page, including a map pin where one is provided. Always confirm access arrangements with the provider when you book.
06What tackle should I bring?
7 Hatches permits the following fly methods: dry_fly, nymph. The fly recommendations section on the 7 Hatches page suggests the most effective patterns month by month.
07What happens if conditions are poor on the day I've booked?
River conditions can change quickly, especially after rain. Contact the provider as early as possible if you're concerned about 7 Hatches at Wrackleford Estate — many are happy to offer an alternative date if the river is unfishable. Cancellation and rescheduling policies vary by provider; check the notes on the booking page or ask when you book.
08Are dogs allowed on the beat?
Dogs are not listed as permitted on 7 Hatches. Check the Beat Rules section on the page or contact the provider before bringing a dog, as policies can vary by season and stretch of the River Frome.
Worth a read
£75 per rod
Today's rate
