DORCHESTER & District Angling Society (DDAS) was founded in 1947 and caters for all age groups from 10 years upwards with coarse and carp fishing in the heart of the Dorset countryside.

The society has rights to 14 miles of river on the Stour, Frome, Brue, Parrett and Isle, and exclusive rights to lakes at Warmwell Heath, Higher King-combe, Alton Pancras and Broadmayne – members can also fish the prolific Revels Fishery at Cosmore free of charge.

Exchange bookings are also available with Sturminster & Hinton AS, Blandford AC, Ilminster AA and Gillingham & Stalbridge AS.

There is also discount fishing at Warmwell Holiday Village and the other lakes at Kingcombe, and there are regular friendly matches for club trophies and cash, plus inter-club matches and a local league.

Full annual membership runs from June 1 to May 31 each year with fees remaining unchanged for the past five years.

All members must possess a current Environment Agency rod licence (two licences required if using three rods when permitted).

DDAS are holding their AGM and presentation evening on Saturday, April 26 at Weymouth Angling Society, Commercial Road, Weymouth.

If you are interested in getting more information or joining this well-respected club, visit them at d-das.com or email info@ d-das.com

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

WHILE the beginning of April is usually the start of an exceptional fishing season with the arrival of plaice and turbot on the inshore banks, pollack on the wrecks and perhaps some early season cod, the extreme winter winds have slowed things down.

But hopefully, with the arrival of the bait fish, including mackerel and sandeels, the rest of the fishing will not be far be-hind.

There is still some very good fishing to be had on the ground with ray, bull huss, conger and a few spurdog showing, and with dates still available you could be the first to snatch some of these early season specimens.

So check out deepsea.co.uk for individual and group bookings with the famous Weymouth Charter Fleet.

WEYMOUTH AS

MEMBERS of Weymouth AS fished their latest shore league match at Cogden on Sunday in light winds but with a calm sea.

Those who weighed in caught a variety of species, including plaice, dogfish and rockling.

On this occasion, Ben Stockley took top honours with 6.46kg, Ryan Casey was second with 4.2kg, Pete Hegg third with 3.58kg, Steve Pearce fourth with 25.51kg and Phil Cheeseman fifth with 1.69kg.

Cheeseman also had the best specimen and the heaviest fish for his 1kg dogfish, which was 88.26 per cent of specimen. Top junior was Ethan Casey with 0.70kg.

Positions on points for the year so far stand at: 1 Ryan Casey 77, 2 Phil Cheeseman 72, 3 Ray Barnes 65.

BEST BLONDES

A GOOD trip was had by all while out fishing aboard Dave Pitman’s vessel, Atlanta, last week with anglers landing and releasing blonde rays from 10lb to 26lb, most of which were caught by John Johnson, who had 15 in a three-hour session.

Johnson’s best weighed in at a respectable 26lb 3oz, though not to be outdone was Geoff Eastwood who also had a cracker at 19lb 3ozs.