Serving interests in both sea and freshwater fishing the club quickly grew in numbers and within a few years, membership was over 100.  Greater numbers resulted in additional stretches of river to fish, many of which are still held by the club and remain popular with members today.

In December 1953, several of the club’s sea angling enthusiasts branched off to form the Poole Dolphins Sea Angling Club, marking a turning point in the club’s identity. Throughout the 1960s, the list of fisheries grew, and with most waters located in and around Wimborne, on 1st January 1963, the club officially adopted the name Wimborne and District Angling Club.

By 1971, the club headquarters had moved to the Central Hotel in Lower Parkstone. The club continued to thrive, developing interests in still waters, including a pond at Winterborne Zelston that was developed as a trout fishery and later purchased by the club. In subsequent years, two lakes were created near the village of Edmondsham, one for general coarse fishing and the other for trout fishing.  In the 1980s, the club headquarters relocated to Wimborne and Kingsbridge Lakes were first leased to the club.

In 1995, the club took over the Rawlsbury complex of trout lakes in the centre of the County and purchased the fishing rights on the River Stour at Netherwood Mead above Julians Bridge in Wimborne. As carp fishing surged in popularity around the turn of the century, the club responded by stocking mature fish at several venues and introduced facilities for overnight fishing. Thereafter, some urban fisheries with specimen-sized fish came under club management.

Since 2017, the club has been based at its current headquarters, the Royal British Legion in Corfe Mullen and in 2026, the club proudly celebrated its 75th anniversary.

Brian Heap

President