River guide
River Dove in Derbyshire
12 checked stretches so far — day tickets, club waters and guest tickets, each checked against the club's own pages.
The lowdown
The River Dove stretch here lies on the Staffordshire–Derbyshire border near Ellastone and Norbury. This beat runs above and below Norbury Weir, with a fish pass beside the hydroelectric turbine installed at the end of 2016.
Migratory access is improving and salmon are expected to increase, although this stretch is not classed as salmon fishing water. The river supports named wild brown trout, rainbow trout and grayling, with the Dove Farm water managed as wild fishing and strictly catch and release.
Close season reminder
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 fishStretches
12 of 12 checked stretches. No rankings — we don't know which is "best" on your day, and neither does anyone else.
Dove Farm – Norbury Weir stretch of the River Dove
River Dove · Guest ticket
A compact, varied bit of the River Dove above and below Norbury Weir, run as a small owner-managed club by Dove Farm. It’s wild fly fishing rather than a manicured fishery, with natural trout and grayling and strictly catch and release.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
Lower Dove and Churnet
River Dove · Members or guest ticket
A cracking LADFFA club stretch covering the Lower Dove and Churnet, with the Dove section between Rocester and Uttoxeter and the Churnet joining in upstream from the confluence. It’s a mixed bit of river, with shallow riffles, deeper pools and plenty of proper river-valley scenery.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
Birdsgrove Fly Fishing Club – River Dove, Mayfield to Okeover boundary
River Dove · Members only
A proper wild-style River Dove stretch run by Birdsgrove Fly Fishing Club, running from the old railway-bridge supports below Temple water to the Okeover Estate boundary. It’s mainly double-bank, members-only fly fishing, with brown trout and grayling the named targets.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
Izaak Walton Hotel – River Dove Dovedale stretch
River Dove · Day ticket
A peaceful 3-mile River Dove fishery in Dovedale, run by the Izaak Walton Hotel. Day fishing is available, with trout- and grayling-season passes sold from reception — but availability is limited, so booking ahead is a bob-on idea.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
River Dove – Wolfscote Dale
River Dove · Members only
Wolfscote Dale is a cracking three-mile club stretch on the River Dove, tucked into the Peak District’s limestone-dale scenery. It’s a members-only wild trout and grayling water, run by Derbyshire County Angling Club.
Checked 10 Oct 2026
River Dove at Doveridge
River Dove · Members only
The River Dove at Doveridge is a proper specimen stretch run by Fenton and District Angling Society. Chub over 6 lb, double-figure barbel, big perch, quality bream and specimen trout make this a tasty bit of water for both coarse and game anglers.
Checked 10 Oct 2026
River Dove – Scropton, Brookhouse Farm / Fauld A–B and C–D sections
River Dove · Members only
A cracking, twisty River Dove stretch at Scropton, run by Stoke-on-Trent Angling Society. It’s proper classic chub and barbel water, with deep holes, quick gravel and plenty of tree cover to pick apart.
Checked 10 Oct 2026
River Dove (Marchington)
River Dove · Day ticket or members
The Lower Dove at Marchington is a proper wild, tree-lined bit of river run by Saracens Head Angling Group. It’s a lower-river coarse stretch with eddies, slower margins and a history of producing big barbel.
Checked 10 Oct 2026
River Dove – Ellastone
River Dove · Members only
A cracking little River Dove beat near Ellastone, with roughly 500 yards of single-bank fishing on the Staffordshire side. You get the main river, a trouty brook and a currently silted mill pool, all run by Derby Railway Angling Club.
Checked 10 Oct 2026
Fifty Nine Flyfishers River Dove stretch, Milldale–Coldeaton Bridge area
River Dove · Members only or guest ticket
A cracking fly-only Dove stretch run by Fifty Nine Flyfishers Club, covering roughly 2.75 miles around Milldale and Coldeaton Bridge. It’s proper scenic Peak District water, with wild and stocked brown trout plus grayling throughout.
Checked 10 Oct 2026
River Dove – Tutbury stretch
River Dove · Members only
A cracking bit of River Dove around Tutbury and Hatton, run by Derby Railway Angling Club. It’s proper varied game-river water, with wild trout and grayling alongside a few cheeky coarse fish.
Checked 10 Oct 2026
Eaton Dovedale, River Dove
River Dove · Members only
Eaton Dovedale is a cracking 1.75-mile, single-bank game-river section on the Dove, roughly a mile downstream of Rocester. It’s run by Derby Railway Angling Club and is mainly a fly-fishing job, with trout and grayling the headline fish.
Checked 10 Oct 2026
Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.
Access & tickets
Guest day ticket
Dove Farm
Strictly limited availability for guests staying at Dove Farm cottages. Not issued to the general public.
Covers: Dove Farm – Norbury Weir stretch of the River Dove
Annual LADFFA membership
Leek and District Fly Fishing Association
Limited membership; waiting list stated as three years in 2026. Pay annually or monthly.
£372 annually or £31 per month (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: Lower Dove and Churnet
New-member initial fee
Leek and District Fly Fishing Association
Refundable initial fee for a new member.
£500 refundable (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: Lower Dove and Churnet
Guest ticket
Leek and District Fly Fishing Association
Arranged by an LADFFA member. One angler or two anglers; subject to the member’s daily and seasonal limits.
£20 for one angler or £30 for two (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: Lower Dove and Churnet
Club membership
The Birdsgrove Fly Fishing Club
Members-only access. Requires a one-off joining fee, investment in club loan stock and an annual subscription. Contact the Membership Secretary for current details.
Covers: Birdsgrove Fly Fishing Club – River Dove, Mayfield to Okeover boundary
Trout-season day pass
Izaak Walton Hotel
Day fishing pass sold from Izaak Walton Hotel reception. Availability is limited; book ahead.
£30 to £75 per person (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: Izaak Walton Hotel – River Dove Dovedale stretch
Grayling-season day pass
Izaak Walton Hotel
Day fishing pass sold from Izaak Walton Hotel reception. Availability is limited; book ahead.
£30 to £75 per person (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: Izaak Walton Hotel – River Dove Dovedale stretch
Packed lunch
Izaak Walton Hotel
Optional packed lunch for fishing days, ordered in advance.
£9.95 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: Izaak Walton Hotel – River Dove Dovedale stretch
Full club membership
Derbyshire County Angling Club
Provides access to all Derbyshire County Angling Club waters. Current season runs from 1 April to 31 March.
£370 for the current season (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: River Dove – Wolfscote Dale
Joining fee
Derbyshire County Angling Club
Normally applies to full membership. Waived for members' immediate family and applicants aged 18 to 22.
£380 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: River Dove – Wolfscote Dale
Public day ticket
Derbyshire County Angling Club
No public day-ticket price is published for Wolfscote. The separate day-membership option does not list this stretch specifically.
Covers: River Dove – Wolfscote Dale
2026 associate adult membership
Fenton and District Angling Society
Fenton and District Angling Society membership. Membership card issued digitally or by post depending on the product.
£22.50 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: River Dove at Doveridge
2026 associate senior membership
Fenton and District Angling Society
Fenton and District Angling Society membership. Membership card issued digitally or by post depending on the product.
£19.00 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: River Dove at Doveridge
2026 associate child membership
Fenton and District Angling Society
Fenton and District Angling Society membership. Membership card issued digitally or by post depending on the product.
£5.00 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: River Dove at Doveridge
Stoke-on-Trent Angling Society membership
Stoke-on-Trent Angling Society
Required for access; the water is not advertised as a day-ticket fishery.
Covers: River Dove – Scropton, Brookhouse Farm / Fauld A–B and C–D sections
Environment Agency rod licence
Stoke-on-Trent Angling Society
Required in addition to society permission.
Covers: River Dove – Scropton, Brookhouse Farm / Fauld A–B and C–D sections
Day ticket
Saracens Head Angling Group
Availability and rules are still being updated. Contact the committee for current day-access guidance.
Covers: River Dove (Marchington)
Club membership
Saracens Head Angling Group
Provides access to the club’s rivers, brooks, stillwaters and canal stretches. A waiting list applies when membership is full.
Covers: River Dove (Marchington)
Associate Trout & Coarse membership 2026/27
Derby Railway Angling Club
Required membership category for River Dove at Ellastone; Associate Coarse membership excludes Ellastone.
£95 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: River Dove – Ellastone
New-adult joining fee
Derby Railway Angling Club
Listed on the club’s 2026/27 membership page.
£20 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: River Dove – Ellastone
2026 full membership
Fifty Nine Flyfishers Club
Fifty Nine Flyfishers Club membership
£320 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: Fifty Nine Flyfishers River Dove stretch, Milldale–Coldeaton Bridge area
2026 joining fee
Fifty Nine Flyfishers Club
Club joining fee
£90 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: Fifty Nine Flyfishers River Dove stretch, Milldale–Coldeaton Bridge area
Guest ticket
Fifty Nine Flyfishers Club
Up to five guest tickets are available to members, with restrictions
£25 each (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: Fifty Nine Flyfishers River Dove stretch, Milldale–Coldeaton Bridge area
Associate Trout & Coarse membership
Derby Railway Angling Club
2026/27 membership; required for the game-fishing water.
£95 for 2026/27 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: River Dove – Tutbury stretch
Concessionary Trout & Coarse membership
Derby Railway Angling Club
2026/27 membership; required for the game-fishing water.
£75 for 2026/27 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: River Dove – Tutbury stretch
River Dove night permit
Derby Railway Angling Club
Required for night fishing at Tutbury and Scropton. Sessions are limited to 24 hours.
£20 for 2026/27 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: River Dove – Tutbury stretch
2026/27 Trout & Coarse adult membership
Derby Railway Angling Club
Derby Railway Angling Club membership
£95 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: Eaton Dovedale, River Dove
2026/27 concessionary Trout & Coarse membership
Derby Railway Angling Club
Derby Railway Angling Club membership
£75 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: Eaton Dovedale, River Dove
2026/27 junior membership
Derby Railway Angling Club
For anglers under 17; Derby Railway Angling Club membership
Free (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: Eaton Dovedale, River Dove
Species
We only tag a stretch with a fish when the club names it. Some clubs name fish across all their water rather than stretch by stretch — those are flagged on the card.
● named by the club for this stretch · ●* named across the club's waters · blank = not named (not "absent").
Rules — who runs what
Dove Farm
Day tickets are available only in strictly limited numbers to guests staying at Dove Farm cottages. Dove Farm does not issue day tickets to the general public, and enquiries are required for availability and pricing; guided fishing or tuition may also be arranged.
Leek and District Fly Fishing Association
LADFFA membership is limited and normally has a waiting list, stated as three years in 2026. Members can arrange guest tickets: £20 for one angler or £30 for two, with a maximum of one guest ticket per day and six per season.
Club pageThe Birdsgrove Fly Fishing Club
This is a members-only fishery. Prospective members need to contact the Membership Secretary about the one-off joining fee, club loan stock and annual subscription; current membership prices are not published.
Club pageIzaak Walton Hotel
Buy a fishing pass from the Izaak Walton Hotel reception. Call 01335 350981 to check availability and book ahead; the published day-pass prices range from £30 to £75 per person.
Derbyshire County Angling Club
Join Derbyshire County Angling Club for coarse membership access, or check Catch for day-ticket availability and the current price. The £105 coarse ticket includes the night permit, while the £85 annual coarse ticket is valid for 12 months from purchase.
Club pageFenton and District Angling Society
The society offers membership rather than a publicly advertised day ticket on the official pages checked. Membership cards are issued digitally or by post depending on the product, and anglers must carry a current card and Environment Agency licence when requested.
Club pageStoke-on-Trent Angling Society
The society’s published water information does not advertise day tickets, so this is treated as society/member water. Access is through Stoke-on-Trent Angling Society membership and its rules and conditions.
Club pageGet the current subscription through Saracens Head Angling Group’s membership enquiry form; capacity is limited, with a waiting list when full. The day-ticket page doesn’t confirm eligible waters, prices or booking arrangements, so contact the committee rather than assuming a day ticket covers this river.
Club pageThis is Derby Railway Angling Club water and the club does not advertise day tickets for the stretch. Join as an Associate Coarse member for coarse fishing, or take Associate Trout & Coarse membership for all club waters and both game and coarse fishing; memberships run annually from 16 June.
Club pageThe water is members-only, with no general day-ticket availability. Guest tickets may be available to club members, subject to restrictions; official access directions and fishing-water postcodes are supplied to members rather than published publicly.
Club pageFished the river recently?
Pick the stretch you fished and add a 20-second update there — one stretch at a time keeps it useful.
Each stretch page lists its own key rules. You'll need an Environment Agency rod licence on all of them.
River levels
Measured readings straight from the Environment Agency. These are the nearest gauges we've matched — not readings from the stretches themselves.
Measured — Environment Agency
Rocester gauge
Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.
Loading latest reading…
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
Measured — Environment Agency
Mayfield gauge
Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.
Loading latest reading…
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
Measured — Environment Agency
Izaak Walton gauge
Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.
Loading latest reading…
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
Tips & reports
Our take (editorial, not club advice): on any decent-sized river, a lead that holds bottom without dragging is half the battle — go up in weight before you go up in bait. A bit of extra colour after rain often brings barbel and bream closer in, but a fast-rising, debris-filled river is dangerous; if in doubt, don't. Weather tools built for still lakes don't translate neatly to rivers, so we haven't bolted a lake-style weather score on here.
No angler reports on these stretches yet — we'll only show real ones once our moderated river reports are live.
Where this comes from · checked 9 Oct 2026
- GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fish
- Dove Farm — fly fishing (dovefarm.co.uk)
- Leek and District Fly Fishing Association — lower dove and churnet (ladffa.com)
- The Birdsgrove Fly Fishing Club — home (birdsgroveflyfishing.com)
- Izaak Walton Hotel — fishing on the river dove 2 (izaakwaltonhotel.com)
- Derbyshire County Angling Club — home (derbyshirecountyac.org)
- Fenton and District Angling Society — river dove (fdasofficial.co.uk)
- Stoke-on-Trent Angling Society — river dove scropton (stokeontrentanglingsociety.com)
- Saracens Head Angling Group — home (saracensheadanglinggroup.co.uk)
- Derby Railway Angling Club — home (drac.org.uk)
- Fifty Nine Flyfishers Club — our waters (59flyfishers.co.uk)
Rules, prices and ticket availability change — the rights holder's own page always wins.