Birdsgrove Fly Fishing Club – River Dove, Mayfield to Okeover boundary

River level

The lowdown

• This is historic Dove water, tied up with the old Mayfield fishing and the wider Birdsgrove House Estate story.
• The club’s fishing is around Mayfield, Snelston and the Dove valley west and southwest of Ashbourne.
• The water is described as a natural trout river coming off the limestone hills of the Peak District. Proper classic river country.
• Fishing extends from the old railway-bridge supports at the bottom of the Temple water to the Okeover Estate boundary.
• The club owns and leases approximately 6 miles of River Dove fishing, with the water mainly fished double-bank.
• Expect natural river fishing rather than tidy, uniform pegs. The Dove forms the Derbyshire–Staffordshire county boundary here.
• It’s fly-only, with brown trout and grayling named as the target species. Both are said to breed naturally in the river environment.
• There’s a strong conservation angle too. Members have monitored invertebrates through the Riverfly Partnership since 2009, alongside monthly water-quality testing with the Angling Trust.
• The club also manages in-stream and bankside habitat, so this is very much a looked-after natural fishery rather than a put-and-take setup.
• The club dates back to around 1875, acquired Snelston fishing in 1993 and Birdsgrove House fishing in 2010. Sunday fishing was eventually permitted universally from 1991.
• We're not sure on ticket prices for this one — check with the club or local regulations before you leave.

Methods: Fly fishing only. The natural trout-river setting makes presenting a fly for brown trout and grayling the name of the game, with the river’s wild-style character calling for a tidy, mobile approach.

Access & tickets

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.

Fish the club names

trout

Key rules

• Fly fishing only.
• Access is exclusive to club members.
• Membership requires a one-off joining fee.
• Membership requires an investment in club loan stock.
• An annual subscription covers club running costs.
• No public day tickets are advertised for this stretch.
• Sunday fishing was eventually permitted universally from 1991.
• No public night-fishing permission or separate night-fishing rule is stated on the accessible official pages.

Where it is