Peak District Fishing
The Peak District is renowned for its fantastic fishing opportunities. Whether you enjoy fly fishing or coarse fishing, angling in the rivers or still waters, lakes or canals, ponds or reservoirs, there are virtually as many choices as there are kinds of fishing here in the Peak District. Beautiful scenery and inspirational surroundings make for the perfect backdrop to an excellent day of fishing. Head out for an exciting day of angling or set yourself up for a nice, slow, relaxing day of fishing in the Peak District—whatever your preference, you can enjoy it here.
Rivers in the Peak District include the Derwent, the Lathkill, the Dove, and the Wye, fished by such as Izaak Walton of The Compleat Angler fame, and known as world famous fly fishing locales. The River Wye contains rainbow and brown trout, and in some places, grayling. The Derwent offers great fly fishing for trout and grayling, and farther down the river it is popular to engage in coarse fishing for barbel and chub.
Lake fishing abounds in the Peak District, and some great fishing can be had at the many lakes which dot the scenic Peak District. Barlow Farm Fishery, Foxton Dam, and Hardwick Hall are known for roach fishing; and Staveley’s Ireland Pit Pond is known for bream. Visit Higham Farm, Stubbin Court, and myriad others if lake fishing is your preference. Ladybower and Carsington Reservoirs also offer excellent fishing.
Many of the waters in the Peak District are held by large estates—Haddon and Chatsworth—or by clubs and associations, which means much of the fishing is only available on seasonal let. However, more and more places are offering day tickets for occasional fishermen, so be sure to check the access and availability of the fishing locale of your choice. The Derwent Reservoir at Ladybower is a coveted fishing spot, and day tickets are available here. In fact, it is the only water in England where you can fish for brown trout on a day ticket. Barlow and Press Manor have well-stocked trout lakes for fly fishing, and offer day tickets for coarse fishing, as well. Fishing tackle shops are an excellent source of information regarding available fishing, seasons, and prices.
Plan a fishing holiday to the Peak District, and book a
Peak District accommodation which caters to fishermen. Set yourself up in a country hotel, bed and breakfast, or cottage which is well situated for Peak District fishing, and enjoy the hospitality of well-informed hosts who will guide you to the best fishing. Many independent operators run fly fishing holidays, fly fishing tuition, fly casting tuition, fly tying tuition, and guided fly fishing tours in the Peak District.
The Peak District is one of Britain’s most beautiful, diverse, and yet accessible wilderness areas, filled with wildlife, breathtaking scenery, and history. It is also one of the best places for fishing in all of the UK. It matters not whether you are a seasoned angler or a first time fisherman—there is the perfect Peak District fishing experience waiting for you. Visit the Peak District and have the fishing holiday of a lifetime.
Wed Feb 08 11:54:24 GMT 2012 
Of all the places to fish, the river will always be closest to many anglers’ hearts. Whilst on the still water or pond one can catch the same fish all year, on the river who knows what monster has slipped upstream during the recent high water! The Derbyshire Derwent flows for half of its 66 mile course through the...
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Mon Feb 06 11:44:30 GMT 2012 
Bright sunshine today saw me on the banks of the river Derwent talking to a friend who fishes there. It was great to see some water in the river again after the extreme low levels of 2011, even if it is still only about normal summer level. I am hoping for some decent rains this month - 'February Filldyke' as an old...
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Wed Jan 25 09:56:07 GMT 2012 
The popular fly fishing school, Peaks Fly Fishing, has announced that they will award one lucky person a free fly fishing course in the second most visited national park, The Peak District. The competition is now open. The Peak District, Derbyshire, 24th January, 2012: The second most visited national park in the world, The Peak...
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Mon Jan 16 12:15:41 GMT 2012 
David Johnson runs Peaks Fly Fishing, a fly fishing school operating in and around the Peak District. Peaks Fly Fishing is unique as it owns the fishing rights on a small private stretch of the river Derwent where customers can learn the art of fly fishing with the river all to themselves. David has 25 years experience fishing the streams and...
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Mon Sep 12 09:37:12 GMT 2011 |
Wet and dry fly fishing opened Sunday 4th September at the new fishing lake at Peak District Spa. Excavation of the lake and the installation of the pond liner was completed last autumn with aquatic plants and fish allowed to settle in over the summer. About an acre in size, the lake is ideal for beginners learning to cast - or more...
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Mon Aug 15 10:12:59 GMT 2011 |
July has been just as dry as the preceding months, with fishing getting harder and harder during the day on all the waters. Fly hatches are sparse until the evenings but a sedge fished on the surface has picked off fish on the Wye and Press manor for various clients during the month. Montana nymph is a favourite with...
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Tue Jul 12 09:23:36 GMT 2011 
Last time I raised hopes by mentioning the immanent Mayfly hatch. Well, sadly this was a bit of a 'damp squib' this year pretty well throughout the Derbyshire area. Most of the waters saw only sporadic hatches and these only lasted about a week or so. Probably low water conditions have had a part to play in this...
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Tue May 24 12:19:41 GMT 2011 
I have recently been to visit a newly available stretch of the Dove near Hartington. This is the Beresford Dale beat which has on its banks the historic Walton/Cotton stone built fishing hut often referred to as the 'Temple'. It is certainly unique as fishing rooms go and quite something to see. The water is...
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Mon May 23 08:58:18 GMT 2011 
The first two weeks in May have seen me both on the local stillwaters and the rivers again with visits to the Wye at Rowsley and Monsal Dale. With the water levels very low and the weather patterns somewhat strange for this time of year, fishing is a little patchy at times but all my clients have caught fish. Fly...
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Tue May 03 12:51:11 GMT 2011 
April has seen me spending some time on the river Wye, both at Monsal Dale as well as lower down on the Peacock at Rowsley water. As is normal for this time of year the main activity was around lunchtime with fish rising to sporadic hatches of small olives, with sport easing off by around 3.30pm meaning a relatively short...
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Mon Mar 21 11:55:26 GMT 2011 
A bright sunny start to the season at Carsington saw every boat out on the water early. There was a cold wind coming off the dam wall and this coupled with the bright sun will probably keep the fish fairly near the bottom in the shallower parts of the reservoir which is pretty normal on this water. A number of...
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Mon Mar 21 11:44:17 GMT 2011 
The 18th March sees the river fly fishing season open on many waters, although some prefer to start a little later at the beginning of April. I drove up to Buxton today passing along the river Wye in the process. There was a good number of rods out for their first cast of the season in absolutely glorious sunny weather, even...
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Thu Feb 24 14:09:51 GMT 2011 
Ladybower Reservoir in the Peak District under new management! A report from Peak District Online Fishing Expert – Philip White Ladybower Reservoir is opening for fishing under new Management on Tuesday 1st March 2011. I spoke to David Smith today and he tells me he is working hard to get...
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Tue Feb 22 15:44:21 GMT 2011 
Another week that has started with foul weather affecting the rivers and any sensible chances of fly fishing. Still that does not mean there is nothing to do. Will be giving a talk and fly tying demo to Derby County Angling Club tonight. This is one of the strongest Fishing clubs around and it has a wealth of...
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Tue Feb 22 11:02:21 GMT 2011 
Philip White APGAI - Your UK Fly Fishing Guide and Instructor at Peak District Fly Fishing. I am a member of the Game Angling Instructors Association (GAIA) and hold the Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructor (APGAI) qualification in all three disciplines, namely Trout and Seatrout(single handed casting), Salmon (double...
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Wed Feb 16 07:35:58 GMT 2011 
Crocus and Snowdrops are blooming in my front garden, a timely reminder that spring is just around the corner, even if more snow is ‘promised’ for the next few days. This tells me that I must get on with two things immediately. The first is to plan at least one trip after the ‘lady of the stream’, the grayling, before...
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