Founded in 1862, the Darley Dale Fly Fishing Club has a heritage stretching back over 160 years. We are proud to be among the oldest fly fishing clubs, not just in Derbyshire, but in the UK. For the 2025 season starting this April, we're delighted to welcome new members to join our small but friendly community. 

 

Our prized stretch covers nearly a mile of pristine left-bank fishing on the Derbyshire Derwent, running from Darley Bridge to Rowsley. You'll find our waters beginning at the top of Pump House field on the river's east side, just a field down from Peak Rail. Discover the remarkable Derwent River in Derbyshire - a natural wonder that begins its journey high in the misty moors, flowing down past the iconic Ladybower, Derwent, and Howden dams. While it starts life as an acidic mountain stream, it flows through limestone terrain alongside its companions, the Noe and Wye rivers, creating a perfect balance for thriving aquatic life! This quiet but beautiful stretch can be a fly fisher's paradise, rich with lush underwater plants and teeming with diverse invertebrates. True, some of the old favourites like native crayfish and water voles are rather scarce these days, but the river still puts on a magnificent show with its Mayfly hatch - a mysterious but reliable spectacle that keeps anglers returning to this stunning waterway. 

 

What makes this patch so remarkable? The river's perfect blend of conditions creates an underwater ecosystem that's simply bursting with life. It's nature's own perfectly balanced habitat, right here in Derbyshire!