ive been fly fishing stillwater for a while, but i would love to give river fishing a go such as on the dry fly. there is a river close to where i live and i know there are some trout in there as i caught some years ago on course gear, and i know some people have caught on spinner recently. ive tried fly but had nothing, i havnt sighted any fish either.
like i say i want to give it a go on rivers, i hear about river dove and leek and district fly association, can anyone tell me how i can join any clubs or get a day ticket for a decent river close to staffs?. many thanks

There's a good choice in Staffs/Derbys (the Dove runs along the Staffs/Derbys border for most of its length).

Some of these clubs are fly only but most have some fly fishing and bait fishing on their respective rivers. The biggest consideration is probably how much you want to spend. All have websites so you can cehck out the waters and most are relatively accessible in terms of availability of membership:-

Leek and District Fly Fishing Association
Derby Railway Angling Club
Hanley Angling Society
Fenton and District Angling Society
Leek and Moorlands
Dove Valley Angling Association
JCB Angling Club
Burton Mutual Angling Association

Those people that know me will realise that I have been a member of most of these clubs at one time or another

Try searching on this thread or scrolling through the titles. There is one for the Leek and District about half way down, you can pop a PM to those writing on the thread.

Leek and District Rivers

Also try this:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk...ing/37927.aspx

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Carl

http://www.wandlepiscators.net/
http://teiseangling.co.uk/index.htm

TOMORROW THE TRENT COULD BE YOUR FISHERY! When are YOU going to JOIN THE ANGLING TRUST?

many thanks for your help guys

Most of the river fishing within an hour's drive is annual membership which works out pricey unless you fish the beats a lot - thats the problem I also have, plus I like to fish ressies and also coarse fish, so I just wouldn't get value from the clubs mentioned so far (apart from DRAC, which is only about £60/year). However there is Burslem Izaak Walton which is only £28/year for lower Dove near Sudbury - mainly chub and barbel but also still a good head of trout and grayling - google BIWAS. There is also the Penk, which I fish and which you will know well! Difficult with the fly gear though and I've never seen or caught any trout athough I know there are a few there - there did used to be quite a few due to a local chap who stocked it, but most if not all of those stockies have gone. I really just fish it for the chub - I'll pm you with some details.

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Burton Mutual has got 7 miles of Dove for £60

Fenton has good stretches on the Churnet, Sutton Brook and Blythe for thirty odd quid.

Hanley has got a small but nice piece of the Dove below Rocester plus some Blythe and Sow. Again thirty odd quid.

All bargains in my opinion......mind you I did live down south for a few years where they charge you for breathing

Those are bargains Fishcake, thanks, didn't know about them, will have to bear in mind myself! LADFAA and similar tend to dominate dissussions and thats what I was meaning by pricey - good value if you fish them a lot, but expensive for occasional trips. Shame there's not that much on a day ticket though, unlike Cumbria where you're spoilt for choice.

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i think that the Dove works on a scale whereby the lower down you get the lower the price. Which I accept as its definitely better above the confluence with the Churnet. But thats not to say the clubs lower down don't offer good value because they definitely do. Especially if you like to do some trotting in the winter, as I do (but keep it quiet!!!). I've sent off my renewals for DRAC and BMAA again today even though I won't get round them all properly. If I add them together then its something like £2.30 a week so how can I go wrong!!

well im very chuffed, i just fished the river penk close to where i live, i cast a small phesant tail out into quite shallow pebbly water, let the fly swing around in the flow and i felt a pull, so i cast in the same place and guess what i caught a lovely small brown trout. very chuffed, not the biggest but i shows there in there and what fun!. heres a pic

that's a cute little feller, well done - I used to fish the Penk when I lived in Rickerscote for a bit 20+ years ago and never had a trout, did have a few chub to the fly in the evenings on a dark sedge. Can't remember which club had the fishing - I used to get permission off the farmer and nip across the fields.

If you look here it does look like you can get a day ticket for a stretch of the Sow, and I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you fly-fished. Although it looks like the fishery is now up for sale - so better be quick!
I also used to fish the Sow then - there was a good head of wild browns, at least until a disastrous "improvement" programme to prevent flooding which introduced hundreds of yards of straight concrete culverts.

I'd be really interested if you did go and caught a trout there as it was old Izaak Walton's home river; it's a shame that the [ex-LADFFA] people who run the "UK Izaak Walton chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America" ( I really am not joking) don't have much of a focus on improving and promoting the fly fishing in the river.
Anyway - please keep us posted.