RIVER DOVE

BMAA hold the fishing rights to approx 8 miles of Prime River fishing. Depths vary from fast shallow 18'' rapids to sedate 12’ deep pools. This varied water holds Barbel, Chub, Bream, Roach, Dace, Carp, Perch, Pike, Grayling and Trout. The quality of the Barbel, Chub, Grayling and Trout are legendary. The key to a good day Dove fishing is location. You have to be in the right place at the right time, get it right and a good bag of fish is guaranteed, get it wrong and you’ll have a dry net. Still, sometimes just being ‘on the Dove’ is enough?

Below, there is a guide to car parks, access and the fishing.

Tutbury Mill - (P1 on map).

Park in car park off the small roundabout near the fire station. Walk away from carpark/road, past Cricket ground, over stile. Walk straight on across Castle Field for weir (800m) start of BMAA water, or turn right after stile and walk 100m to river. The Weir holds Barbel, Chub, Dace and Trout. The Steady/Deep middle of this section holds 10lb+ Barbel, 6lb+ Bream and a few big Carp. Large shoals of big Chub prefer shallow broken water on this section, as do the Grayling and Trout.

Pump House, Castle Hotel - (P2 on map).

Park along the side of the railings opposite the Castle Hotel. The river is 150m across the field.. On this bank, BMAA water starts one field above the road bridge. The opposite bank is shared with Gypsum AC (150m above bridge and down stream of the bridge until the fleam joins the river). Pegs around the bridge are popular for all species and with coloured water Roach can be caught. Down stream is the pump house section that is mostly specimen Barbel, Chub, Pike, and the odd Carp and Bream.

Marston Lane, Nestles - (P3 on map).This car park no longer available. We are trying to renegotiate.

At the end of Marston Lane (Beware of Cattle!) go over rail crossing and follow hedge on your right down to the river. This section is known as the ‘Willows’. This section holds Carp, Barbel, Bream and Chub. This is a very popular stretch and relatively easy to fish on all methods.

Marston Lane, Under Pass - (P4 on map).

300m past Church before 2nd cattle grid there is a track across the field on the left, this leads to the railway bridge. Park to the left of bridge against the fence, DO NOT BLOCK BRIDGE, walk under bridge and the river is 80m ahead. 300m down stream are the ‘Bottom Willows’ which hold large numbers of Chub & Barbel

Marston Bridge/Old Dove - (P5 on map).

Park next to the bridge or use our car park through the gate (Key required). This is a popular section for all species with good fly fishing. Down river is the Weir and also further down approx 500m is an old railway bridge known as the ‘Pillars’, these are well known hot spots for Pike, Barbel and Chub

Horseshoe Meadow, Rolleston - (P6 on map).

Park each side of track situated 100m from ‘The Jinny’ on Station Road. Walk down the track 450m to the 2nd gate. Walk straight ahead for the fleam then follow the fleam to the river. Winter floods provide good fleam fishing for big Roach and Dace. Shallows below the fleam hold Grayling and Trout. The Horseshoe is very good for Barbel, Pike and Chub. The shallows below the Horseshoe hold Dace, Grayling, Trout and Chub.

Fishpond Lane, Eggington, Podmores - (P7 on map).

Park on bend each side of the track near the Duck Street sign. Walk down the track over 3 streams (Hilton Brook fishing as per map) and through a gate. Turn right and follow a hedge on the right for 300m, over flood bank to the river (Beware of Cables!) The river here is 3m (9ft) deep and in the wood further down it is 4m (12ft) deep. This section holds good Bream to 5lb+, big Roach, Chub and Barbel. Down river is Stretton Weir which is good for all species. Below the weir (Straight on at Gate) is a good Barbel and Chub section with the odd Bream and Big Pike.

Podmore Pools are in the middle of this section (just above Wier). Full of Lillies and Reeds with a good head of Tench. Due to silt the pools are very shallow but also contain Pike, Bream, Roach and Perch.

Horseshoe Meadow, North bank, Blacksmiths La, Eggington - (P8 on map).

Continue past P7 150m, turn left into Blacksmiths Lane, go further 200m then turn left into track (BEWARE RUTTED) Limited to 6 cars. DO NOT BLOCK ACCESS.Car park is just before gates (park on verge). On foot go straight ahead down the bridlepath, over bridge (stream) then turn left to river 300m. Fishing as car park 6.

Clay Mills, Lay-by A38 (North bound) - (P9 on map).

Park in Lay-by and go over nearby gate. Straight on for 500m takes you to weir opposite Podmores. Over gate and walk along the A38 (on right), the river is 300m. Weir and Pump Station are both good areas for all species. The upstream shallows hold Dace and Grayling.

Monks Bridge - (P10 on map).

From southbound, come off A38 just before river. Use key for gate and park each side of the bridge. Fishing above Monks ‘willows’ very good for Chub and Barbel. Below Monks is good for all species. Under aqueduct is good for big Chub.

Ratcliffs and The Fleam - (P11 on map).

Follow Millstream Lane to railway bridge and drive under bridge (Beware deep water at times). Just through bridge go through gate (key req.). The car park is at end of track. For river (Railway Bridge) walk over footbridge then bear right - walk straight across field for 200m. The river here holds good Chub, Barbel and Bream. The shallows above Bridge hold Dace and Grayling. The lower River can be found past the Pool by following the Fleam. The Fleam mouth is good for Pike and Perch and below this is good for all species. Walking straight across from the Fleam mouth puts you on the wall; a good bend/bay here holds all species. 300m further is the boundary.

Ratcliffs, north bank - (P12 on map).

On the South bound A38, ½ mile before the River Dove, turn left over Canal Bridge. Drive down lane, over a railway bridge and then 300m past the Bridge the road has a sharp left bend (gate on right). Park on verge without blocking the road. Turn right through the gate and the river is 250m away. You should be on bend below the Fleam. Fishing is as above.

Hargot meadow, River Trent - (P13 on map).

Continue past P12 to end of road and park just through the gate. River is 200m across the field. Upper boundary joins the River Dove and the Lower boundary is a brook 250m below the Pipe Bridge. A very good section holding big Chub and Barbel plus Roach, Carp, Bream, Dace, Perch and Pike. A very good early season water for a mixed bag. The Bream can show anywhere even in fast water.