Derwent Reservoir Fishing Guide, Derbyshire, England

• Overview

  Out in Derbyshire, England, sits Derwent Reservoir. The setting is open valley. It measures about 172 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. By elevation it is in the upper part of our England listings. The town to know is Hope Valley, 4.7 miles out. High Peak is 5.2 miles and Hathersage 7.1 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Derwent Reservoir

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Survey and observation records for Derbyshire include brown trout, rainbow trout, chub and European grayling. The county list is broader than any single water. On Derwent Reservoir that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 14°C, the coldest about 2°C. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. The season on Derwent Reservoir rarely departs from it. As the season turns, fish follow food rather than temperature alone.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Howden Reservoir, 1.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position on Derwent Reservoir before loading the car.