Freestone · Mixed · Peak District / Derbyshire, GB-ENG

River Derwent (Derbyshire)

The River Derwent flowing through the wooded valley at Matlock Bath in the Derbyshire Peak District

Two rivers in one: the upper Derwent above Baslow is fast gritstone moorland water (small flies, duller colours), becoming limestone freestone from Baslow onwards through Derbyshire.

Tomorrow · About as good as it gets
Gammarus Scud (Olive)
Forecast · Tomorrow
About as good as it gets
On the feed top to bottom — start on the rises with a dry, drop a nymph if they stay down.
75% projected
Today's fly
Gammarus Scud (Olive)
Gammarus Scud (Olive)
Conditions on the water · Tomorrow
Live gauge
Level
Steady
1.03 m
Water temp6.3°C
ClarityClear
Weather2°C
WindN 16 km/h
Pressure1015 hPa
Rain · recent4.0 mm
Rain · ahead4.0 mm

The nearest gauge doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

Water temperature for Grayling
Ideal
6°C est.ideal 4–14°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Grayling
When
Autumn into late winter — October through February prime. The Derbyshire Derwent holds grayling reliably through Calver and below.
Where
Below Calver and through Chatsworth Park — faster gravel runs and the heads of riffles where Peak District grayling shoal up.
Method
Upstream wet with North Country spiders — Snipe and Purple, Greenwell's Spider, Dark Watchet. Switch to Euro-nymphing through the deeper pockets. Dry fly when sedges or olives come off.
Kit
9 ft #4 for the wets and dries; 10 ft #3 nymphing rod for the deep pockets. 4 to 5 lb fluoro tippet, 12 ft leader.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is working for you, but insect activity is the limiting factor today. Grayling feeds actively in cold water — peak winter sport.
Likely species
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · tomorrowPeak at 11am

12pm(now) — Autumn Needle Fly

Stage: Creeping nymphsApproach: Heavy nymphActivity: 29%
Also:Black Midge25%
Peak emergence window4 food groups active

Peak activity at 11am — Autumn Needle Fly (Autumn Needle Fly, Peak emergence window)

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 3 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Supporters see what else is on the menu.

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · November highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Grayling seasonSeason
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Hawthorn FlyHatch
2
2
GrannomHatch
2
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Grayling fly box

Two rivers in one — acid gritstone moor up top where the flies run small and dull, limestone clarity and better hatches below Baslow. Read which river you're standing in and fish it accordingly.

Local classics: Greenwell's Glory·Pheasant Tail Nymph
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Derbyshire Wye
6.0 km
84
Brown trout · Rainbow trout · Grayling
Barlow Country Club Fishery
8.0 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Press Manor Fishing Lakes
13 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout · Brook trout
Ladybower Reservoir
17 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Ogston Reservoir (Fisherman's Carpark)
17 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Gallery · 2
  1. The River Derwent flowing through the wooded valley at Matlock Bath in the Derbyshire Peak District
    The River Derwent at Matlock Bath, Derbyshire
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

The upper reaches offer varied character (riffles, glides, pools); the limestone sections have better hatches. The Wye tributary at Bakewell is arguably better trout water than the main river itself. Good grayling throughout the middle reaches. The transition from gritstone to limestone means adapting your approach as you fish downstream. Club and association water with some day tickets available.

  • Mixed
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Moderate
  • Chemical: Unknown
Water quality details
  • Dissolved oxygen: High
  • Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD): High
  • Ammonia (Phys-Chem): High
  • pH: High
  • Phosphate: Good
  • Temperature: High
  • Physico-chemical quality elements: Good
  • Chemical: Does not require assessment

EA (England) · UKGB104028052390

The full read · show the working · for Grayling · confidence 75%
How the 82 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature100 × 28%28.0
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity85 × 18%15.3
Feeding Time80 × 13%10.4
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity43 × 12%5.2
Conditions total= 82
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitysurvey-backed invertebrate datasurvey
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 22 March → 30 September
  • Grayling 16 June → 14 March

    Derbyshire Derwent grayling typically follows the full statutory window on club and association water. Autumn through early winter is the prime period. Check specific club rules for methods.

    Prime sport 1 September → 31 December

Related guides
Where to Fly Fish This Winterfeatured in this guideGrayling Playbookgrayling tacticsYorkshire & SpidersNorth Country methods
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
At a glance

River Derwent (Derbyshire) is a freestone river in Peak District / Derbyshire, England. It sits at about 135 m above sea level. The river is described as roughly 104 km long. Species listed for this water: brown trout and grayling. The trout season is recorded as running from 22 March to 30 September. The grayling season is recorded as running from 16 June to 14 March. Best window recorded for anglers: May to September (trout), October to December (grayling). Core methods listed: upstream nymph; dry fly; small streamer. Level and flow data for this water is linked from 1 gauge. Its Water Framework Directive ecological status is recorded as moderate. Nearby waters in our listings include Derbyshire Wye at 6.0 km, Barlow Country Club Fishery at 8.0 km and Press Manor Fishing Lakes at 13 km.