River Trent – Sawley/Shardlow section
The Sawley/Shardlow section is a proper mixed River Trent stretch, running around the River Derwent confluence, Sawley and Sawley Weir. It flips from slow, deep water to shallow, fast-running river, with bream and roach in the quieter areas and barbel and chub showing in the pace.
Run by Pride of Derby Angling Association · checked 6 Oct 2026 · boundaries only partly described by the club
River Trent
River Trent – Sawley/Shardlow section
The lowdown
- This is the Sawley/Shardlow water, not the separate Willington section. Handy distinction if you’re checking the association map or sorting your ticket.
- Downstream of the River Derwent confluence, the Trent settles into slower, deeper water. That’s the sort of country where bream and roach are prominent.
- The deeper reaches can throw up some proper bream, with fish of 5 lb to 8 lb reported as not uncommon. A cracking target on the feeder.
- Below Sawley Weir, things change gear. The river becomes shallow and fast-running, with a livelier feel and plenty more pace to work with.
- Barbel and chub are predominant in this faster water. Barbel of 12 lb and above are reported below Sawley Weir, so it’s not just a small-fish game.
- There’s loads of variety packed into the section. The Derwent confluence, Sawley and the weir all give the water a different character, so expect changing conditions from swim to swim.
- For the quieter reaches, feeder work is the obvious shout for bream and roach. Keep an eye on the depth and the crease where the slower water meets the run.
- The faster water is barbel and chub territory. A robust approach for the flow makes sense, but fixed leads are banned under the association rules.
- Access is through locked car parks, with parking available for all sections. Vehicles must stay in designated parking places, so no cheeky roadside faff.
- Night fishing is allowed with the appropriate membership or permission. Remember, an Environment Agency rod licence is needed as well.
Methods: Feeder fishing suits the slower, deeper water for bream and roach, while the faster water below Sawley Weir is aimed at barbel and chub. Use a sound approach for the flow, and don’t use fixed leads.
Access & tickets
2026/27 standard adult ticket
Pride of Derby membership or season ticket; members-only River Trent access.
£100 per year (as listed 6 Oct 2026 — check before you go)
New standard adult joining fee
Applies to a new standard adult membership.
£20 (as listed 6 Oct 2026 — check before you go)
Gate key
Listed for access to the locked car parks.
£10 (as listed 6 Oct 2026 — check before you go)
The River Trent is members-only, with no day tickets offered. Fishing requires a Pride of Derby membership or season ticket; the 2026/27 standard adult ticket is £100 per year, with a £20 joining fee for a new standard adult membership. A gate key is listed at £10.
Fish the club names
bream, roach, chub, barbel
Key rules
- Fixed leads are prohibited.
- Nuts and high-oil pellets are prohibited.
- Maggot use is restricted to specified months under the association rules.
- Fishing from bridges is prohibited.
- Vehicles must remain in designated parking places.
- Fishing matches require committee or secretary permission.
- An Environment Agency rod licence is required.
- Night fishing requires the appropriate membership or permission.
Coarse fishing on English rivers is closed from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. That's the law for coarse fish on rivers — it's not a club rule, and game-fishing seasons work differently.
GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fishRiver level
Measured — Environment Agency
Shardlow gauge
Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.
Loading latest reading…
We don't publish an "ideal level" — nobody can promise one. Flood water is dangerous: if it's up and coloured, stay well back from the edge. Open River Ready
Where it is
Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.
Community reported
Recent angler updates
No angler updates yet — that's normal. Be the first to help the next angler.
How busy was it?
Nobody's said yet. It's part of the 20-second update below.
No live tracking — this is what anglers told us after their session, and it's never part of the venue score.
Water updates from anglers
No active water updates.