Shardlow — The Crown Bend (south bank, Cavendish Bridge to Shardlow)

River level

The lowdown

• Access is from the car park on Back Lane, near the Crown Inn at Cavendish Bridge. There’s also a walking route through the black metal gate by Three Cranes House, across the garden area and over the stile into the field.
• The Crown Bend runs up to the upstream limit of the navigable river. Behind Rat Island, the big slack comes into its own when levels are high — a handy bit of water to keep in mind.
• Below the slack, the river pushes through a fast gravel bend. Further on is another quick gravel bend recognised as a barbel area. Proper river water, that.
• The next 400–500 yards settle down and are comparatively steady. These swims are well suited to stick-float and waggler fishing, especially when the flow is behaving itself.
• The river then swings sharply and runs alongside the road on the far bank. The following 200–300 yards are roughly 3–4 feet deep and fairly fast, with the better depth mainly on the far side.
• Below the navigable-river notice board, the water gets deeper and slower. That lower section is particularly useful during flood conditions, when the pace is up elsewhere.
• The final peg is known as the Garden Peg. It gives the stretch a clear downstream finish and rounds off a varied bit of Trent bank.
• DRAC lists barbel, bream, chub, common carp, dace, perch, pike, roach and zander across its waters. So there’s plenty to aim for, from trotting and waggler work to feeder fishing and specimen approaches.
• It’s members-only fishing, so sort your DRAC membership before turning up. Carry your membership card and EA rod licence, and remember the ordinary club-water limit is two rods, subject to club rules.

Methods: Trotting with a stick float or waggler suits the steady 400–500-yard section, while feeder and specimen tactics fit the deeper water, gravel bends and slower flood swims. Keep an eye on the crease, particularly around the fast gravel and deeper far-side water.

Access & tickets

This is Derby Railway Angling Club water and the club does not advertise day tickets for the stretch. Join as an Associate Coarse member for coarse fishing, or take Associate Trout & Coarse membership for all club waters and both game and coarse fishing; memberships run annually from 16 June.

Fish the club names

barbel, bream, chub, carp, perch, pike, roach, zander

Named by Derby Railway Angling Club across its Trent day-ticket waters, not for this stretch on its own.

Key rules

• Members must carry their DRAC membership card and EA rod licence.
• Maximum fishing on ordinary club waters is two rods, subject to club rules.
• Live baits are forbidden.
• Fish must not be removed and must be returned to the water.
• Fishing from boats is not permitted.
• No fires, barbecues, tents or camping between fishing sessions.
• Anglers must remove rubbish and leave the peg and bank clean.
• Specimen anglers must use suitable landing nets and unhooking mats; barbless hooks are required for specimen carp, pike and barbel.

Where it is