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RiverClub water · MembersOvernight ticket

Swarkestone (south/Melbourne bank, above and below Swarkestone Bridge)

A proper River Trent club stretch on the Melbourne bank, with fishing both above and below Swarkestone Bridge. It’s DRAC members only, and the club’s match diary confirms the above-bridge water is in regular use.

Run by Derby Railway Angling Club · checked 13 Oct 2026 · boundaries only partly described by the club

River level

Measured — Environment Agency

Willington gauge

Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.

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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

The lowdown

  • This is the south-bank section at Swarkestone, sitting on the Melbourne side of the Trent. The stretch runs above and below the bridge, with the club’s access continuing upstream towards the Derwent confluence.
  • There’s a small exclusion near the Priest House Hotel, so don’t assume the whole south bank is fair game. Stick to recognised access points and keep well clear of any no-go bits.
  • The wider DRAC Trent estate is described as a varied coarse river. Expect a mix of gravel runs, riffles, deeper water and slower areas, rather than one uniform bit of river.
  • Swarkestone Bridge is the obvious landmark and the above-bridge section features in DRAC’s official match diary. That usually means a stretch worth treating with a bit of thought rather than just dropping in anywhere.
  • This is club water, not ordinary public day-ticket fishing. You’ll need the right DRAC membership, your membership card and an Environment Agency rod licence with you.
  • Coarse fishing on the rivers is allowed from 16 June to 14 March under the club rules. Outside permitted night fishing, follow the club’s seasonal fishing times.
  • A maximum of two rods is allowed on most club waters, subject to the stated conditions. Live bait is banned, and every fish must go straight back.
  • For specimen fishing, barbless hooks, suitable landing nets, unhooking mats where applicable and safety rigs are required. Boats aren’t allowed, and there’s no camping, tents, fires or barbecues between sessions.
  • Night fishing needs the Trent and Dove Night Permit. Sessions are limited to 24 hours, so it’s not an open-ended bivvy-up. No dogs or guns are allowed on club waters either.

Methods: Approach it as varied coarse-river water, picking through the gravel runs, riffles, deeper sections and slower areas. Specimen anglers need to follow DRAC’s safety rules to the letter.

Access & tickets

Associate Coarse membership 2026/27

Annual membership from 16 June. New non-junior members also pay a one-off £20 joining fee.

£70 (as listed 13 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Associate Trout and Coarse membership 2026/27

Annual membership from 16 June. New non-junior members also pay a one-off £20 joining fee.

£95 (as listed 13 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Trent and Dove Night Permit

Required for night fishing on the River Trent. Sessions are limited to 24 hours.

£20 (as listed 13 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

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, chub, roach, perch, pike, bream, carp, rudd, tench, zander

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

Key rules

  • Carry your DRAC membership card and Environment Agency rod licence.
  • Coarse fishing on rivers is permitted from 16 June to 14 March under club rules.
  • Outside permitted night fishing, follow the club’s seasonal fishing times.
  • A maximum of two rods is allowed on most club waters, subject to the stated conditions.
  • Live bait is forbidden and all fish must be returned to the water.
  • Fishing from boats is not permitted.
  • Use recognised access points and do not trespass.
  • No dogs, guns, fires, barbecues, tents or camping between fishing sessions.
  • Specimen anglers must use barbless hooks, suitable landing nets, unhooking mats where applicable and safety rigs.

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 fish

Where it is

Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.

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No live tracking — this is what anglers told us after their session, and it's never part of the venue score.

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