Whilst the Upper stretches of the Derbyshire Derwent are the home to game fish such as Trout & Grayling, as the river makes its journey down south towards the confluence with the Trent, the water slows. These slower reaches start to become a home for different species of fish such as Chub, Barbel and other coarse fish. The Brown Trout in the upper reaches are now busy feeding and putting back on the weight they have lost during their winter spawning. The Coarse fish in the lower river, are now starting to spawn.
This is why anglers observe a strict closed season on the river, at different times of year, for both coarse fish and game fish. Anglers in Derbyshire continue to fight against pollution, litter and other activities that have a negative impact on fish stocks. Fish in the river are unseen and it is in the main, anglers or groups funded by anglers who are shouting loudest and working hardest to conserve and improve waterside habitat. It’s important to remember that fish are just a small part of a wider habitat and if their habitat is negatively affected, so are the wider eco-systems and the lives of other creatures who live alongside them!