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E. B. White (1899 - 1985)
Please remember that tickets must be renewed between January 1st and April 1st.
After March 14th you cannot fish until you have renewed your ticket. Last year we reached our limit for members and consequently we now have a healthy waiting list, so please bear in mind that if you have not renewed by the 1st April the spaces will be filled and you will have to go to the back of the waiting list and therefore pay the entrance fee again.
Please DO NOT let this happen.
TICKET
PRICES FOR 2007 FULL £69.00 + £50
if new member O.A.P (65 years
and over) £40.00 + £20
if new member LADIES £40.00 + £20
if new member JUNIORS 8 to 16 years
£20.00 Night permit £10
per year extra Full annual Membership is available and runs from April 1st to March 31st.
There are no day tickets available. The Committee via Notice Boards , The Annual
Newsletter and The DVAA Website aim to keep their members updated on any
developments relating to the waters controlled by them and any social evenings being held, some of which may include guest speakers.
Photo ID Cards Please remember when you are fishing that you must have your car pass clearly displayed in your vehicle and that you are required to have your photo ID card and your current yearly Membership card with you and available for inspection. If you have not complied with these rules then you will be asked to leave the water.
One of the most idyllic pieces of river you could wish
to see, an example of nature at her best, a far cry
from the man made carp pools which for a variety of
reasons now seem to attract the majority of anglers.
The Dove is undoubtedly a river for the dedicated angler
seeking quality fish rather than quantity, caught using
watercraft and presentation skills designed to meet
the requirements of your chosen swim and target species,
but remember swim selection in many cases involves a
good walk, so travel light.
The river holds some dace, trout, bream to 5lbs,pike
to 20lbs,and carp to double figures, roach, perch, gudgeon
and minnows with the main species being barbel, chub
and grayling and it is these 3 classic river fish which
will be used to provide an insight into ways to tackle
this intimate and challenging river.
BARBEL
Without doubt this species is now capturing the imagination
of many more anglers and is present in good numbers
with fish from 2lb to double figures being caught during
the summer and autumn. The typical size would be 5lb
to 7lbs and the power of these fish is quite incredible,
once described as torpedos with fins. Barbel are often
found in the shallower swims of around 2 ft deep with
bankside features or streamer weed and time spent walking
the river with polaroids to locate fish is both educational
and usually rewarding as several swims provide the opportunity
to watch the fish feeding.
During the early season you
are often faced with low clear water and presentation
is the key to success, remember this is the Dove not
the tidal Trent or lower Severn, so leave the 4oz leads
at home and use the opportunity to stalk fish. Although
many anglers prefer to fish at night and have some good
results, these fish will still feed during the day when
the sun is beating down. Be prepared to use a roving
approach, experiment with terminal rigs and baits, and
also be prepared to reduce both bait and hook size to
trigger a response. Heavy feeding is not always the
best approach, since there are not vast shoals of smaller
fish in the river it can be more affective to introduce
smaller quantities of feed using a pva bag or catapult
with a view to getting that first fish on the bank,
then adjust feed according to bites and activity in
the swim.
As with most rivers pellets have become increasingly
popular, but corn, meat and boilies will all produce,
and red maggots as well as casters can be an excellent
small bait alternative especially in clear water during
the warmer months. One point worth bearing in mind is
the Dove tends to run colder than many other rivers
and the barbel can become very elusive from early November,
but there are still 2 other main species to target.
CHUB
The typical size of fish are in the 2lb and 3lb ranges,
with an increasing number of 4 pounders being caught
and a few fish over 5lbs reported. Again they are mostly
found in the shallower swims during the warmer months
and with low levels. Fishing in the day with waggler
and stickfloat using maggots or casters is usually productive,
but a lot of the bigger specimens tend to get caught
during darkness by barbel anglers. Under winter conditions
the fish seem to prefer the steadier water around creases
in the flow and bankside features. Bread can prove a
good bait as the water temperature drops and the fish
will still respond down to 39F when a legered bait is
more often the best approach. Again be prepared to visit
several swims during a session, don't make the mistake
of assuming the fish are off the feed, you can fail
to get a bite in one spot and catch half a dozen in
another.
GRAYLING
This species has suffered in the past from the attentions
of predatory birds, but fortunately it is an efficient
breeding fish having a fast growth rate and over the
last two seasons the numbers present in the river have
been on the increase with fish from a few ounces to
2lbs being caught. The grayling are usually in the faster
swims and are at their best in cold/clear water, which
are the ideal conditions for running a stickfloat through
using red/bronze maggots. Through September into December
with a bit on sun on the water, fish can be seen rising
on the glides, an ideal opportunity for the fly fishing
enthusiast. Traditional patterns with peacock herl bodies
such as double badger, red tag and steel blue are worth
a try, the last named being particularly useful as it
can be fished either wet or dry.
The club has a policy that grayling are returned to
the river and with licensed control of avian predation
now in place on most of the Dove, the lady of the stream
will again provide some good winter sport.
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