About Us
It gives me great pleasure to write this Foreword for the website of the Leek & District Fly Fishing Association. It was back in 1972, some forty years ago, that a group of anglers from the small Staffordshire town of Leek set up the association on the basis of forming a club that shared common goals of fly-fishing, conserving valuable wildlife habitats, enjoying the wonderful countryside in our region and, not least, forming firm friendships. The Tissington Estate has been integral in helping the Association with the leasing of our stretch of the River Dove and also the leasing of our water on the less-known but much valued Bentley Brook. Both stretches have benefitted enormously from this association with the LADFFA and I know that these benefits will continue well into the future! The first 40 years have been a labour of love for the Association and I wish all those concerned with the organisation every best wish for the next 40!! Tight lines ………!
Sir Richard FitzHerbert (President of LADFFA)
Leek & District Fly Fishing Association was founded in 1972 by a group of anglers from Leek who were disappointed with the lack of fly fishing in the area, particularly river fly fishing. The Association first secured fishing on the river Churnet in 1973, and through good management and maintenance of this stretch of water, the Association’s membership and reputation started to grow.
It’s the strong relationships we maintain with our land owners, the National Trust and the Environment Agency that are essential to the ongoing success of our association.
In 2012, LADFFA proudly celebrates its 40th anniversary. Our values remain unchanged – to provide affordable and quality fly fishing to our members. In return we ask our members to respect the waters we fish, the people who visit them and above all the environment of our quarry
LADFFA’s history …
1972 – Leek And District Fly Fishing Association was founded
1973 – Secured first fishing on River Churnet at Oakmoor
1974 – Approached National Trust about fishing at Milldale, and downstream at Dovedale
1975 – Acquired Milldale section from National Trust
1976 – Extended fishing on River Churnet
1978 – Acquired further fishing at the top end of the River Dove at Crowdecote
Early 1980′s – Acquired fishing on the river Hamps at Winkhill
Mid 1980′s – Acquired fishing on the Bentley Brook at Bradbourne
1986 – Started a case against Severn Trent PLC for polluting River Churnet, resulting in an out of court settlement in 1992 and £28 million of improvements to treatment plants along length of Churnet
2010 – Incorporated Sheffield Trout Anglers (established 1893), giving access to nearly 4 miles of the upper Dove
2011 – Members voted to cease stocking across all waters on a three-year trial basis.
2011 – Acquired fishing on a new stretches of the Dove and Churnet, below Rocester
2012 – Leek and District Fly Fishing Association will celebrate its 40th anniversary
