For quality fishing at an affordable price, many anglers join a local angling club. Fishing clubs control all sorts of waters, from small ponds to large reservoirs, even stretches of canals and rivers.
The 20 great-value clubs in this list offer mile upon mile of quality running water fishing for just a pound or so a week... a bargain in anyone’s book!
WANT TO FIND MORE GREAT RIVER FISHING? CHECK OUT THESE AWESOME BARBEL DAY TICKET VENUES.
Birmingham AA
A club offering phenomenal value, with 52 stretches across 11 rivers available to members, including the Warks Avon (14 stretches including Fladbury and Pershore), River Severn (21 including Quatford and Hampton Loade) and River Teme (nine).
Books: Adults £40, OAPs £30, juniors £15.
More info: 01562 882116, www.baa.uk.com
Reading and District AA
With fishing on the Rivers Thames (Sandford Weir, Northmoor, Wallingford, Sonning) and Kennet (Upper and Lower Benyons, Burghfield, Calcot, Padworth, Hayrick), this ticket is a must for barbel and chub fans.
Books: Adults £80, OAPs £60, juniors from £5.
More info: 01189 867430, www.rdaa.co.uk
Peterborough and District AA
Controls 12 miles of the River Nene, with good barbel at Castor and Alwalton, both stretches having produced fish to over 17lb. Members can fish top bream water Ferry Meadows.
Books: Adults £30, OAPs £17, juniors free.
More info: www.fishinginpeterborough.co.uk
GET THE TACKLE YOU NEED FOR RIVER FISHING BY CHECKING OUT OUR BUYER'S GUIDES TO RODS, REELS, CHAIRS, POLES, SEATBOXES AND MORE.
Leamington AA
Productive stretches of the Warks Avon on this ticket include The Lido in Stratford-upon-Avon, and Wasperton, which has been producing good barbel. Head to The Princess Drive Weir for quality roach. Membership runs until 31 March, 2024.
Books: Adults £40, OAPS/disabled £30, juniors £10.
More info: 01788 544913, www.leamingtonangling.co.uk
Scunthorpe AA
Try Ladypitt Farm on the Trent for its superb barbel and chub sport. South Clifton and Besthorpe also hold big fish, while sections of the Rivers Ancholme, Idle, Upper Witham and the Severn are also included.
Books: Adults £55, concessions £45.
More info: www.scunthorpeanglers.co.uk
GET SOME AWESOME TIPS FOR RIVER FISHING BY CHECKING OUT THIS TACTICS ARTICLE.
Pulborough AS
The rivers of Sussex can slip under the coarse fishing radar, but the Arun, Rother and Adur hold fantastic mixed stocks, with the first two named producing some eye-watering barbel in recent seasons (including the current British record). More than seven miles to go at on this ticket, plus more water available through affiliated clubs such as Calpac and Hassocks DAS.
Books: Adults £75, concessions £45, juniors £25.
More info: www.pulboroughas.com
Leeds and District ASA
The club controls seven stretches on both the Ouse and Aire, as well as the Swale (six), Wharfe (five), Nidd (four), Ure (four) and Derwent. All offer good sport from many coarse species, including chub and big barbel. Try Topcliffe, Asenby, Helperby and Newton-on-Ouse.
Books: £68 annual, £38 concessions, under-16s free.
More info: www.leedsdasa.co.uk
London AA
A 140-year-old club that offers exceptional value, with 11 rivers and over 100 miles of fishing on the Rivers Great Ouse, Thames, Hants Avon, Cam, Stour and Lea all on the ticket – too much to cover in one lifetime?
Books: Adults £57, concessions/junior discount codes issued. Tickets including access to Britford on the Hants Avon are an extra £22 a year.
More info: www.londonanglers.co.uk
Milton Keynes AA
For fans of big perch and chub this is a must-have book giving access to some great stretches of the Great Ouse around Stony Stratford and Wolverton, as well as Adams Mill, the former record barbel venue.
Books: Adults £50, concessions £33, juniors £10.
More info: www.mkaa.co.uk
NEED TO FIND MORE DREAM FISHING VENUES? CHECK OUT THE SPOTS TO VISIT BEFORE YOU DIE.
Hereford and District AA
There are 12 stretches of the Wye between Breinton to Fownhope on offer with this book, with good barbel and chub sport and bumper roach and dace nets later in the year. Belmont, Holme Lacy and Bartonsham are all very productive. Five stretches of the River Lugg are available too.
Books: Adults £60, concessions £40.
More info: 01432 359701, www.hdaa.org.uk
Nottingham Federation of Anglers
A must-have, great value permit for fans of big barbel, with stretches including Radcliffe Viaducts, Clifton Bridge, Hazleford, Thrumpton, Gunthorpe (Pentons Field) and Carlton to choose from.
Books: Adults £45, OAPs and juniors (12-16) £30, under-12s free.
More info: 07710 430721, www.nottsfed.com
NOT TRIED BARBEL FISHING YET? HERE'S THE TACKLE YOU NEED TO GET STARTED.
Wetherby and District AC
Good barbel, chub, dace, perch and grayling fishing to be had on the club’s Collingham stretch of the River Wharfe. Also has fishing on the River Nidd, and six sections of the Aire and Calder Canal.
Books: Adults £30. Veterans with five years’ membership can get tickets for £15; under-16s free with a paying adult.
More info: www.wetherbydistrictanglingclub.co.uk
Amalgamated Fisheries
Controls loads fishing on the Bristol Avon between Daniels Well and Keynsham, taking in some great chub and barbel water along the way at places such as Christian Malford and Lacock Abbey, and big roach spots at Malmesbury. There’s also a stretch of the Bristol Frome at Stapleton.
Books: Adults £75; concessions from £35 per season.
More info: www.amalgamatedfisheriesltd.co.uk
FIND SOME MORE AWESOME VENUES FOR CHUB FISHING NEAR YOU IN THIS WHERE TO FISH GUIDE.
King's Lynn AA
The permit gives access to the famous venues Ten Mile Bank, Middle Level Drain and Cut Off Channel, a series of vast and slow-moving rivers. Good catches of silvers are almost guaranteed, with healthy stocks of bream, carp and tench too. For predator fans, some colossal perch, pike and zander are present in these waters.
Books: Adults from £46, concessions from £32, juniors/infants from £6.
More info: www.klaa.co.uk
Bradford No1 AA
Great value river fishing on offer, with around 35 miles of the Rivers Aire, Derwent, Wharfe, Ouse, Nidd, Swale, Ure and Calder at members’ disposal. Those looking for chub and barbel should check out the Swale at Thornton Bridge or Maunby.
Books: Adults £60, concessions £35, juniors £5.
More info: www.bradfordno1.com
York and District AA
AASix rivers in York and the surrounding areas to go at with this book – Derwent, Foss, Nidd, Ouse, Seven, Rye and Barton Hill Beck. All species are present, and the chub and barbel on the club’s Ouse stretch at Widdington have packed on the pounds in recent seasons. If a big bag of river bream is your goal, try Beningborough.
Books: Adults £47, concessions £30, juniors £12.
More info: 01904 215105, www.ydaa.org.uk
Warrington AA
This well-established club has rights to more than 60 miles of river, including the Dane at Holmes Chapel (great chub sport), the Derwent at Darley Abbey, the Dove at Draycott Mill, The Wye at Hay, the Mersey, the Ribble (Hurst Green) and various bits of the River Severn, including Welshpool and Montford Bridge.
Books: Adults £110, OAPs £55, ladies and intermediates (16-18) £35, juniors £15.
More info: www.warrington-anglers.org.uk
Lincoln and District AA
Fancy tackling the Tidal Trent for its giant barbel and ever-growing chub? You can do just that with this ticket on venues such as Laughterton and North Clifton. Also has stretches of the Rivers Witham and Till, plus the Fossdyke (well worth a go for its very big perch).
Books: Adults £40 annual, OAPS/intermediates £30, juniors £10.
More info: 07976 755768, www.lincolnangling.org
Kidderminster and District AA
Prolific chub and barbel water on the Severn around Bewdley, and at Winnall for some quality silverfish.
Books: Adults £40, OAPS/juniors £30.
More info: 07376 100196, www.kdaafishing.co.uk
Exeter and District AA
Many miles of rivers to roam including the Exe (chub, bream and silvers, and ever-more barbel), Culm, Creedy and Otter. It also has the Exeter Ship Canal, which has done carp to over 40lb and pike to 30lb+ in the past.
Books: Adults £60, concessions £30, juniors £10.
More info: www.exeteranglingassociation.co.uk
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