If you fancy a day on a river but can't or don't want to commit to a long walk, there are some really great stretches that are a stones throw from a car park and also full of fish!
Whether you want to chuck a feeder or trot a float, there is something in this list for any enthusiastic angler and there is some really prolific sport on offer for those willing to have a go.
River fishing is exciting, different and at times truly magical, now is the time to make the most of the sport on offer on your doorstep.
FIND THE BEST ROD FOR RIVER FISHING BY CHECKING OUT OUR LATEST BUYER'S GUIDES.
Warwickshire Avon, Evesham, Worcestershire
The giant grass field in the centre of Evesham acts as a car park, and you can unload your kit straight on to a stable platform. Barbel to double figures are present here, and fishing early and late in the day with halibut pellets alongside a straight lead or cage feeder will deliver the goods.
Tel: 01386 442853
River Nene, Peterborough, Cambs
There are plenty of car parks within a stone’s throw of this free stretch of the River Nene that runs by the football ground, and the bream fishing can be nothing short of phenomenal. Flat banks provide a solid base to sit on, and a cage feeder packed with groundbait, worms and casters is a reliable formula for fish to 7lb. Expect the odd zander as well!
Tel: 01733 551053
River Steeping, Wainfleet St Mary, Lincolnshire
Narrow and quite weedy, it doesn’t look the ideal spot to catch bream, but it holds a good head of fish to 7lb. Fish corn a few rodlengths out on the waggler, putting in plenty of bait to hold the shoal. Parking is available behind the free-to-use wooden fishing platforms.
Tel: 01754 764474
MAKE SURE YOUR REEL IS UP TO THE JOB FOR RIVER FISHING BY TAKING A LOOK AT OUR BUYER'S GUIDES.
River Welland, Spalding, Lincolnshire
A hotspot that will come into its own in the coming weeks, you can expect roach nets to over 30lb when the shoals arrive. Short pole and whip with pinkie and groundbait are best when it’s coloured, switching to bread in clearer water. Plenty of parking spots in the town provide easy access to this free fishing.
Tel: 01775 712206
River Parrett, Langport, Somerset
A car park is located behind the swims by Huish Bridge on the outskirts of town, where 20lb nets of roach and perch are on the cards. Stick float or the whip work wonders with maggots, casters or hemp. Banks are steep in places, so the use of a platform is advisable.
Tel: 01935 420836
River Trent, Nottingham, Notts
The free-to-fish swims in front of the Nottingham Forest ground are bankers for big hauls of roach. Using a Stick float or waggler with hemp and casters works well for nets to over 20lb. Park behind your swim when the stadium is not in use.
Tel: 0115 9140210
ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY? CHECK OUT OUR GUIDE TO FEEDER FISHING CHAIRS.
River Thurne, Potter Heigham, Norfolk
Give the area just outside the Herbert Woods boatyard a try and you’ll get bites all day from roach, perch and skimmers. Underarm a small cage feeder, packing it with groundbait and rotating between maggots, casters and small worm segments on the hook.
Tel: 01692 671833
Dorset Stour, Christchurch, Dorset
This tidal stretch is only a couple of miles from the sea, and floatfishing will bring plenty of silverfish and the odd bonus that could be anything from a big bream to a mullet! Feed hemp and maggots little-and-often and park in the car parks just a two-minute walk from the water’s edge.
Tel: 01202 480520
River Anker, Polesworth, Leics
The small pool by the bridge in the centre of the village is free fishing, and is a brilliant place to work with the stick float or whip. Roach, perch and chublets will respond to maggots. Parking is available directly behind this prolific spot.
Tel: 01827 895011
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE TOOLS TO WEIGH YOUR BEST CATCH, HERE'S OUR GUIDE TO SCALES.
River Way, Farnham, Surrey
Ideally suited to roving, there are plenty of spots on this free stretch to drop into and ambush the chub. Fish to 4lb are present, and floatfished bread or maggots both work on this shallow, narrow waterway. The concrete path beside the river provides easy access, and there’s car parking by the bank just outside the centre of the town.
Tel: 01252 318937
River Don, Sprotbrough, South Yorkshire
Park by the Boat Inn pub and you’ll find plenty of swims to drop into just upstream. Reasonably deep and slow, it responds well to a long whip attack. Feed hard balls of groundbait to put down an initial carpet of bait, with a maggot on the hook to keep roach to 12oz coming steadily to the net.
Tel: 01709 862558
Old Nene, March, Cambs
This stretch reached its peak last winter, and produces regular 30lb-plus nets of roach. The shoals will start to pack into the area in the coming weeks, with short pole or whip down the middle with breadpunch or small balls of liquidised feed a proven formula. Park down North Drive and the river is just a short stroll away.
Tel: 01354 660566
River Wye, Underhill Farm, Herefordshire
Run by Angling Dreams, in good conditions you are able to drive down the whole length of this stretch. Barbel and chub are the dominant species, with either a small pellet feeder or the waggler is worth a try. Head for a swim with
plenty of cover to find the fish.
Tel: 01989 218080
FEEDING IS SO IMPORTANT ON RIVERS. CHECK OUT THIS GUIDE TO BEST CATAPULTS.
River Tone, Taunton, Somerset
The area directly in front of the McDonalds in the centre of town offers free fishing, and is a brilliant spot for chub. Run a stick float through your swim and regularly feed hemp, maggots or casters to get the fish competing. Get your tactics right and a 40lb netful could easily be yours!
Tel: 01823 282518
River Soar, Kegworth, Leicestershire
Drive to the bottom of Soar Lane and you’ll be within a whisker of a big-perch hotspot. Fish to over 3lb live close to The Otter pub, where a cage feeder packed with minced worms or long pole with lobworm are both tried-and-tested tactics for these feisty predators.
Tel: 01509 502970
POLES CAN BE A REAL EDGE ON THE RIVERS TOO. HERE IS OUR BUYER'S GUIDE TO THE BEST.
River Dee, Chester, Cheshire
Head for the concrete bank by Old Dee Bridge and fish from the edge of the car park for free. Stick float and maggots is a brilliant tactic to keep you on your toes, and a wide range of species including roach, perch, dace and
chub, is on the cards.
Tel: 01244 345069
River Thames, Oxford, Oxfordshire
Park in the car park at the end of Sandford Lane and you’ll be within sight of the prolific Sandford stretch of this mighty waterway. Controlled by Abington & Oxford AA, it is a real mixed haven and home to a variety of species including chub, bream, perch, pike and roach.
Tel: 01865 201020
River Weaver, Winsford, Cheshire
Head for the boards by the Red Lion pub in the centre of town, fishable on a Winsford Anglers permit, and you’ll catch double-figure nets of roach on stick float or pole with maggots. Pike to double figures are plentiful too once the colder weather arrives.
Tel: 07717 471220
LURE FISHING WORKS WONDERS ON RIVERS. HERE'S OUT GUIDE TO THE BEST FISHING LURES.
River Derwent, York, Yorkshire
The area downstream of Stamford Bridge is very close to the Viking Road car park. Stick float and maggot rarely fails, and double-figure nets of roach, dace and perch are entirely possible. Once winter comes, deadbaits are the way forward for pike nudging the 20lb mark. Controlled by York DAA, day tickets are available from local outlets.
Tel: 01904 215105
River Calder, Ossett, West Yorkshire
The rarely-fished area at the end of Healey Road is a gem that is close to the car park provided by controlling club, Mirfield AC. A shallow stretch that produces best during the warmer months, you can catch plenty of roach and dace on stick float or waggler, with bonus chub likely to show too.
Tel: 07967 227218
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