TOP FISHING CLUBS We reveal the 40 best clubs to join this season – unbeatable value!
TO JOIN THIS SEASON
Discover where you can experience great venues and friendly fishing this summer and beyond
BRITAIN’S club fishing scene is booming as novice anglers and old hands alike seek out enjoyable fishing on their doorstep.
Not only will you get access to some of the best stillwaters and river stretches in the country,
NORTH BRADFORD No1 AA
A prolific Yorkshire river club
(35 miles in total), with excellent chub and barbel waters on the Swale at Thornton Bridge, Maunby and Topcliffe.
The Nidd at Cowthorpe and the Wharfe near Boston Spa are also well worth a visit, as are some great stillwaters in Raskelf Lake, Queen Marys Ponds and Knotford Lagoon. Price: £55 annual, £32 concessions, £5 juniors
Contact: 07714 662783, www.bradfordno1.com
WARRINGTON AA
The club controls a whopping 160 but angling associations save you money on lots of day-ticket fees too.
There’s also the chance to get involved, meet other members, and learn new skills in a great community setting.
Here’s our pick of the best clubs for the season ahead… acres of stillwaters, 60 miles of rivers and 30 miles of canals.
Highlights include the chub fishing on the Dane at Holmes Chapel, and stretches of the Severn, Trent and Dove. And that’s not to mention prolific stillwater sport, such as the tench fishing at Grey Mist Mere. Price: £50 annual, £30 ladies and intermediates, £15 juniors
Contact: 01925 637525, www.warrington-anglers.org.uks
SALFORD FRIENDLY ANGLERS SOCIETY
Dating back to 1817, this is a community club which prides itself on rejuvenating ‘the waters nobody wants’. It stocks its venues with the help of grants and its donation fund, and has become a lobbying group for the protection of the River Irwell. Its Salford Quays are well worth a go for huge carp and pike.
Price: Apply free via the website – donations towards its stocking funds are encouraged.
Contact: 01617 433632, www.salfordfriendlyanglers.co.uk
SOUTHPORT AND DISTRICT AA
Fans of natural-style fishing will love this club. Check out Anglezarke and Upper Rivington reservoirs for some wild feeder fishing, or the River Crossens for bream, tench and winter pike. For some prime roach and dace fishing, the River Ribble at Church Deeps takes some beating. Prices: £65 annual, £45 OAPS, £30 disabled, £10 juniors
Contact: 07921 134703, www.sdaa.org.uk
YORK AND DISTRICT AA
Some excellent river fishing is to be had on its stretches of the Ouse around the historic city of York, especially barbel at Beningborough and bream around Fulford and Donkey Woods. YDAA also has some lovely gravel pit and estate lake-type stillwaters to target.
Prices: £46 annual, £29 concessions, juniors £12 or free with adult book Contact: 01904 215105, www.ydaa.org.uk
WIGAN AND DISTRICT AA
A proper club for canal fans, with some excellent sport on the Leeds and Liverpool ‘cut’ to go at, and bream and tench near features. The club has a host of traditional North West ‘flashes’ and reservoirs to fish, as well as the fantastic River Ribble. Prices: £40 annual, £25 OAPS, £10 juniors
Contact: 01942 208197, www.wigandistrictangling.co.uk
DONCASTER DAA
Some good roach and skimmer sport is on offer on South Yorkshire’s big, deep canals, such as the Stainforth and Keadby, New Junction and Aire and Calder. You’ve also got the River Don at noted spots such as Sprotbrough. Prices: £30 annual, £25 OAPS/ juniors
Contact: 07946 382882, www.ddaa.co.uk
NORTHWICH AA
You’ll get access to a portfolio of 12 pits, pools and traditional stillwaters, plus some prime stretches of rivers and canals. In particular, check out the bream sport on the River Weaver and the chub and barbel of the wild and winding River Dane. Prices: £60 annual, £25 OAPS, £10 juniors, under-12s free
Contact: 07947 977 585, www.northwichanglers.co.uk
ST HELENS AA
The association owns some notable local waters such as Carr Mill Dam and the St Helens Canal, where you’ll even find carp on the famous
‘Hotties’ section. It also has a couple of river stretches, pits, and dams. Prices: £40 annual, £25 OAPS, £5 juniors
Contact: 07729 638222, www.sthelensaa.co.uk
KING’S LYNN AA
The permit gives access to a serious number of eastern waterways, including the famous Ten Mile Bank, Middle Level Drain and Cut Off Channel – a series of vast, slowmoving rivers. Put in some effort prebaiting and you should find some decent bream and even carp, or go down the predator route for some large pike and the chance of a huge zander.
King’s Lynn also has the coastal complex of lakes at Shepherds Port, Tottenhill Pits and Springside Lake, all natural-type gravel pits in pleasant scenery.
Prices: From £45 annual, from £32 concessions, from £6 juniors/infants Contact: 07876 491748, www.klaa.co.uk
EAST SCUNTHORPE AMALGAMATED ANGLERS
Our pick is the club’s stretch of the narrow and fast Trent at Ladypitt Farm, which offers superb barbel and chub sport, as do South Clifton and Besthorpe.
The Warping Drain is also noted for tench, and you’ve got a number of canals and even access to fishing on the River Severn!
Prices: £45 annual, £35 concessions Contact: 07887 937629, www.scunthorpeanglers.net
BOSTON AND DISTRICT AA
Fish in the footsteps of Ivan Marks on the River Witham, where you might land on one of the bumper bream shoals. The club also has a number of top-class drains in the Lincolnshire area, such as the Sibsey Trader, the Bargate and the South Forty Foot.
Prices: £35 annual, £25 concessions, £5 juniors
Contact: 01205 760666, www.bostonanglingassociation.co.uk
NORWICH DAA
Enjoy some of the finest sport the Norfolk Broads has to offer from June 16, in the form of the Rivers Bure and Thurne, where there’s prolific roach and bream sport. And don’t forget the legendary monster pike of the Thurne, which have been taken to over 45lb.
Prices: £30 annual, starting June 16 Contact: 01603 400973, www.ndaa.org.uk
NOTTINGHAM FEDERATION OF ANGLERS
If you fancy some prime fishing on the River Trent then this is a musthave ticket. The Federation has some prime barbel and bream water at Clifton Bridge, Radcliffe Viaducts and Gunthorpe, to name but a few, plus the Nottingham Canal.
Prices: £45 annual, £30 concessions, under-12s free
Contact: 07710 430721, www. fed.com
WELLINGBOROUGH & DISTRICT NENE AC
On offer here is some prime fishing on the rivers Nene and Great Ouse – in particular the Nene at Hardwell Mill, Barnwell and Oundle. Its pick of the stillwaters is the beautiful Canons Ashby Lakes, andit also has a share with Luton AC of the Grand Union Canal.
Prices: £45 annual, £30 OAPS, £10 juniors
Contact: 07801 089671, www.wdnac.org.uk
LOUGHBOROUGH SOAR AS
The club controls some very fishy-looking river and canal fishing between Kegworth and Barrow on Soar. Look out for chub on the featurefilled Osiers and the bream at Sutton Bonnington, plus stretches of the Grand Union and Zouch Canals. Prices: £40 annual, £20 OAPS, £5 juniors
Contact: 01509 670436, www.loughboroughsoarangling.co.uk
WATERBEACH ANGLING CLUB
The club owns the fantastic Landbeach Lakes complex where there is something for everyone, from large carp to pole fishing on the smaller waters. It’s well maintained by volunteers and, if that’s not enough, there are also the Old West Lagoons and the River Cam to go at.
Prices: £35 annual, £25 concessions, £10 juniors
Contact: 07759 977513, www.waterbeachac.co.uk
WEST WOLVERHAMPTON AA
This is a no brainer of a ticket for canal fans in the area – it offers some great sport on both the Staffs Worcester and Shropshire Union Canals. You’ll find all manner of species along these waterways, especially chub at Wombourne and carp and bream around Penkridge.
Prices: £15 annual, £10 concessions, juniors free
Contact: 07921 565107, www.wolverhamptonaa.co.uk
TELFORD AA
A number of pools in both convenient local urban and tranquil rural settings are on the books of Telford. These include Blue Pool (watch out for the catfish!), Trench Pool and Randlay Pool. It also has some quality fishing on the River Severn at Buildwas, as well as the Newport Canal.
Prices: £35 annual, £15 concessions, £5 juniors
Contact: 01952 616054, www.telfordanglingassociation.org
STOKE-ON-TRENT ANGLING SOCIETY
An impressive portfolio of waters offers silverfish sport on the historic Rudyard Reservoir, Stanley Reservoir, Astbury Water Park and a number of pools. Don’t ignore the
River Dove and the much smaller River Sow, either, where some good chub can be found.
Prices: £65 annual, £40 concessions, £1 juniors
Contact: 01782 541500, www.stokeontrentanglingsociety.com
KIDDERMINSTER AND DISTRICT AA
If you enjoy visiting the River Severn then this is one of the clubs to join. It has prolific chub and barbel water all around the town of Bewdley, plus at Winnal, just below Stourport, where there are some quality silvers. Prices: £40 annual, £30 OAPS/ juniors
Contact: 07376 100196, www.kdaafishing.co.uk
Enjoy big perch and silvers on the Fossdyke.
TUSSES ANGLING CLUB
The club boasts over 50 miles of prime canal fishing to enjoy around Coventry and Nuneaton. There are the Coventry, Ashby and Oxford Canals which respond to all tactics, whether match, specimen or the club’s growing base of lure anglers.
Prices: £20 annual, £10 OAPs, juniors/disabled free
Contact: 07450 974366, www.tussesangling.co.uk
HODNET ANGLING CLUB
A good choice for natural-style fishing in the Shropshire area with the likes of Goldstone Pools and Presswood Pool. Look to the Shropshire Union Canal at Goldstone and Market Drayton for some excellent silverfish sport, especially skimmer bream and roach.
Prices: £45 annual, £32 concessions, £14 juniors
Contact: 01630 658055, www.hodnetanglingclub.co.uk
BIRMINGHAM AA
No list would be complete without the mighty BAA.
Our picks of a huge selection of waters are the River Avon at Fladbury and Pershore, the Severn at Quatford and Hampton Loade and also the River Teme. All this for £40? A no brainer for us.
Price: £40 annual, £30 OAPS, £15 juniors
Contact: www.baa.uk.com
ROYAL LEAMINGTON SPA AA
There are some really nice mixed fisheries on the club’s books, especially Jubilee Pools, Snitterfield Reservoir and Napton Reservoir, where you’ll find the likes of crucians and tench. The River Avon at Stratford is a great year-round bet for roach, chub and bream. Price: £40 annual, £30 concessions, £10 juniors
Contact: 01926 312319, www.leamingtonangling.co.uk
BATHAMPTON AA
Its beautiful Hunstrete
Pools complex is popular with members, where you’ll find good carp, bream and mixed fishing. Also worth a mention is the River Avon around Claverton and Newbridge, where there are big shoals of bream on the groundbait feeder.
Prices: £40 annual, £25 OAPS, £15 juniors
Contact: 07707 516426, www.bathampton.org
SOUTH CHRISTCHURCH ANGLING CLUB
Not a cheap club to join, but this is reflective of the sheer quality and number of venues on offer in and around Dorset. There are some topclass waters on the Hampshire Avon, including Ringwood for barbel,
chub and big roach, plus the equally prolific Rivers Stour and Frome. And if that’s not enough, check out its lakes, including Todber Manor. Prices: £120 annual, £45 14-17, £20 under 14s
Contact: 01202 480009, www.christchurchac.org.uk
MILTON KEYNES AA
Big perch are one of the star attractions on the club’s stretches of the Great Ouse, especially around Stony Stratford. There are some big bream and carp to be caught at Willen Lake, Furzton and Teardrops, plus several other large pit-style waters. Prices: £45 annual, £30 concessions, £10 juniors
Contact: 01908 270000, www.mkaa.co.uk
READING AND DISTRICT AA
The club controls some notable Southern rivers, such as the Thames, the Kennet and the Loddon. In particular the Kennet is a great bet for big barbel and chub around the Upper and Lower Benyons sections. Also included are several lakes and lagoons in the area.
Prices: £80 annual, £60 OAPs, juniors from £5
Contact: 01189 867430, www.rdaa.co.uk
CROWBOROUGH AND DISTRICT AA
A good portfolio of primarily South East stillwaters, members can enjoy a number of tranquil wooded venues such as Danesfield Wood, Mill House Farm and Gabriels Fishery. More House Farm is a matchstyle complex, plus it has rights at Claygate Lakes and add-on permits at Bough Beech Reservoir.
Prices: £55 annual, £42 concessions, £23 juniors
Contact: 07873 322562, www.crowboroughanglers.org.uk
TAUNTON AA
The Bridgwater and Taunton Canal gives some decent bream and tench sport, while the River Tone offers some fantastic stick float fishing with 20lb-30lb catches common. There are also stillwaters in the shape of Wych Lodge, Maunsel Ponds and Pines Lake to go at. Prices: £27.50 annual, £2.50 junior Contact: 07833 535997, www.tauntonanglingassociation.co.uk
GODALMING AS
Marsh Farm is the jewel in Godalming’s crown, as it’s home to some superb crucian carp and tench fishing, among many other species.
It also looks after some secluded waters such as Bramley Park and Wood Lake, and the noted specimen venue, Broadwater.
Prices: £90 annual, £45 OAPs, under-25s £20-35
Contact: 07876 124941, www.godalminganglingsociety.co.uk
EXETER AND DISTRICT AA
The club has miles and miles of quirky rivers to investigate, such as the Exe, Otter, Culm and Creedy. If you fancy some canal carp action head to the prolific Exeter Canal, especially in the basin area. Six stillwaters complete the line-up on this permit.
Prices: £52 annual, £26 concessions, £7 juniors
Contact: 01392 436404, www.exeteranglingassociation.co.uk
LONDON AA
An incredible 11 different rivers give over 100 miles of bank to fish on venues such as the Avon, Great Ouse, Cam, Thames, Stour and Lea. The association has several lakes and pits across Essex and Cambridgeshire too, plus the prolific Grand Union Canal at Tring. Prices: £52 annual, concessionary/ junior discount codes issued Contact: 02085 207477, www.londonanglers.co.uk
CARSHALTON ANGLING CLUB
There are some super stillwaters on the books of Carshalton. For some hectic carp and F1 sport try Orchard Place Farm, with Beaver Farm and Five Oaks also prolific. Weirwood Reservoir has some big surprises in store, as has the River Mole, where you can catch chub.
Prices: £80 annual, £40 14-17, £20 under 14
Contact: 07547 265097, www.carshaltonangling.co.uk