RIVER HOTSPOTS FOR QUICK HITS OF CHUB AND BARBEL!
Short on time? Head to one of these gems for some great sport when you’ve got just a few hours to spare
RIVER WHARFE, TADCASTER, WEST YORKS
Access is great here as you can park next to the river in the main car park over the bridge. There are loads of chub and barbel on the day-ticket stretch of the left bank below the bridge. Tickets available from the Old Chocolate Box sweet shop. Price: £2.50 in advance Contact: 01937 833262
RIVER SWALE, HELPERBY, NORTH YORKS
The village stretch run by Helperby and Brafferton AC offers parking close to the river. There are plenty of chub to be had on the float during the day, while evening sessions are best for the barbel. Price: £5 from dayticket.co.uk Contact: 01904 411210
RIVER DANE, MIDDLEWICH, CHESHIRE
The Dane offers brilliant small-river chub fishing in idyllic surroundings.
Take a float rod or a small link leger set-up and wander the banks for a few hours around Byley Bridge. You’ll need to have your wits about you as the fish, averaging 4lb, will make a beeline for nearby snags! Price: £5 in advance Contact: 01606 833853
RIVER TRENT, BOB’S ISLAND, NEWARK-ON-TRENT, NOTTS
A popular spot where a section of the Trent branches off and narrows around the island. Large barbel get caught here every season and, as there is no need to book, you can just turn up, pay your money and fish! Decent chub are also present. Price: £10 day ticket Contact: 01636 612654
RIVER LEA, KINGS WEIR, HERTFORDSHIRE
This prolific fishery has produced some monster chub and still offers a live chance of a seven-pounder during a short session. Floatfishing maggots or legering pellets or boilies works, but spend a bit of time feeding before casting out to get the fish competing. Big barbel are also on the cards.
Price: £12 day ticket Contact: 01992 468394
RIVER SEVERN, ARLEY, WORCESTERSHIRE
A fine stretch of river controlled by Birmingham AA, and especially productive on the float. Grab a few hours and take to the water in your waders with a pouch of pellets, or a bucket of hemp and casters.
Price: £40 annual BAA book Contact: 01562 882116
RIVER WYE, ROSS-ON-WYE, HEREFORDSHIRE
Try the day-ticket water in Riverside Park, running down to the meadow below Wilton Bridge. Rolling or legering meat and pellets are both good methods for targeting the barbel in the few hours before dusk. Price: £10 from Fishers Tackle Contact: 01989 218080
HAMPSHIRE AVON, ROYALTY FISHERY, DORSET
Find some fast, well-oxygenated water and the fish won’t be far away on this day-ticket fishery, which has played host to all the angling greats down the years. Tickets available every morning from 7.30am at Davis Tackle in Christchurch.
Price: £14 day ticket Contact: 01202 485169