Hertfordshire is one of the ‘Home Counties’ and many of its towns are considered part of London suburbia. Served by many of the major motorways in the region, Hertfordshire is home to a good number of quality fisheries and fishing clubs. Public transport is excellent in the region and even the most remote fisheries in the county are easily reached.
- Riverside Road Fishery
- Tumbling Bay Lake
- Troy Lake
- Cassiobury Farm
- Church Lake (Nash Lakes)
- Bury Lane Farm
- Gaywood Fishery
- Beggars Hall
- Rib Valley Fishing Lakes
- Grand Union Canal Section ‘C’
- Springwell Lake
- Tring Reservoirs
- Kings Weir Fishery
- Fairlands Valley Centre
- Bowyers Lake
- Turnford Complex Railway Pit
- Turnford Complex – Marsh Pit
- Turnford Complex – Lea Pit
- Turnford Complex – Boot Pit
- Stanborough Lakes Fishing
- Smallford Pit
- Shepherds Way – Brookmans Park
- Croxley Hall Fisheries
- Redrick Lakes
- Pixies Mere
- Moor Mill Pits
- Marford Farm – River Lee
- Lowbell Lane
- Jack’s Lake
- Holwell Court Lake
- Frogmore Lake
- Brooke Lake Carthagena Fishery
- Willows Lakes
- Batchworth Lake
- Amwell Lakes
- Aldenham Country Park Reservoir
- Admirals Walk
One of the oldest fishing clubs in the UK is Watford Piscators which has been in existence since 1885. The club manages waters in and around the attractive Colne Valley through which the river of that name and the Grand Union Canal both run. Among the four lakes is Castle Lake, a shallow lake that occupies the site of an old gravel works. Carp in the water reach 30lbs and more, while trench and bream up to 10lbs are often caught along with many other coarse fish.
Welwyn Garden City Angling Club has 500 members and manages three lakes in Welwyn Garden City, one in Stevenage, and another in nearby Colney Heath. Stanborough Lake has a good head of carp up to 30lbs, while recent catches on Holwell Hide Lake include catfish up to 58lbs.
Located near to Stevenage, the invitation-only Priory Angling Club keeps its membership small and has three waters under its management. The main is Weston which is a private estate lake holding carp of up to 20lbs and other coarse fish.
Among the premier fisheries in Hertfordshire is Rib Valley Fishing Lakes which is close to the attractive town of Ware. The fishery hosts a number of lakes and a stretch of the River Rib and is known for good-sized carp and also barbel, chub, and pike. There is a well-stocked tackle shop within the facility.
Popular with locals and anglers from further afield is Coots Corner Fishery where two picturesque lakes are easily reached from the town of Hitchin. With overhanging trees the lakes are a delight to fish, and are stocked with a good head of various carp plus bream, roach, and more coarse species. Disabled anglers are catered for, and facilities include a café, full toilet amenities, and parking on site.
Carthagena Fishery can be found in the beautiful Lee Valley and is well-known for specimen carp of more than 30lbs. with a selection of lakes, river stretches, and weir pools there is plenty of variety here. Although no food outlet is on site there are details of local takeaways that will deliver to the entrance.
Carp Fishing in Hertfordshire
Carp Fishing is a popular choice at Hertfordshire fisheries and there are many such facilities in a range of easy to reach and often surprisingly tranquil settings. One of the most popular is Albans Lakes which is easy to reach from the A414 orbital road. With three lakes to choose from in a lovely setting it is regarded as among the best fisheries in the county.
The 12-acre Farm Lake is favoured by experienced anglers who are looking for a challenge and is stocked with over 700 carp with at least three over 30lbs and many in the 20’s. the bigger Willows Lake holds more than 7000 carp with some in excess of 30lbs and an average of 12lbs, while Match Lake has a good head of smaller carp and silverfish.
Nash Lakes, near the town of Royston, is a recent addition to the fishery world and offers two lakes with excellent fishing opportunities. Having been extensively developed this is a facility that offers carp of close to 40lbs in pleasant and accessible surroundings. Hook Lake, a short drive from Potters Bar, is a carp syndicate fishery with a restricted membership of just 25 people. This tranquil spot is perfect for carp fishing with a lake record of over 34lbs.
Croxley Hall Fisheries is located on the estate of the same name and is home to six fishing lakes, each of which is well-stocked. Croxley Hall Lake is considered the best of the six and is an 8-acre former gravel pit. This beautiful lake lined with mature trees has been fished for 45 years and is still home to some of the original carp. Carp stocked at 7lbs in 2004 are now between 30lbs and a 47lbs, with an average weight of 29lbs. Syndicates are available on some of the Croxley Hall lakes.
Pike Fishing in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is home to various locations ideal for pike fishing, with perhaps the best being the River Colne. At North Bushey near Watford one can fish for free in the river where the challenge of catching pike, chub, perch, and roach is enjoyed by newcomers and experienced anglers together.
Tring Reservoirs is a collection of four reservoirs – Startops End, Marsworth, Wilstone, and Tringford – close to the town of Tring on the border with Buckinghamshire. They were built to feed the Grand Union Canal and they now form a fishery that is ideal for pike fishing. Membership of Tring Anglers allows for fishing on three of the waters, with Tringford being a separate trout fishery. The club also manages stretches of the Grand Union Canal and the River Thame, and sizeable pike plus other coarse fish have been landed at all.
Fly Fishing in Hertfordshire
The bustling towns of Hertfordshire give way to many idyllic spots where fisheries have been established, and the county is also home to rivers that are known for fly fishing opportunities. Latchford Flyfishers is a fishery close to the town of Ware that sits in a beautiful spot in the Rib Valley. The members only club manages a small lake which is stocked with rainbow and brown trout, as well as a stretch of the River Rib.
Redbournbury Fishery is a very pretty spot to enjoy fly fishing on two well-stocked lakes plus a stretch of river, with carp of up to 22lbs in the Coarse Lake which is a day ticket fishing lake. Panshanger Anglers is a syndicate fishing club with access to three lakes on picturesque Panshanger Park, plus an idyllic stretch of the River Mimram. The main catches are brown and rainbow trout plus grayling.
Fishing Clubs
| Name | Address | Website | FB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkhamsted & District Angling Society | 1 South Park Gardens Berkhamsted Hertfordshire HP4 1JA | Website | FB |
| Boxmoor & District Angling Society | 41 Crofts Path Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire HP3 8HB UK | Website | FB |
| Gerrards Cross and Uxbridge District Angling Society | 41 Lytham Avenue South Oxhey Hertfordshire WD19 6XA UK | Website | FB |
| Letchworth Garden City Angling Association | Letchworth Hertfordshire UK | Website | FB |
| The Tring Anglers | c/o Tring Cricket Club, London Road, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 6HA UK | Website | FB |