Fishing in Bishop's Stortford: waters near you
14 checked fisheries within 15 miles of Bishop's Stortford, plus 14 river stretches across Hertfordshire. Closest first.
The lowdown on Bishop's Stortford waters
Right then — if you're after a bite near Bishop's Stortford, here's every water we've actually checked close by. Nearest are Southern Country Park (about 1 mile), Clavering Lakes (about 8 miles) and Stanstead Abbotts Lakes (about 9 miles).
Between them you'll find carp, catfish, pike, perch, tench, bream, roach, rudd on the cards — open any venue for the lake-by-lake stock, rules and ticket prices we last checked.
Fancy running water? Hertfordshire has 14 checked river stretches with who holds the rights, how to get a ticket or club book, and live river levels. Rivers fish to their own rhythm, so check the level before you set off.
Rules, prices and access can change, so always give the fishery or club a quick shout before you go. Need bait or a hand picking rigs? Find tackle shops near Bishop's Stortford, or brush up with a free fishing course.
Map of waters near Bishop's Stortford
Every pin is a fishery we've checked. Tap one to see what's in it.
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Fisheries near Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford
Southern Country Park
Southern Country Park
Bishop's Stortford · 1 lakes on site
Southern Country Park in Hertfordshire. How you get on isn't confirmed yet. Check the access and rules before heading out.
77%Clavering Lakes
Saffron Walden · 4 lakes on site
Clavering Lakes near Saffron Walden gives you four properly different options: specimen carp, a dedicated Carp Lake, predators and mixed coarse fishing. Book ahead, pack for your chosen lake’s rules and don’t confuse overnight fishing with round-the-clock gate access.
Stanstead Abbotts
Stanstead Abbotts Lakes
Stanstead Abbotts Lakes
Stanstead Abbotts · 3 lakes on site
Stanstead Innings is a permit-only syndicate water made up of Abbotts Lake, Banjo Lake and Stock Pit. There’s proper variety here, from specimen carp on a 28-acre gravel pit to tighter two-rod waters with carp, tench, pike and silver fish.
66%Berners Hall Fishery
Ongar · 3 lakes on site
Berners Hall near Ongar gives you a proper choice of carp water: the 24-acre Res, smaller Meadow Lake and exclusive-booking Poultons. Everything needs booking and paying for in advance, so this isn’t a turn-up-and-pay job.
Birds Green Fishery
Fyfield, near Ongar · 3 lakes on site
A small, long-running three-lake day-ticket complex in the River Roding valley, originally opened in 1980 with one lake and since grown to three.
74%Rib Valley Fishing Lakes
Ware · 5 lakes on site
Rib Valley at Westmill Farm gives you a proper choice: mixed coarse lakes, seasonal fly fishing, a beginner-friendly pond and a stretch of the River Rib. Pick your water carefully — this isn't just one carp lake with a different name on each bank.
Nazeing
Nazeing Fisheries
Nazeing Fisheries
Nazeing · 4 lakes on site
Nazeing Meads is a huge Lee Valley Fisheries venue, with around 125 acres of main lagoons, proper carp potential and a cracking mix of coarse and predator fishing. It’s permit-controlled, so joining and current availability need checking before you make plans.
Hertford
Lee Navigation
Lee Navigation
Hertford · 6 lakes on site
A proper stretch of the River Lee Navigation around Hertford, Ware and Broxbourne, split into six Towpath Fishery sections. It’s mainly gentle-flowing coarse water, with roach, dace, bream, chub, perch, pike and carp on the cards.
77%Newland Hall Fishery
Chelmsford · 4 lakes on site
Newland Hall has four lakes for carp, mixed coarse and match fishing, with ordinary visits handled on a turn-up-and-fish basis. Brook offers carp advertised to 30lb+, while eight-swim Osiers is the more focused big-carp option.
Waltham Abbey
Claverhambury Carp Lakes
Claverhambury Carp Lakes
Waltham Abbey · 1 lakes on site
Claverhambury Carp Lakes in Essex. How you get on isn't confirmed yet. Check the access and rules before heading out.
77%Holyfield Lake
Waltham Abbey · 4 lakes on site
Holyfield Fisheries Carp Lakes gives you proper choice around Waltham Abbey: specimen carp in Bottom Lake, a busier all-round Top Lake, Match Lake for mixed fishing and a stretch of the relief channel. Day tickets are pre-book only, with memberships and night fishing available under the fishery’s booking rules.
Cheshunt
Cheshunt North Metropolitan Pit
Cheshunt North Metropolitan Pit
Cheshunt · 2 lakes on site
Cheshunt North Metropolitan Pit is a proper mature gravel-pit syndicate near Cheshunt and Waltham Cross. Big water, clever features and carp reportedly over 50 lb — but you’ll need membership or a season permit, not a casual day ticket.
75%Fishers Green Complex
Waltham Abbey · 6 lakes on site
Fishers Green Complex is a cracking mixed coarse venue around Waltham Abbey, with river, channel and big stillwater options inside Lee Valley Regional Park. Access is controlled by the Fishers Green Consortium through member clubs, so sort the right ticket before packing the rods.
73%Churchwood Fisheries
Brentwood · 3 lakes on site
Churchwood Fisheries near Brentwood offers three lakes on an exclusive, advance-booked basis, with carp over 30 lb advertised in Churchwood and Wels catfish in two waters. Proper mates’ session territory, but check the access and tackle rules before loading the motor.
River stretches in Hertfordshire
Towpath Fishery — River Lee Navigation, Hardmead Lock to Stanstead Lock
River Lea · Day ticket or members
A proper 1,600-metre towpath-side stretch on the River Lee Navigation, running from above Hardmead Lock to the boating-marina gate above the Broadwater at Stanstead Lock. Day tickets are available on the bank, with club members fishing free.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
Leasey Bridge Fishery — River Lea
River Lea · Members only
Leasey Bridge is a cracking little upper Lea fishery near Wheathampstead, with roughly 500 yards of shallow, intimate river and a mature backwater. Verulam Angling Club runs the stretch, with proper mixed coarse fishing and some lovely bonus fish in the backwater.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
Marford Farm — River Lea
River Lea · Members only
Marford Farm is one of Verulam Angling Club’s most popular River Lea fisheries, tucked beneath Wheathampstead about five miles north of St Albans. It’s a proper two-part stretch, with tidy pegged swims on the Short Walk and a wilder, more searching Long Walk.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
Kings Weir Weir Pool
River Lea · Day ticket
Kings Weir Weir Pool is the day-ticket section of Kings Weir Fishery on the Old River Lea in Hertfordshire. It’s a flowing, weir-affected pool with nine marked swims and some properly tasty specimen fish in it.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
Carthagena Fishery — River Lee section and weirpool
River Lea · Day ticket or members
Carthagena Fishery gives you roughly three-quarters of a mile of coarse river fishing on the River Lee, plus a proper deep weirpool and mill stream at Carthagena Lock. It’s a cracking Hertfordshire venue, particularly noted for specimen barbel, chub and bream.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
Feildes Weir — River Lea weir pool and towpath section
River Lea · Day ticket or club members
Feildes Weir is a proper mixed-coarse bit of the River Lea, with a deeper, quicker weir pool and towpath-side fishing below the lock. It’s jointly run by Ware Angling Club and Hertford Angling Club as part of the Towpath Fishery.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
Hertford Old River Lea
River Lea · Members only
Hertford Old River Lea is a narrow, winding bit of the original non-navigable Lea, with good depth after recent dredging. It’s a proper mixed coarse fishery with some bigger chub and barbel tucked around the deeper holes and overhanging branches.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
River Lea Navigation — Broxbourne to Hertford Town
River Lea · Members only
A cracking club-only run along the River Lee Navigation, stretching from Broxbourne up to Hertford Town. It’s proper coarse-fishing water, with annual River Lea Anglers Club members able to fish it as an associated club water.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
Dobbs Weir Pool — River Lee Navigation
River Lea · Day ticket or members
Dobbs Weir Pool is a popular, accessible coarse-fishing spot on the River Lee Navigation at Hoddesdon. It’s run through the Towpath Fishery by Ware Angling Club and Hertford Angling Club, with day tickets available on the bank.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
Aqueduct Fishery — River Lea at Aqueduct Lock, Turnford
River Lea · Members only
Aqueduct Fishery is a quiet, tricky little 300-yard stretch by Aqueduct Lock, Turnford. You get a mix of natural Old River Lea water and the canalised Lee Navigation, with barbel, big chub and the odd trout in the gravelly bits.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
Amwell Magna Fishery — Old River Lea between Ware and Stanstead Abbotts
River Lea · Club members
A proper bit of old-school Lea fishing between Ware and Stanstead Abbotts. Amwell Magna is a historic, members-run fly fishery with brown trout, natural channel, millstream and a cheeky bit of River Ash thrown into the mix.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
Rye House — River Lea
River Lea · Members only
Rye House is a wide, canalised River Lea/Lee Navigation stretch near Hoddesdon, run by the London Anglers Association. It’s towpath fishing with a generally slow flow, plenty of canal-style water and a cracking reputation for perch and chub around the wider Rye House area.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
Hertford to Ware Lock — Towpath Fishery Section A
River Lea · Members only
A proper varied bit of the Lee Navigation, running from Folly Bridge in Hertford through the marina and lock cut to Ware Lock. You get gentle-flowing main river for trotting, plus shallower lock-cut water with platforms, small fish and a few cheeky carp.
Checked 14 Oct 2026
Fishers Green — Old River Lea
River Lea · Members only
Fishers Green gives you a proper wild bit of the Old River Lea, run by the Fishers Green Consortium Fishing Club. Expect overhanging cover, shallow stony runs, deeper water and plenty of fish-holding swims.
Checked 14 Oct 2026