Fishing in Hemel Hempstead: waters near you
10 checked fisheries within 15 miles of Hemel Hempstead, plus 12 river stretches across Hertfordshire. Closest first.
The lowdown on Hemel Hempstead waters
Right then — if you're after a bite near Hemel Hempstead, here's every water we've actually checked close by. Nearest are Grand Union Canal – Hemel Hempstead Stretch (about 1 mile), Redbournbury Fishery (about 5 miles) and Grand Union Canal – Watford Stretch (about 6 miles).
Between them you'll find carp, bream, roach, barbel, chub, tench, perch, pike on the cards — open any venue for the lake-by-lake stock, rules and ticket prices we last checked.
Fancy running water? Hertfordshire has 12 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 Hemel Hempstead, or brush up with a free fishing course.
Map of waters near Hemel Hempstead
Every pin is a fishery we've checked. Tap one to see what's in it.
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Fisheries near Hemel Hempstead
62%Grand Union Canal – Hemel Hempstead Stretch
Hemel Hempstead · 1 lakes on site
A proper canal venue through Hemel Hempstead and Boxmoor, with roach, bream, chub, gudgeon, some barbel and bonus carp in the mix. It’s towpath fishing with a published £4 day ticket, but association permission and current access details are worth checking before setting off.
59%Redbournbury Fishery
St Albans · 3 lakes on site
Redbournbury offers mixed coarse fishing, trout and advertised pike fishing near St Albans, with no membership needed for day tickets. There’s a fair bit to clear up before loading the car, though: current prices, booking arrangements and predator rules all need a call.
73%Grand Union Canal – Watford Stretch
Watford · 5 lakes on site
A cracking six-mile run of the Grand Union Canal between Watford and Rickmansworth, with several club-controlled pounds and a proper mix of bream, carp, chub, perch and roach. Park, Dickinsons and Croxley Moor offer day tickets, while Evans is members-only.
71%Albans Lakes
St Albans · 3 lakes on site
Albans Lakes has three mature gravel pits, with mixed coarse fishing on Willows, a tougher carp challenge on Farm and a beginner-friendly Match Lake. There’s night fishing too, but check the closing time and temporary closures before loading the motor.
71%Tring Reservoirs
Tring · 4 lakes on site
Four reservoirs, two very different ways to fish: coarse angling on Wilstone, Startops End and Marsworth, plus separately booked trout fishing at Tringford. Big heads-up: Wilstone is listed as closed for major repairs from 1 May 2025, so check before travelling.
72%Stanborough Lake
Welwyn Garden City · 2 lakes on site
Stanborough’s 16-acre South Lake offers mixed coarse fishing and carp advertised to 35 lb, with day tickets and pre-booked nights. It’s a shared watersports lake, though, and the neighbouring North Lake is strictly off limits for fishing.
76%Stanborough Lakes
Welwyn Garden City · 2 lakes on site
Stanborough Lakes is a proper 16-acre South Lake day-ticket coarse fishery in Welwyn Garden City, with carp to a reported 35 lb and a useful mix of bream, tench, pike and silver fish. Night fishing is available, but it must be booked with the head bailiff.
76%Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal
Aylesbury · 4 lakes on site
A cracking 6.25-mile canal stretch between Aylesbury and Marsworth, controlled by The Tring Anglers and best known for its carp fishing. It offers a proper mix of canal species, far-bank features and reed-lined margins, with day tickets starting at £5.
77%Grand Union Canal – Aylesbury Arm Stretch
Aylesbury · 5 lakes on site
A proper canal stretch with plenty of water to explore, useful access points and a cracking mix of carp, bream, tench and silvers. Day tickets cover the Aylesbury Arm, with fishing from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset.
68%Holwell Hyde Lake
Welwyn Garden City · 1 lakes on site
Holwell Hyde is a day-ticket carp and mixed coarse lake in Welwyn Garden City, with club-listed carp to 32lb and plenty beyond carp to think about. Nights need booking, and don’t mix it up with members-only Holwell Court.
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