Willington Lock / Great Ouse at Willington
Willington Lock is a proper broad, deep and steady bit of the Great Ouse, run by Vauxhall Angling Club. It’s navigable water, with roach, tench, bream, carp and barbel all in the picture.
Run by Vauxhall Angling Club · checked 10 Oct 2026 · boundaries only partly described by the club
River Great Ouse
Willington Lock / Great Ouse at Willington
Our river artwork — photos for this stretch are on the way
River level
Measured — Environment Agency
Castle Mill gauge
Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.
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We don't publish an "ideal level" — nobody can promise one. Flood water is dangerous: if it's up and coloured, stay well back from the edge. Open River Ready
The lowdown
- This is a deeper, wider and slower-flowing length than you’ll find on some river stretches. Nice steady water for settling a float or feeder.
- Roach are the main daytime target. Hemp and tares get a specific mention, with pole and float-rod tactics both bang on.
- Tench, bream and carp are usually picked up on leger tactics. Keep it simple and fish patiently around the quieter-looking areas.
- There are some decent fish about. Carp to 22 lb, tench to 6 lb and bream to 9 lb have been caught on the water.
- Barbel are beginning to appear too, so there’s a cheeky extra option if you fancy fishing a more powerful line.
- Weed isn’t usually a problem on this length, which should make presenting a bait a fair bit less of a faff.
- The river is navigable, so boat traffic runs throughout the summer. Expect the swim to change as boats come through and keep an eye on your float and lines.
- Car parking is available on site. Park by the fenceline, as instructed by the club.
- Take extreme care when crossing the bridleway. That’s the bit not to rush, especially with all your tackle.
- The club provides an image and map/plan for the Willington water, handy for getting your bearings before settling into a swim.
Methods: For roach, try hemp and tares on the pole or float rod through the day. For tench, bream and carp, leger tactics are the club’s stated approach, with the slower flow giving you a nice steady presentation.
Access & tickets
Adult membership 2026/27
Vauxhall Angling Club membership. Includes the standard adult membership.
£100 (as listed 10 Oct 2026 — check before you go)
Adult membership with third rod 2026/27
Adult membership with a third rod.
£125 (as listed 10 Oct 2026 — check before you go)
Concessionary memberships
Senior citizen membership for anglers over 65: £70. Disabled membership with an EA concessionary licence: £70. Junior membership for ages 10 to 18, subject to the club's stated age condition: £25.
£70 senior citizen; £70 disabled; £25 junior (as listed 10 Oct 2026 — check before you go)
Apply for annual Vauxhall Angling Club membership through Clubmate via the club’s membership page. Have a head-and-shoulders photo, your full address and rod-licence number ready.
Fish the club names
carp, tench, bream, roach, barbel
Key rules
- Use extreme caution when crossing the bridleway.
- Park by the fenceline.
- The water is navigable, with boat traffic throughout the summer.
Coarse fishing on English rivers is closed from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. That's the law for coarse fish on rivers — it's not a club rule, and game-fishing seasons work differently.
GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fishWhere it is
Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.
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