Roden's Hall Beat

River level

The lowdown

• The beat starts roughly half a mile above the car park, with the upstream boundary marked by a fence line meeting the river on a sharp 90-degree bend.
• There’s loads of variety here. The river winds through numerous twists and turns, so expect different water from one swim to the next.
• Eel Cottage Pool is the key upper-section feature. As the river straightens, it carries around 2–3 feet of water and is described as good fly water.
• The bed around Eel Cottage is hard gravel and easily waded. Bob on for covering the water with a fly, while still keeping a sensible eye on the flow.
• Sea-trout are known to hold in the Eel Cottage water. Salmon lie particularly near the upstream end of the wall on the far bank, so don’t ignore that crease.
• There’s a useful mix of shallow, wadeable gravel and deeper salmon-holding water. That gives the beat plenty of character rather than one repetitive run.
• The setting is properly rural, with meadows, woodland and farm access around the water. It should feel nicely tucked away once you’re on the beat.
• The twisty layout means it’s worth taking your time. Work the obvious holding spots, then keep moving and looking for the next depth change or crease.
• The car park serves the beat, but the access track may need a four-wheel-drive vehicle in winter. Worth checking the conditions before a wet-weather visit.
• We're not sure on ticket prices for this one — check with the club or local regulations before you leave.

Methods: Fly fishing suits the good water around Eel Cottage, while salmon and sea-trout anglers should cover the deeper lies and the crease near the far-bank wall. Wade the hard gravel carefully and fish the bends, glides and deeper holding water methodically.

Access & tickets

Roden’s Hall is primarily members’ water. BODSA’s visitor page limits public visitors to Beat 1, and no separate public day-ticket price is published for Roden’s Hall.

Fish the club names

trout, chub, barbel, pike, perch

Key rules

• Members must hold a current Environment Agency rod licence.
• BODSA members must carry their membership cards while fishing.
• Junior members must be accompanied by an adult member.
• Fishing is at the angler’s own risk.
• Night fishing is prohibited on BODSA waters.
• Handle fish carefully and return them quickly.
• Observe the Environment Agency river close season for coarse fish.
• Salmonoid species may not be fished during the stated coarse-fish close season.

Where it is