Deepwater to Highbridge Mill

River level

The lowdown

• This is described as some of the deepest water on the upper Stour. Handy if you fancy a steadier, more settled swim rather than a pushy bit of river.
• There’s relatively little flow, so pole work is very much on the cards. A nice one for building a swim and keeping things tidy.
• The lower peg numbers may respond well to groundbaiting, whether you’re fishing the pole or feeder. Worth giving the swim a bit of time to come on.
• Feeder or tip fishing suits the calmer water. Keep it neat and don’t go mad with feed early doors — let the swim tell you what it wants.
• As you head towards Highbridge Mill and the loop, the river gets shallower. That change in depth is worth hunting, especially where the water starts to run a touch cleaner.
• Stick-float fishing can work particularly well towards the mill and loop. Find the crease, trot it through properly and keep an eye on the pace.
• The Highbridge loop pegs can produce strong fishing on suitable days. The loop itself and Highbridge Mill pool are also highlighted as worthwhile areas.
• There’s a decent mix of named river species across the club’s waters, including roach, perch, bream, chub and pike. A bit of variety, then.
• Parking for the section is at Highbridge Mill. Park responsibly, and ask one of the farmers at the mill if you’re unsure where to leave the car.
• Access is referenced by what3words at noting.attention.encrusted. The nearby village is West Stour, which is useful for getting your bearings. Fishing runs from 16 June to 15 March.

Methods: Pole fishing, feeder or tip work and stick-float fishing are the main plays. Try groundbait with the pole or feeder in the lower pegs, then look towards the mill and loop for a trot through the shallower water.

Access & tickets

River day tickets are open to anyone wishing to fish the Upper Stour stretches and cost £6 per day. Buy them through G&DAA’s online booking system; a river-only annual membership costs £40, while basic annual membership also includes the river stretches.

Fish the club names

carp, tench, bream, pike, perch, chub, roach

Named by Gillingham & District Angling Association across its waters, not for this stretch on its own.

Key rules

• A current Environment Agency rod licence is required on club waters.
• The upper-Stour river fishing season runs from 16 June to 15 March.
• Anglers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Park responsibly at Highbridge Mill.
• River day tickets are available during the course-fishing season.

Where it is