River guide
River Lea in Hertfordshire
12 checked stretches so far — day tickets, club waters and guest tickets, each checked against the club's own pages.
The lowdown
The River Lee Navigation through Hertfordshire has a proper navigational-water feel, with towpaths, locks, boating features and broader sections such as the water above Stanstead Lock. Around this stretch, the character runs from Hardmead Lock through to the boating-marina gate and Broadwater area.
For anglers, it’s coarse-fishing water with a useful mix of habitat. The club names carp, large pike, bream, tench, perch, chub, roach, dace, bleak and gudgeon across the fishery, giving the navigation a varied cast of characters rather than a one-species game.
Close season reminder
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 fishStretches
12 of 12 checked stretches. No rankings — we don't know which is "best" on your day, and neither does anyone else.
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
Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.
Access & tickets
Day ticket
Towpath Fishery, managed by Ware Angling Club and Hertford Angling Club
Available on the bank.
Covers: Towpath Fishery — River Lee Navigation, Hardmead Lock to Stanstead Lock
Club membership
Towpath Fishery, managed by Ware Angling Club and Hertford Angling Club
Members of Ware Angling Club and Hertford Angling Club fish the Towpath Fishery free of charge.
Covers: Towpath Fishery — River Lee Navigation, Hardmead Lock to Stanstead Lock
2025-26 adult new-member subscription
Verulam Angling Club
Verulam Angling Club standard membership, required for River Lea fisheries, plus £45 entrance/gate fee
£125 subscription; £170 total including entrance/gate fee (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: Leasey Bridge Fishery — River Lea
2025-26 junior subscription
Verulam Angling Club
Verulam Angling Club junior membership
£35 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: Leasey Bridge Fishery — River Lea
Guest ticket
Verulam Angling Club
Available only on eligible fisheries; check with the club before relying on guest access
£10 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: Leasey Bridge Fishery — River Lea
Verulam Angling Club membership
Verulam Angling Club
Required to fish Marford Farm. New members wishing to fish the stretch must complete the club’s induction.
Covers: Marford Farm — River Lea
Weir pool day ticket
Kings Weir Fishery
Kings Weir Weir Pool day ticket
£18 per day (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: Kings Weir Weir Pool
Full weir-pool booking
Kings Weir Fishery
Full weir-pool booking
£110 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: Kings Weir Weir Pool
River Lee day ticket
Carthagena Fishery
Available from the riverbank or the on-site shop.
Covers: Carthagena Fishery — River Lee section and weirpool
Weirpool season ticket
Carthagena Fishery
Season ticket for the weirpool.
£45 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: Carthagena Fishery — River Lee section and weirpool
Weirpool season ticket concession
Carthagena Fishery
Concession price for the weirpool season ticket.
£40 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: Carthagena Fishery — River Lee section and weirpool
Day ticket
Ware Angling Club and Hertford Angling Club
Available on the bank according to the managing clubs’ official information.
Covers: Feildes Weir — River Lea weir pool and towpath section
Club membership
Ware Angling Club and Hertford Angling Club
Club members fish under the applicable Ware Angling Club or Hertford Angling Club arrangements.
Covers: Feildes Weir — River Lea weir pool and towpath section
Environment Agency rod licence
Ware Angling Club and Hertford Angling Club
Required in addition to the local fishing permit.
Covers: Feildes Weir — River Lea weir pool and towpath section
The London Anglers Association standard season membership
The London Anglers’ Association
Membership covers the Association’s waters except Britford. Required for this non-public-access fishery.
£68 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: Hertford Old River Lea
Environment Agency rod licence
The London Anglers’ Association
Required in addition to the Association membership.
Covers: Hertford Old River Lea
Annual River Lea Anglers Club membership
River Lea Anglers Club
Includes fishing this associated water and other associated club waters. Members must carry a current club membership card.
Covers: River Lea Navigation — Broxbourne to Hertford Town
Environment Agency rod licence
River Lea Anglers Club
Required for anglers aged 13 and over.
Covers: River Lea Navigation — Broxbourne to Hertford Town
Day ticket
Towpath Fishery, managed by Ware Angling Club and Hertford Angling Club
Available on the bank.
Covers: Dobbs Weir Pool — River Lee Navigation
Managing club membership
Towpath Fishery, managed by Ware Angling Club and Hertford Angling Club
Members of Ware Angling Club or Hertford Angling Club fish without an additional day-ticket charge.
Covers: Dobbs Weir Pool — River Lee Navigation
London Anglers’ Association membership
The London Anglers’ Association
Required for all visitors to this non-public-access fishery.
Covers: Aqueduct Fishery — River Lea at Aqueduct Lock, Turnford
Environment Agency rod licence
The London Anglers’ Association
Anglers must obtain their own licence.
Covers: Aqueduct Fishery — River Lea at Aqueduct Lock, Turnford
Club membership
Amwell Magna Fishery
Membership enquiry via Amwell Magna Fishery; public day-ticket booking is not provided on the checked website.
Covers: Amwell Magna Fishery — Old River Lea between Ware and Stanstead Abbotts
LAA membership
London Anglers Association
Required to fish the Association’s non-public-access fisheries, including this stretch.
Covers: Rye House — River Lea
Environment Agency rod licence
London Anglers Association
A valid licence is required in addition to LAA membership.
Covers: Rye House — River Lea
Species
We only tag a stretch with a fish when the club names it. Some clubs name fish across all their water rather than stretch by stretch — those are flagged on the card.
| Stretch | Carp | Tench | Bream | Roach | Pike | Perch | Barbel | Trout | Rudd | Chub | Eel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Towpath Fishery — River Lee Navigation, Hardmead Lock to Stanstead Lock | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||
| Leasey Bridge Fishery — River Lea | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||
| Marford Farm — River Lea | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||
| Kings Weir Weir Pool | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||
| Carthagena Fishery — River Lee section and weirpool | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||
| Feildes Weir — River Lea weir pool and towpath section | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | |||
| Hertford Old River Lea | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||
| River Lea Navigation — Broxbourne to Hertford Town | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | |||
| Dobbs Weir Pool — River Lee Navigation | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||
| Aqueduct Fishery — River Lea at Aqueduct Lock, Turnford | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||
| Amwell Magna Fishery — Old River Lea between Ware and Stanstead Abbotts | ● | ||||||||||
| Rye House — River Lea | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
● named by the club for this stretch · ●* named across the club's waters · blank = not named (not "absent").
Rules — who runs what
Towpath Fishery, managed by Ware Angling Club and Hertford Angling Club
Day tickets are available on the bank. Club members of Ware Angling Club and Hertford Angling Club fish the Towpath Fishery free of charge.
Club pageApply through Verulam Angling Club’s 2026–27 new-member form; the published membership season is June 16, 2026 to June 15, 2027, subject to availability. Members arranging guest tickets online must allow at least 48 hours for processing, payment and membership verification; more than one guest ticket per member is permitted on the Great Ouse.
Club pageKings Weir Fishery
The weir pool is the day-ticket section of Kings Weir Fishery. The official price page lists a day ticket at £18, with a full weir-pool booking listed at £110.
Carthagena Fishery
River Lee day tickets are available from the riverbank or the on-site shop. Weirpool fishing is by season ticket, listed at £45, with £40 concessions.
Ware Angling Club and Hertford Angling Club
Day tickets are available on the bank according to the managing clubs’ official information. Club members fish under the applicable Ware Angling Club or Hertford Angling Club arrangements; the current day-ticket price is not published.
Club pageThe London Anglers’ Association
You’ll need London Anglers’ Association membership to fish Roxton A; the holder’s handbook lists no day tickets here. Check with the association for the current membership price and joining arrangements.
Club pageAccess is included for anglers with an annual River Lea Anglers Club subscription. The official site does not advertise a separate day ticket for this stretch, and annual membership also includes other associated club waters.
Club pageThe rights holder’s public website provides membership-enquiry information rather than public day-ticket booking. Contact Amwell Magna Fishery through its membership enquiry route for current access details.
Club pageJoin through London Anglers Association and allow at least five working days after ordering: you must have your membership ticket before fishing. Membership access is advertised for Appleford, rather than a day-ticket offer.
Club pageFished the river recently?
Pick the stretch you fished and add a 20-second update there — one stretch at a time keeps it useful.
Each stretch page lists its own key rules. You'll need an Environment Agency rod licence on all of them.
River levels
Measured readings straight from the Environment Agency. These are the nearest gauges we've matched — not readings from the stretches themselves.
No Environment Agency gauge matched on this river near these stretches yet.
Tips & reports
Our take (editorial, not club advice): on any decent-sized river, a lead that holds bottom without dragging is half the battle — go up in weight before you go up in bait. A bit of extra colour after rain often brings barbel and bream closer in, but a fast-rising, debris-filled river is dangerous; if in doubt, don't. Weather tools built for still lakes don't translate neatly to rivers, so we haven't bolted a lake-style weather score on here.
No angler reports on these stretches yet — we'll only show real ones once our moderated river reports are live.
Where this comes from · checked 9 Oct 2026
- GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fish
- Towpath Fishery, managed by Ware Angling Club and Hertford Angling Club — home (ware-angling-club.com)
- Verulam Angling Club — radwell (verulam-angling.co.uk)
- Kings Weir Fishery — home (kingsweir.co.uk)
- Carthagena Fishery — home (carthagenafishery.co.uk)
- Ware Angling Club and Hertford Angling Club — home (ware-angling-club.com)
- The London Anglers’ Association — river great ouse (londonanglers.co.uk)
- River Lea Anglers Club — river lea ac (riverleaac.wixsite.com)
- Amwell Magna Fishery — home (amwellmagnafishery.org)
- London Anglers Association — appleford (londonanglers.co.uk)
Rules, prices and ticket availability change — the rights holder's own page always wins.