Fordwich Complex – River Great Stour

River level

The lowdown

• Access is from Fordwich car park, with the fishing running upstream towards Stour Lake. The river access finishes at the downstream end of the lake.
• The first swim from the car park is a disabled peg, and the river pegs are marked along the grass embankment. Nice and straightforward, without loads of faff finding the bank.
• CDAA describes the wider river as one of the most prolific waters in south-east England. Occasional bags over 100 lb have been reported, so there’s plenty going on when the fish are on the munch.
• This is a proper mixed bag water. Bream, rudd, carp, pike, tench, chub, barbel, gudgeon, dace and eels are all named across the fishery.
• There are some cracking reported sizes too: bream over 7 lb, rudd to 2 lb 8 oz, carp to 14 lb, pike to 28 lb and tench over 6 lb.
• For coarse anglers, the downstream section from Fordwich Lake car park to the old Bailey Bridge becomes available from 1 July. That’s the bit to keep in mind for summer feeder, float and general mixed-fish tactics.
• Fly fishing has its own access arrangements. The downstream section is open to CDAA members from 3 April until the end of the season in October, while the river above Fordwich Bridge is reserved for CDAA Fly Section members.
• An annual run of sea trout is reported, adding a bit of extra interest. Keep things tidy, especially as the river sits within an SSSI and Ramsar site, and avoid damaging wildlife or natural vegetation.

Methods: For the coarse season, float fishing and feeder work are the obvious starting points, with the river’s mixed stock giving you plenty to aim at. Fly fishing is available on the stated sections and dates, with sea trout adding seasonal interest.

Access & tickets

Plucks Gutter is CDAA association-members water rather than a published public day-ticket stretch. For 2026/27, the adult two-rod subscription is £184 plus a £75 first-year entrance fee for new adult members; juniors pay £50 plus a £10 first-year entrance fee.

Fish the club names

bream, rudd, carp, pike, tench, chub, barbel, eel, trout

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

Key rules

• Members-only association water; no public day tickets are advertised for this stretch.
• The upstream river section above Fordwich Bridge is reserved for CDAA Fly Section members.
• The downstream section from Fordwich Lake car park to the old Bailey Bridge is open to CDAA members for fly fishing from 3 April until the end of the season in October.
• The downstream section becomes available for coarse fishing from 1 July.
• A valid Environment Agency rod licence is required, including for juniors over 12.
• Anglers must avoid damaging wildlife and natural vegetation because the river lies within an SSSI and Ramsar site.
• Most CDAA car parks are gated and locked; a key costs £20.

Where it is