Ditchford Lakes

Ditchford Lakes sits off Ditchford Road, between Rushden and Wellingborough in Northamptonshire. It’s part of the wider Ditchford Lakes and Meadows reserve, managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. A handy one to have on the radar if you fancy a quieter coarse session in a proper wetland setting, rather than a day-ticket puddle surrounded by fences.

• 1 lake: Ditchford Lakes
• Fish: carp, bream, roach, perch, pike, tench, rudd, chub
• Tickets from: Coarse-fishing day ticket, pay-on-the-bank — £6
• Find it: Wellingborough · NN10 6FT

Based on how each lake is set up — not a ranking.

Ditchford Lakes sits off Ditchford Road, between Rushden and Wellingborough in Northamptonshire. It’s part of the wider Ditchford Lakes and Meadows reserve, managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. A handy one to have on the radar if you fancy a quieter coarse session in a proper wetland setting, rather than a day-ticket puddle surrounded by fences.

The reserve covers approximately 31.1 hectares, with the lakes formed from former gravel pits. Around the water you’ll find scrub, meadows and wetland habitat, giving the place a much more open, natural feel. The lakes also sit within the Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits protected wetland landscape, so this is one for anglers who enjoy a bit of wildlife alongside the float or feeder.

Fishing is described as coarse fishing on stillwater, with access from the bank. Reported target species include carp, bream and roach, while perch, pike, tench, rudd and chub are also listed. That’s a decent mix, and gives you a few ways to build a session. Float gear could be worth having ready for roach, rudd and perch, while feeder tackle gives you options if the bream are having it. For carp, bring suitable kit rather than assuming every swim needs the same approach.

There aren’t any individual lake names or lake sizes published in the official reserve information. Fishing is associated with the lakes within the reserve, not every bit of water across the wider Nene Valley, so it pays to check exactly where fishing is allowed before lugging the barrow around. On a first visit, have a proper look at the swims, watch for signs of fish, and ask the manager which areas are currently open and fishing well.

Ticket details need a quick check before travelling. A fishing directory reports a £6 pay-on-the-bank coarse-fishing day ticket, but that price isn’t published on the Wildlife Trust page. Online booking wasn’t found, and the venue is reported as pay-on-the-bank rather than advance booking. Confirm the current price, payment arrangements and permit requirements first. The current contact number reported by a fishing directory is the fishery.

Access is reported from Ditchford Road and Ditchford Lane, with the Muddy Boot Trail providing a route from the visitor-centre area. A car park is also reported by fishing-directory information, although it’s still worth checking the access position before setting off with a mountain of kit. Pack light for a recce, take sensible bank footwear, and bring a couple of approaches so you can adapt once you’ve seen the water.

The reserve is important for breeding and wintering birds, while otters are frequent visitors. So keep everything tidy, give wildlife plenty of space and follow any site notices. Opening hours, fishing-season dates and night fishing haven’t been published in the official reserve information, so confirm those along with the current rules before clipping up.

Good background reading. Most of it is a few years old, so treat it as a starting point and ask on the day.

Videos linked by the fishery

• Our read

  Checked Sept '26 — “Ditchford Lakes is a coarse-fishing stillwater venue near Rushden and Wellingborough, set among former gravel pits in the Ditchford Lakes and Meadows reserve. A directory listing reports a £6 pay-on-the-bank day ticket, but check the details with the manager before travelling.”

This is our own summary of recurring public feedback and the venue details we checked, not a copied customer review or a promise you’ll catch. Feedback changes, so we keep it separate from the Tackle Index score.