The Royce — SAC

River level

The lowdown

• The upstream limit sits above Telford Way road bridge, with the river around 6ft deep in places. The bed here is silty gravel, so there’s plenty to explore with a feeder or float.
• Brookey’s Hole is the obvious deeper feature. Salmon have historically been caught here, and it’s the sort of swim worth giving a proper look when there’s a bit of colour in the river.
• Below Telford Way bridge the river gets deeper, with bream present in quantities. A nice steady feeder approach could be bob on when the shoals are on the munch.
• Further downstream, the water breaks into shallower gravel runs. That change from deeper water to running gravel is exactly the kind of feature barbel and chub like.
• Two small streams enter the river downstream, adding a bit of extra interest and potentially a touch of colour after rain. Keep an eye on those junctions.
• The Daisybank is an overgrown section reached from Lesley Owen Way, just off Sundorne Road. It sounds like a more tucked-away bit, but access and pegs need care.
• The Bay is narrower and relatively deep, with a silt bottom. It’s linked to an old cutting from the former Shrewsbury Canal, giving this corner a bit of history as well as a different river shape.
• Downstream, the river shallows over bedrock before joining the Pimley stretch. The area can also be reached from The Coracle pub car park.
• SAC says the water has been neglected and needs sympathetic landscaping, with safe, accessible pegs still to be established. So expect a developing venue rather than a polished, peg-after-peg setup.

Methods: Feeder work looks the natural starting point in the deeper water, especially for bream, while trotting or light legering the gravel runs could put you in touch with barbel and chub. Fish the crease, the depth changes and stream mouths rather than just parking up in the first swim.

Access & tickets

You need advance Shrewsbury Anglers Club membership; day tickets aren’t available. The 2025/26 annual membership fee is £40, membership is limited to 275 anglers and a waiting list may apply. Contact the club secretary for the main car park gate code.

Fish the club names

bream, barbel, chub

Key rules

• Fishing is restricted to SAC members; no day tickets are provided.
• Carry a valid Environment Agency National Rod Licence.
• Carry your SAC membership card or permit.
• The statutory river close season applies from March 15 through June 16 inclusive.
• Rods must not be left unattended.
• Fish must be returned safely to the club waters.
• Carry and use an unhooking mat for barbel, chub, bream and pike.
• Wading is allowed, but anglers are responsible for their own safety. Fishing is at the angler’s own risk.

Where it is