Cleeve Prior

River level

The lowdown

• BAA calls this a typical Warwickshire Avon, and it’s very much meadow water rather than a snaggy, wild-feeling stretch.
• The river has an even flow and regular depth, averaging around 6-8 feet. Handy stuff when you fancy settling into a swim and getting your bait working.
• Meadows 1-3 are reached through Cleeve Prior via Mill Lane. The BAA postcode is WR11 8JZ, with access at 52.147218, -1.884847.
• Meadows 4-8 are accessed from the B4510, using the track beside a bungalow. BAA gives WR11 8JT as the nearby postcode and 52.127389, -1.896353 for access.
• There’s scope to drive along the river bank when conditions allow, which keeps the faff down when you’re carrying a bit of kit.
• Tackle-wise, BAA recommends swimfeeder, stick float and waggler approaches. Plenty to get stuck into, depending on how the flow and fish are behaving.
• Maggots are the best bait according to BAA. Keep it simple, find a steady glide and let the regular depth do some of the hard work.
• The named species are bream, chub, roach, pike, barbel and tench, so there’s a decent mix from float fish to proper river lumps.
• There’s a local public fishing gap at Cleeve Prior No. 1, marked by two yellow signs. Don’t confuse that with the BAA Meadows 1-8 access arrangements.
• Night fishing is prohibited here. Meadows 4-8 also have a coded gate, with the code supplied on your BAA membership card.

Methods: Swimfeeder, stick float and waggler are the main recommendations, with maggots the go-to bait. Fish the steady flow and regular-depth swims, adjusting your presentation until the float or feeder starts doing the business.

Access & tickets

Get BAA membership online, by telephone or by post; the 2026 membership year runs from 1 January to 31 December. Under-13 membership is free, and night permits must be bought separately in advance from BAA headquarters.

Fish the club names

bream, chub, roach, pike, barbel, tench

Key rules

• BAA members must carry their current membership card.
• An appropriate Environment Agency rod licence is required.
• Night fishing is prohibited at Cleeve Prior.
• The Meadows 4-8 gate must not be left open or unlocked.
• Dogs, guns, camping and caravan parking are prohibited on Association property.
• Cars may be driven along the river bank when conditions allow.
• The Meadows 4-8 gate code is supplied on the BAA membership card.

Where it is