River Stour

For hundreds of years the Kentish Stour has been widely acknowledged for its quality fishing. In bygone days it was mainly famous for its Fordwich trout, but today anglers visit to fish one of the most prolific waters in the south east of England. In recent times bags of over 100lb have been taken, and specimen fish are frequently landed.

 

CDAA members can catch bream of over 7lb, rudd of 2lb 8oz, carp to 14lb, pike to 28lb, and 6lb plus tench, these are just a few of the species attractive to anglers. Other species caught throughout the season include chub, barbel, gudgeon, dace, and eels and there is an annual run of sea trout, what more could an angler wish for?

 

The Association provides nine miles of fishing from Fordwich to Plucks Gutter on both banks, with car parking at several points.

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Fly Fishing

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The river upstream from the Fordwich Bridge is reserved for CDAA Fly Section members. The section is restricted to section members only. Members interested in joining should understand that they might have to go on a waiting list.

The stretch downstream to the site of the old Bailey Bridge from the Fordwich Lake car park and both banks are open to all members for fly fishing from the 3rd of April until the end of the season in October. In addition, from the 1st July this section of the river is open for coarse fishing.

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North Bank

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You can access the north bank from Fordwich village from the footpath that goes down to canoe wild.

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There is a Car park at Walnut Tree Lane, Westbere, where the Association owns a car park. From here anglers can walk via a fenced in footpath across the railway and down to the river and then downstream as far as the gaps at Chislet lagoons.

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Fordwich Lake Complex 

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When you access the Fordwich Complex you can fish the River Stour from the car park up towards the end of Stour Lake. From the Fordwich carpark you will see there is a disabled swim that you first come to. As you walk though the gate next to the dip tank you will see a grass embankment follow that down till you find then opening that allow you up to the edge of the river. follow that down you will see pegs marked out till you get behind the trout pool and up to Stour lake, once you get level with Stour lake the pegs become more spread out as you go down stream. The river access from the Fordwich copmplex ends at the end of Stour Lake. 

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Grove Ferry

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There is pay car parking on the South bank of the river at Grove Ferry, giving access to both banks up and downstream. On the south bank there is also access by footpath from Stodmarsh village along the Lampen Wall. There is limited parking on the North bank from Oct. 1st.

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Cut End

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At Cut End, between Upstreet and Sarre, there is limited roadside parking in a lay-by as well as in the CDAA car park down the track that leads to the river. The car park is situated just before the level crossing. This track also provides access to the fishing at Blood Point, a sharp bend in the river upstream from Cut End that has produced some large bags of bream and roach.

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Plucks Gutter

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Plucks Gutter is a popular summer venue, with car parking opposite the Dog and Duck, and at the roadside. The fishery extends downstream on the north bank as far as the second dyke.