Joanne Lee fishing in the Regional Park
Introduction
The Authority currently operates 28 gravel pits and 15 stretches of river that facilitate coarse angling comprising of 22 venues, 11 directly managed by the Fisheries team and 10 run by angling clubs, societies or consortia and 1 which is jointly managed.
Background
The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority’s Fisheries are truly regional as a natural development of its eutrophic gravel pits, post aggregate extraction. These fisheries have carved a niche in a flourishing and currently most popular section of modern angling. This, coupled with the unique pioneering partnerships with the country’s major conservation bodies has pushed the Authority’s Fisheries to the forefront of sustainable, environmentally compatible, responsible specimen angling.
The unique section of Old River Lea (Sir Isaac Walton’s river) and the Lea Flood Relief Channel constitute the country’s premier Chub fishery, where we recently held the British river record for the species and is one of only four natural Barbel rivers in the United Kingdom.
The Old Lea itself is a magnet countrywide for specimen anglers. Geographically, Lee Valley Regional Park as a whole caters for all disciplines in modern freshwater angling. However, the current 22 strong fisheries (angling venues) under Authority ownership offer a diversification of specimen coarse angling that barely satisfies local catchment, M25 corridor or national needs.
Permits and Tickets
To fish in the Lee Valley Regional Park you will need to either purchase a Season Permit for the fishery you intend to visit: application forms are available by postal application only from Lee Valley Park Fisheries or where Day Ticket fishing is available: Dobbs Weir, Broxbourne Mill & Lee Navigation, tickets are sold on the bank from the LVRPA Fishery Bailiff.
For Banjo Lake you must book in advance by telephoning the Fishery Bailiff on
07908 948066.
An Environment Agency rod licence will also be needed to fish in Lee Valley Regional Park. These can be obtained from Post Offices. Permits and licences need to be available for inspection at all times when fishing in the Regional Park.
N/B All fish must be returned alive into the venue from which they are caught.
Leevalleyangling.com website
The leevalleyangling website is now no longer on-line; however all the information from that site can now be viewed at this website.
Site Information
For a comprehensive guide, Get Hooked details all the angling available in the Lee Valley Regional Park. To receive a copy call our the Fisheries Office on 01992 892291or email fisheries@leevalleypark.org.uk
Useful Contact Numbers
Environment Agency
General Enquiries: 01707 632300
Emergency: 0800 807060
Closed Season: All riverine systems continue with the mandatory close season of 15 March - 15 June inclusive. The only exception within the Regional Park is the Lea Navigation from Bow Locks to Aquaduct Lock. Therefore, from the Navigation northwards and ALL rivers, streams, flood channels are closed to any form of angling whatsoever (including Crayfish trapping). ALL gravel-pits, lakes and ponds which facilitate angling are open all year round and are therefore not included in the closures mentioned above.
Site Management
There is an ongoing programme of consolidation and improvements carried out by the Fisheries team, the Fisheries task force, Honorary Wardens and Volunteers. This takes the form of both a proactive response to the regular monitoring, bi-annual surveys, data collection and the weekly Honorary Warden reporting which collectively formulates planning for restocking, repairs and improvements to both directly managed and licenced fisheries.
Fisheries both support and actively assist in the development of the Authority’s biodiversity action plan.