© 2020-2025 Warrington Anglers Association. All rights reserved.
Access to this water is for Members Only
This is a former commercial fishery on farmland near to Arley Hall.
There are two ponds on site: a ‘figure of 8’ lake and a small, deep horseshoe-shaped pit surrounded by mature trees.
The Figure of 8 pond is quite weedy and there are around a dozen pegs to fish from. This pond is shallow at generally 3 to 5 feet deep. The pond contains good numbers of small tench, crucian carp, roach and rudd. These are easy to catch on simple pole or float rod tactics using maggots or bread for bait. It is worth taking a weed rake to rake your swim, as this will clear the canadian pondweed, and induce the fish to feed.
There are also some large ghost carp that can be seen cruising around, these can be caught on floating baits or sweetcorn / luncheon meat. Use adequate tackle though, because they head straight for the weed when hooked.
The second pond is behind the main pond, through a gate and across the field to the group of trees ahead. Please keep the gate closed to keep the sheep out. There are 5-6 available pegs, but the water is very deep so children should be accompanied. Stocks are roach, perch, bream and carp to around 8lbs. Maggots and bread work well on this pond.
What3words :
gate - ///gathers.walked.neater
parking - ///toggle.chuck.asking
lake - ///backers.typed.dreamer
Access to this water is strictly Members Only
This site is an Association-owned former sand quarry, situated next to the Manchester Ship Canal near to the village of Moore, 2 miles west of Warrington. The water is very clear and there is a huge depth range (over 40 feet in places).
The Quarry is one of our flagship specimen fisheries. Don’t be fooled though, this is not a ‘runs’ water. Fishing can be challenging. The fish here are old and wily, and to catch them requires patience and watercraft. You will not catch on every visit.
The principle stock of fish in this lake is specimen carp, bream, tench plus odd pike. Roach and perch are also present. The carp reach over 30lbs, with commons, mirrors, and grass carp present. Bream and tench, although not numerous, both reach into double figures, making this one of the best specimen waters in the North West.
The high banks and very deep water make this a potentially dangerous place. Juniors may only fish here if accompanied by an adult member, and wading is not allowed. There is a secure club car park on the fishery. The gate must be kept locked at all times.
Night fishing is limited to 2 nights only. Anglers must only use the swims provided, any member found interfering with the flora and fauna at this site will be dealt with severely.
Access to the water is strictly for members-only.
This small mature lake is located off Pool Lane, accessed from Star Lane, Statham, near Lymm. The water is flanked by mature trees down one bank, and properties on the other. Depths range from 3-9 feet. The outfall at the roadside end of the pool connects to the Manchester Ship Canal, and this can back up during periods of heavy rainfall, which can flood some of the fishing pegs.
There is a wide variety of species present here, including roach, perch, tench, crucian carp, common carp, bream, pike and eels.
What3words : lake - ///beep.cocktail.gathers
"The Mount" is former quarry, situated off Drury Lane, Buckley. It is a pleasant fishery for the pleasure or specimen angler, surrounded by mature trees.
There is a main lake, along with a connected and weedier ‘back pool’.
The main lake is home to carp, tench, roach, perch, rudd and crucians. Access to the fishery is via a secure car park requiring a club key.
What3words : gate ///mason.figs.scatters
Wide Hole is a wide basin on the off-side of the Macclesfield Canal, at Poynton. The water and the field adjacent is owned by the Association.
Fish congregate here at certain times of the year to spawn and take refuge. It provides good fishing for bream, roach, and pike in winter.
There is a WAA gated parking at the top of the hill over the cattle grid. Access the fishery by the gate on the right, just over the cattle grid.
There are approximately a dozen comfortable fishing pegs. Fishing is best done with pole, waggler or swimfeeder. Pike can be caught on small deadbaits or lures.
What3words :
gate - ///youngest.charging.headless
water - ///caressed.scrapped.amends
This is a members-only water. There is no access to the general public.
This Association-owned water is a small shallow reservoir at Aspull, near Wigan. Woodshaw Reservoir is famed for it’s quality tench and crucian fishing. Fishing is easy with a uniform depth of 3.5 feet and no need to cast more than a foot away from the reeds. Mornings and evenings are best for the tench and crucians. In the daytime, fish a maggot in the open water for endless bites from roach and skimmers. There are no mirror or common carp present, and the club intends to keep it that way to preserve the unique, and very popular crucian fishing that Woodshaw offers.
There are 30 dedicated fishing platforms, each fringed with marginal reeds. The water has a dedicated, secure car park (club key needed) with toilet. The access to the water is ramped, so should be suitable for wheelchair users. Our local group of dedicated bailiffs patrol the water daily, and keep the swims and paths in top condition. Keepnets are not allowed.
What3words : parking - ///bikes.format.slowly
Worthington lakes comprises 3 water supply reservoirs, at Standish, near Wigan.
The 2 lakes that are fished most, Arley Reservoir and Worthington Reservoir, contain a variety of species, notably roach, bream, perch, tench and carp.
WAA members can fish until dusk, and will require a WAA key for access to the car park.
What3words : parking - ///decking.endlessly.composes
Ackers Pit is a small fishery located in Stockton Heath, approximately 2 miles south of Warrington. This area is a popular local beauty spot and offers accessible fishing for our members.
The lake has been stocked with roach, perch, bream, rudd, crucian carp, tench, and mirror carp. There are also some eels present. Fishing is from comfortable pegs, and only a short cast is needed to catch fish in the shallow water.
A regular ‘little and often’ feeding approach works best, with the usual baits (maggot, sweetcorn, bread) working well to catch decent roach, rudd, crucians, tench and carp.
What3words : ///shout.asks.upon
This water is members-only
Appleton Reservoir (also known as Walton Reservoir) is located near to Walton Golf Course. The reservoir was formerly the club’s put and take trout fishery. Now, it is a mixed coarse fishery, where anglers can enjoy fishing in peaceful surroundings.
Despite the size of the water, there are limited fishing pegs. Fishing is available on the ‘sandbank’ facing the dam wall. Alternatively, there are swims along the west bank in the reeds, although wellington boots or waders are recommended. When the water level is low, fishing is possible from the dam wall, but great care is required both for personal safety and fish welfare. No carp fishing from the Dam wall.
This is a mixed fishery, noted for stocks of quality roach and plenty of average-sized (mostly double figure) carp. There are also perch and tench to be caught. The roach fishing is best when the water is coloured, with feeder or whip-to-hand methods successful for a good session.
There is a locked WAA car park at both ends of the reservoir which members should use.
What3words :
carpark1 - ///paid.wished.sting
carpark2 - ///pass.native.counts
The Bridgewater canal is one of the oldest canals in the country, and one of the club’s oldest venues. Warrington Anglers control the majority of the water (roughly 26 miles) from Preston Brook tunnel (where it turns into the Trent & Mersey Canal) right through Warrington and Manchester.
The Bridgewater is a popular canal fishery, with some excellent quality fishing. Roach, perch and bream make up the main species. There are pockets of chub, tench and carp also present. In winter, this is a quality pike venue.
The water has been used as a match venue for many years, and has hosted events such as the Division 1 National Champs, Embassy Pairs and Fish O’Mania qualifiers.
Fishing is from the towpath side only. There is no night fishing allowed.
Please use the individual stretch tabs to view the maps, information and photos about the various lengths.
This is a large mere of some 80 acres. Despite the size of the lake, it is relatively shallow averaging 5 feet. The water shelves gradually before it levels out. Find the level and you can generally find the fish. The mere holds goods hoals of bream and roach, plus a few odd carp. In the right conditions, big bags of bream (upto and over the magic 100lbs) can be caught on the feeder. Waders and a platform are recommended.
The fishing is jointly owned by Warrington AA and Northwich AA. Fishing is only allowed from the area marked on the map.
What3words : ///pokers.global.minds
Access to this water is for Members Only
This is a classic shallow, weedy mill pool with depths only up to 3.5 feet. Most swims are only 1-2 feet deep.
The pool has a decent stock of roach, tench, bream and crucian carp. Fishing is best early morning or late evening, on methods like the pole or tip, using sweetcorn or meat as bait. Waggler fishing is possible, but can be awkward due to the shallow water, and a weed rake will be required in summer to prepare the swim. There is a small head of carp in the water.
Fishing on this water is restricted to the dedicated fishing platforms provided. A third of the lake is a set aside for conservation and members are not allowed to access this area. Access is by the official locked car park only.
What3words : ///positive.enthused.switched
This pond is adjacent to the WAA stretch of the River Derwent near Derby.
WAA members may only access the northern-most of the two lakes. The larger lake next to the car park is a specimen lake and reserved for members of Earl of Harrington Angling Club only.
Location and Access
The lakes are located off Halsam’s Lane, at Darley Abbey, just north of Derby. The entrance track is opposite Folly Road, which is adjacent to Derby Rugby Club on Haslam’s Lane. Access to the pond and river is for members only (no day tickets). A WAA key will be needed to open the two gates, and these must be kept shut. There is a fenced designated car park provided right next to the Earl of Harrington lake. WAA members may fish the smaller pond, which is a short walk north from the car park, situated within the long loop of the river Derwent. The field around the lake is full of sheep, and there are also lots of geese here, so sensible footwear is advised.
Fishing
As the Woodrows pond is prone to inundation when the river is in flood, the fish stocks are a bit of a mystery, but the pond is reportedly good for tench fishing.
Please note this fishery belongs to Earl of Harrington AC, and their rules apply. Check for notices at the fishery.
What3words :
Entrance gate - ///rots.cracks.wicked
Forster’s Pools are a series of 4 ponds on farmland at Aspull (just up the road from Woodshaw Reservoir). The ponds are stocked with a mixture of coarse species, including crucian, common and mirror carp, tench, roach, rudd and perch.
The pools are known as ‘Mowpin’, ‘C’ & ‘D’ pools (known because of their shape like letters of the alphabet) and the Carp Pool.
Grey Mist Mere is Association-owned and access to this water is for Members Only
The 7-acre mere is nestled on the edge of urban Warrington, and has a reputation as one of the best long-standing specimen waters in the North West. Most anglers visit Grey Mist nowadays for the carp and tench fishing, although there are also roach, rudd and perch to be caught, plus odd pike and large eels. Unusually for a Cheshire mere, there are no bream.
Grey Mist is popular with our members who target carp, with the lake record just over 30lbs. Bivvies can be erected on almost all of the pegs. The club has undertaken annual stockings of fish from low-doubles to mid-20s over the past ten years to rejuvenate the head of carp and provide quality fish for the future.
The mere is a prolific tench water, with an average size of 5-6lbs, and specimens have been landed including fish over 11lbs.
Access is only via the WAA locked car park, adjacent to the lake.
The lake is situated between the Bridgewater Canal and the Phoenix park housing estate in Runcorn. This lake is a truly mixed fishery containing carp, tench, bream, roach, perch, rudd, pike and eels. The club has stocked the lake with carp, roach, perch and bream. The carp average around mid-doubles, and specimens have been caught to just under 30lbs. There are plenty of natural features and food, with reed beds and some lily pads. Depths range from a couple of feet at the shallow end by the two islands, to around 9 feet at the opposite end. All traditional fishing methods work, including float (lift method is excellent for tench in summer), pole or ledgering. Usual baits all score well – maggots, casters, sweetcorn, worms, luncheon meat, pellets or boilies.
Park on the Phoenix Park car park near the skate park and playground.
What3words :
carpark - ///path.bill.matter
lake - ///fantastic.fields.acted
River Alyn, Hope and Caergwrle.
This water is strictly Members-only
The WAA fishery is approx 1.5 miles, single bank, of the River Dane.
The Dane is a pleasant, intimate, narrow winding river. This stretch is located in farmland just north of Holmes Chapel.
The stretch is known in particular for it’s chub fishing, with fish averaging around 3lbs. There is also good sport for grayling, trout, roach, dace and eels. The river is also home to plagues of minnows, so fishing with small baits like maggots can require a patient approach to build up a swim and attract larger species.
Larger baits like bread, cheese, luncheon meat and in recent years, pellets, are all popular for the chub. The fishery is not prolific for barbel, although a few fish are known to be found amongst the overhanging willows at the bottom end of the stretch. Be alert if you want to coax them from their snaggy home!
A roving approach is best adopted here. Travel light, change swims often, and you have a good chance of finding a few fish. There are a variety of runs and small pools, plus the horseshoe bend at the top of the stretch which is suitable for trotting.
The association owns approx 1 mile of quality fishing on the River Derwent just north of Derby.
Access to the river is off Haslam’s Lane, and is signposted “Derwent Valley Fishery”. There is a dedicated car park at the site which is owned by Earl of Harrington AC who have 2 lakes adjacent to the river. Warrington anglers members are allowed to use the car park, and also are granted fishing on the 2 lakes (see Derwent Valley Fishery).
The river is known as for good winter fishing for grayling. Chub and barbel are also present in this stretch, as are most usual river species. The stretch also holds the odd carp and tench that have washed out of the lake during floods. Ledgering or stickfloat / waggler tactics work well here using maggots or casters as bait. Larger baits will target the chub and barbel.
There are approximately 25 proper allocated pegs on this stretch, which has been used as a match length. There is a canoe club at the lower end of the beat, which can provide a disturbance to fishing, but please respect the other river users.
The Association controls a short stretch (approx 400 yards) of the River Dove at Draycott Mill, which is strictly for members only. Day tickets are not available. The fishery has a dedicated parking area approx 100m from the river.
This is a short stretch of mixed fishing for the coarse or game angler. The main species are chub and trout, which can both be found here in a good average size. There are also some odd barbel, plus occasional roach, dace, grayling, perch and pike and eels. The WAA fishing starts upstream at the railway bridge.
Hurst Green is an Association-owned stretch of the River Ribble, near Ribchester. This is members-only, no day tickets.
The Association controls 1.5 miles of the right bank of the river.
Fishing
This is an good stretch of mixed game and coarse fishing. The length includes long riffles, and some impressive pools, including the infamous ‘Sale Wheel’. The game fishing is good, and this is a stretch known to produce salmon and sea trout to all the usual methods when they are running. Brown trout are also present with some good specimens in the pools and the deep water.
The coarse fishing is also good with chub and barbel present, and a roving approach travelling light can produce fish from several swims. There are a couple of deep glides just before the fast gorge water, where trotting is possible. Barbel are perhaps more noted towards the bottom of the stretch, below Sale Wheel pool. The large swirling pool itself has known to produce large bream, roach, chub, dace, barbel, pike and even carp in the past.
Access and Parking
This stretch of river is in rural Lancashire, and the walk to the fishing is not without its ups and downs. Much of the river bank is part of the Ribble Way path, however the main access at Clough Bank Farm features a walk down (and hence back up) a steep hill to get to the river. A gentle, but longer walk is from upsteam at Through House Farm (free parking). A parking fee will be charged at Clough Bank Farm., WAA sticker must be displayed. Please note: no vehicles are allowed past Clough Bank farm.
Access to this water is for Members Only.
Members can fish from both banks of the river.
Car park and access points
///play.huts.rich
///galloping.shunts.duplicity
Opposite bank access point
///snuck.tedious.indicated
Acquired by Warrington Anglers in 2008, this fishery is a top quality barbel and chub river.
The fishing comprises approximately 800 yards of single bank fishing at the border town of Hay-on-Wye. The fishery is complimented by a free fishing stretch upstream, giving the travelling anglers plenty to go at in this area.
This tidal length of the River Wyre is approx 8 miles inland of the Irish Sea at Fleetwood. THe WAA fishery is approx 1.5 miles, single bank, of the river at Churchtown. Access to the fishery is gained via a dirt track between the houses in Old Lancaster Road. Do not block the track when parking and be wary of roaming cattle. No vehicles allowed at or past Catterall Hall Farm. The footbridge denoting the downstream limit is private – no WAAA members allowed.
Species present include chub, barbel, roach, perch, bream, dace, eels, trout, sea trout & salmon.
Fishing at Rixton is for WAA members only.
This interesting stillwater offers good fishing for the pleasure and specimen angler.
The lake resides within the Rixton Clay Pits reserve which is owned and managed by Warrington Borough Council. The site is a Special Area of Conservation and SSSI, so members are asked to keep to the paths and take care not to disturb the flora and fauna of the site.
The clay pit has numerous islands, points and bays. In summer, there are large stands of lily pads, and this is a pleasant place to fish on a summer’s evening. Being a clay pit, care is needed during / after rainfall as the banks can be very slippy.
The main stock of fish are tench, bream and roach. Tench average 3-5lbs and can be caught on the usual float or ledger tactics. There is a huge head of bream and skimmers averaging around 3lbs. There are specimen carp and pike to be caught also, both going to upper 20s. The water has also produced specimen perch and crucian carp in the past.
Members are asked to use the club locked car park. Night fishing is limited to 2 consecutive nights.
What3words :
gate - ///condensed.tenure.sushi
parking - ///unscrew.crisp.slopes
Sandiway Lakes is a club-owned members-only water.
This former sand quarry site hosts 2 lakes situated near Winsford, approximately 10 miles south of Warrington. There are locked car parks on both lakes.
Click the locations below for more info.
What3words : gate - ///miracles.nuptials.outfit