River guide
River Great Ouse in Bedfordshire
12 checked stretches so far — day tickets, club waters and guest tickets, each checked against the club's own pages.
The lowdown
The Great Ouse at Wyboston is a Bedfordshire river option with access through Wyboston Lakes Complex. Here, Luton Angling Club welcomes both members and non-member ticket anglers onto its 40-peg stretch.
The river close season runs from 15 March to 15 June, so build that into your plans. At Wyboston, large bream and reported double-figure carp give you a couple of proper targets once the river is open.
Close season reminder
Coarse fishing on English rivers is closed from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. That's the law for coarse fish on rivers — it's not a club rule, and game-fishing seasons work differently.
GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fishStretches
12 of 12 checked stretches. No rankings — we don't know which is "best" on your day, and neither does anyone else.
River Great Ouse – Wyboston Lakes Complex
River Great Ouse · Day ticket or members
Luton Angling Club’s Great Ouse stretch at Wyboston has 40 river pegs, with members and day-ticket anglers both welcome. There’s large bream on the venue list, double-figure carp reported upstream and a straightforward turn-up-and-fish ticket setup.
Checked 6 Oct 2026
River Great Ouse – Roxton A, Great Barford
River Great Ouse · Members only
Roxton A is the London Anglers’ Association’s members-only Great Ouse stretch at Great Barford, running upstream from Barford Bridge. There’s a cracking mix of bridge chub swims, colder-month bream water and a narrower upstream section that keeps some flow in low water.
Checked 6 Oct 2026
River Great Ouse – Bromham
River Great Ouse · Day ticket or members
Bromham is Bedford Angling Club’s unspoilt bit of the Great Ouse, with long glides and a proper walk to the water. Parking is some distance from the bank, so bear that in mind before loading up.
Species not listed by the club.
Checked 6 Oct 2026
River Great Ouse – Fenlake, Bedford
River Great Ouse · Day ticket or members
Fenlake is Bedford Angling Club’s central Bedford stretch of the Great Ouse, walkable from the Embankment. There’s closer parking opposite the Anchor pub, but the floodplain crossing can make access tricky when the river’s high.
Species not listed by the club.
Checked 6 Oct 2026
River Great Ouse – Oakley Main, Oakley
River Great Ouse · Day ticket or members
Oakley Main is a scenic bit of the Bedfordshire Great Ouse run by Bedford Angling Club. Parking is beside the double bridges, but awkward gates and undercut banks mean it pays to keep the kit manageable and watch your footing.
Species not listed by the club.
Checked 6 Oct 2026
River Great Ouse – Stafford Bridge, Oakley
River Great Ouse · Day ticket or members
Stafford Bridge is a short Bedford Angling Club stretch of the Great Ouse at Oakley, with limited access and a couple of accessible pegs. Keep it separate from Oakley Main when sorting your day out — the club lists them as different waters.
Species not listed by the club.
Checked 6 Oct 2026
River Great Ouse – Biddenham
River Great Ouse · Members only
Biddenham is a peaceful, secluded bit of the Great Ouse, owned by Luton Angling Club, with roughly 45 pegs and a proper change of pace from top to bottom. Think narrower, quicker water upstream and deep, slow water downstream — members only, though.
Checked 6 Oct 2026
River Great Ouse – Radwell
River Great Ouse · Members and members’ guests
Verulam Angling Club’s Radwell stretch gives you approximately a mile of Great Ouse, with a railway bridge splitting two quite different bits of river. Deeper, slower water above; shallower, weedier fishing below — a proper choice of character.
Checked 6 Oct 2026
River Great Ouse – Sharnbrook
River Great Ouse · Club membership
Vauxhall Angling Club’s Sharnbrook stretch offers a proper mix of Great Ouse water, with wide, narrow, shallow and deep sections. Barbel and chub get the club’s headline billing, and night fishing is allowed.
Checked 6 Oct 2026
River Great Ouse – Carlton Road, Felmersham
River Great Ouse · Members and member-arranged guests
Carlton Road is Verulam Angling Club’s roughly 1,000-yard stretch of the Great Ouse at Felmersham, following a long sweeping bend. Slower glides, faster runs and far-bank cover give it a cracking mix of features.
Checked 6 Oct 2026
River Great Ouse – Carlton, upstream of Harrold
River Great Ouse · Members only
Carlton is Northampton Nene Angling Club’s members-only stretch on the Great Ouse, upstream of Harrold in Bedfordshire. It’s right-bank fishing, with bream, chub, dace, perch, pike and roach on the club’s list.
Checked 6 Oct 2026
River Great Ouse – Milton Ernest
River Great Ouse · Members or accompanied member’s guests
Verulam Angling Club’s Milton Ernest stretch mixes shallow runs, deeper glides and plenty of cover on the upper Great Ouse. Barbel are the main draw, with chub and dace also on the club’s target list.
Checked 6 Oct 2026
Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.
Access & tickets
Adult daylight ticket
Luton Angling Club
Arrive and fish; pay the patrolling bailiff in cash.
£10 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Wyboston Lakes Complex
Adult night ticket
Luton Angling Club
Applies when fishing into darkness. No advance booking; one night at a time only.
£20 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Wyboston Lakes Complex
Junior/OAP/disabled tickets
Luton Angling Club
Daylight ticket: £5. Night ticket: £10. Cash only; under-16s must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Covers: River Great Ouse – Wyboston Lakes Complex
LAA membership
The London Anglers’ Association
Membership provides access to this stretch. No day tickets are listed, and night fishing is permitted at no additional charge.
Covers: River Great Ouse – Roxton A, Great Barford
Day ticket
Bedford Angling Club
2026–2027 season. Issued at the committee’s discretion through the committee or authorised agents.
£10 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Bromham
Adult annual membership
Bedford Angling Club
2026–2027 season.
£45 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Bromham
Concessionary and junior membership
Bedford Angling Club
For 2026–2027, under-18 membership costs £15 and membership for people aged 65 or over costs £25. Disabled annual membership costs £25 with a discounted EA rod licence. Under-12s fish free when accompanied by a current adult member.
Covers: River Great Ouse – Bromham
Day ticket, 2026–2027
Bedford Angling Club
Issued at the committee’s discretion; available through the committee or authorised tackle-shop agents.
£10 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Fenlake, Bedford
Adult annual membership, 2026–2027
Bedford Angling Club
Includes a membership book with water details and current rules.
£45 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Fenlake, Bedford
Concession and junior membership
Bedford Angling Club
Under-18 annual membership: £15. Age 65 and over: £25. Disabled membership with a discounted EA rod licence: £25. Under-12s fish free when accompanied by a current adult member.
Covers: River Great Ouse – Fenlake, Bedford
Club day ticket — 2026–2027
Bedford Angling Club
Issued at the committee’s discretion; available through the committee or authorised agents.
£10 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Oakley Main, Oakley
Adult annual membership — 2026–2027
Bedford Angling Club
Bedford Angling Club adult membership.
£45 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Oakley Main, Oakley
Junior membership — under-18s
Bedford Angling Club
Under-12s fish free when accompanied by a current adult member.
£15 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Oakley Main, Oakley
Day ticket — 2026–2027
Bedford Angling Club
Issued at the Committee's discretion, through the Committee or authorised agents.
£10 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Stafford Bridge, Oakley
Adult annual membership — 2026–2027
Bedford Angling Club
Bedford Angling Club adult annual membership.
£45 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Stafford Bridge, Oakley
Junior and concessionary membership
Bedford Angling Club
Under-18 membership costs £15. Membership for people aged 65 and over costs £25; disabled membership costs £25 with a discounted EA rod licence. Under-12s fish free when accompanied by a current adult member.
Covers: River Great Ouse – Stafford Bridge, Oakley
Adult membership 2026/27
Luton Angling Club
1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027. Website currently marks 2026/27 membership as sold out.
£120 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Biddenham
Senior or disabled membership 2026/27
Luton Angling Club
Senior membership is for ages 65 and over. Disabled membership is subject to the club’s eligibility requirements.
£85 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Biddenham
Junior Kingfisher membership 2026/27
Luton Angling Club
Excludes night fishing and a gate key. A separate junior night membership costs £85 and requires an accompanying adult.
£12 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Biddenham
2026–27 Trout & Rivers Only — new member
Verulam Angling Club
£60 subscription plus a £45 new-member entrance fee. Includes the club’s Ouse and Ivel sections; excludes the River Lee and other club fisheries.
£105 total (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Radwell
2026–27 full adult membership — new member
Verulam Angling Club
£130 subscription plus £45 entrance fee.
£175 total (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Radwell
Members’ guest tickets
Verulam Angling Club
For members taking a friend, not unrestricted public day tickets. Guest night-fishing tickets cost £20 per night.
£10 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Radwell
Adult membership 2026/27
Vauxhall Angling Club
Annual adult membership. The third-rod option costs £125.
£100 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Sharnbrook
Senior or disabled membership 2026/27
Vauxhall Angling Club
Senior membership is described as over-65 only. Disabled membership requires an EA concessionary licence.
£70 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Sharnbrook
Junior membership 2026/27
Vauxhall Angling Club
The listed standard category starts at age 10; juniors must be under 18 before 16 June. An adult must accompany junior members on this water.
£25 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Sharnbrook
Club membership
Verulam Angling Club
Carlton Road is run by Verulam Angling Club and is available to its members.
Covers: River Great Ouse – Carlton Road, Felmersham
Guest ticket
Verulam Angling Club
Member-arranged visitor access; the member remains responsible for the guest.
£10 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Carlton Road, Felmersham
Overnight guest ticket
Verulam Angling Club
The club lists an overnight guest-ticket option. Carlton Road-specific night-fishing arrangements are not given.
£20 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Carlton Road, Felmersham
Club membership
Northampton Nene Angling Club
Northampton Nene Angling Club membership book required. No day tickets for this water.
Covers: River Great Ouse – Carlton, upstream of Harrold
Club membership
Verulam Angling Club
Access through Verulam Angling Club membership.
Covers: River Great Ouse – Milton Ernest
Guest ticket
Verulam Angling Club
An accompanying member is required and remains responsible for their guest. Issued only after payment.
£10 (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Milton Ernest
Night-fishing guest ticket
Verulam Angling Club
For night fishing with an accompanying member.
£20 per night (as listed 06/10/2026)
Covers: River Great Ouse – Milton Ernest
Species
We only tag a stretch with a fish when the club names it. Some clubs name fish across all their water rather than stretch by stretch — those are flagged on the card.
● named by the club for this stretch · ●* named across the club's waters · blank = not named (not "absent").
Rules — who runs what
For a day or night ticket, just arrive and fish; Luton Angling Club’s patrolling bailiffs collect payment. Bring cash — night fishing needs no advance booking.
Club pageThe London Anglers’ Association
You’ll need London Anglers’ Association membership to fish Roxton A; the holder’s handbook lists no day tickets here. Check with the association for the current membership price and joining arrangements.
Club pageGet tickets through Bedford Angling Club’s committee or authorised agents, including Bleak Hall Sports, 1 High Street, Kempston, and AB Country Sports, Priory Marina, Barker’s Lane, Bedford. Day tickets are issued at the committee’s discretion.
Club pageApply through Verulam Angling Club’s 2026–27 new-member form; the published membership season is June 16, 2026 to June 15, 2027, subject to availability. Members arranging guest tickets online must allow at least 48 hours for processing, payment and membership verification; more than one guest ticket per member is permitted on the Great Ouse.
Club pageApply for annual Vauxhall Angling Club membership through Clubmate via the club’s membership page. Have a head-and-shoulders photo, your full address and rod-licence number ready.
Club pageYou’ll need a Northampton Nene Angling Club membership book to fish Carlton. Contact the club about membership; the fishery page doesn’t give a price.
Club pageFished the river recently?
Pick the stretch you fished and add a 20-second update there — one stretch at a time keeps it useful.
Each stretch page lists its own key rules. You'll need an Environment Agency rod licence on all of them.
River levels
Measured readings straight from the Environment Agency. These are the nearest gauges we've matched — not readings from the stretches themselves.
Measured — Environment Agency
Eaton Socon gauge
Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.
Loading latest reading…
We don't publish an "ideal level" — nobody can promise one. Flood water is dangerous: if it's up and coloured, stay well back from the edge. Open River Ready
Measured — Environment Agency
Roxton gauge
Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.
Loading latest reading…
We don't publish an "ideal level" — nobody can promise one. Flood water is dangerous: if it's up and coloured, stay well back from the edge. Open River Ready
Measured — Environment Agency
Bromham gauge
Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.
Loading latest reading…
We don't publish an "ideal level" — nobody can promise one. Flood water is dangerous: if it's up and coloured, stay well back from the edge. Open River Ready
Tips & reports
Our take (editorial, not club advice): on any decent-sized river, a lead that holds bottom without dragging is half the battle — go up in weight before you go up in bait. A bit of extra colour after rain often brings barbel and bream closer in, but a fast-rising, debris-filled river is dangerous; if in doubt, don't. Weather tools built for still lakes don't translate neatly to rivers, so we haven't bolted a lake-style weather score on here.
No angler reports on these stretches yet — we'll only show real ones once our moderated river reports are live.
Where this comes from · checked 6 Oct 2026
- GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fish
- Luton Angling Club — ouse wyboston (lutonanglingclub.co.uk)
- The London Anglers’ Association — river great ouse (londonanglers.co.uk)
- Bedford Angling Club — home (bedfordac01.com)
- Verulam Angling Club — radwell (verulam-angling.co.uk)
- Vauxhall Angling Club — great ouse sharnbrook (vauxhallanglingclub.co.uk)
- Northampton Nene Angling Club — carlton (northamptonneneac.org)
Rules, prices and ticket availability change — the rights holder's own page always wins.