Nobles Field, St Ives

River level

The lowdown

• This is a water-meadow setting beside the Great Ouse, west of St Ives, with the river along the eastern side of the field.
• The club’s match reports refer to approximately three pegs at Nobles Field. So, it’s a compact little stretch rather than miles of bank to roam.
• Bream are the headline fish here, especially after floods when the area can fish properly well. A bit of colour and extra water can be your friend.
• When the river pushes hard, feeder tackle may be needed. Keep things simple and fish the crease, steadier water and any softer inside line you can find.
• There are reports of fishing into the evening and overnight on the meadow sections, though no separate night-fishing entitlement is confirmed for Nobles Field.
• Expect a mixed Ouse bag across the club’s waters, with roach, dace, chub, perch, tench, eel and rudd also mentioned in the reports.
• Access to meadow sections can involve gates. Leave them as you find them and don’t block farmer access — an easy one to get wrong if you’re rushing.
• Parking guidance includes the Dolphin Hotel car park and town parking, but there’s no dedicated Nobles Field postcode given. A little planning saves a proper faff.
• Membership covers five sections of the River Great Ouse, while day tickets are also available. Everything needs sorting before you fish.
• It’s fair rod-and-line fishing only, with no more than two rods at once. All club waters are catch-and-release, so fish go straight back.

Methods: After floods, bream-focused feeder fishing looks the obvious starting point. In calmer conditions, trotting or lighter work for roach, dace and perch could be worth a go, with the crease and steadier water the places to investigate.

Access & tickets

Day tickets and memberships must be purchased in advance from St Ives Fish Preservation and Angling Society. A valid Environment Agency rod licence is also required for anglers over 12.

Fish the club names

carp, tench, bream, roach, perch, eel, rudd, chub

Key rules

• Fair rod-and-line fishing only.
• No more than two rods may be used at one time.
• Close season: 15 March to 15 June inclusive.
• Catch and release applies to all club waters; fish must not be killed or removed.
• Use a regulation keepnet of at least 8 feet where required by club rules.
• Fish must not be kept in buckets.
• No fires, swimming, camping or cutting trees or branches.
• Remove litter from the swims you fish.
• Keep gates clear and do not obstruct farmer access.

Where it is