Erewash Canal – Sandiacre Stretch

The Erewash Canal – Sandiacre Stretch gives you a proper bit of canal to explore, running from Sandiacre towards Stanton Gate. The wider listed section is around 4.2 miles, so there’s plenty of towpath to wander if the first peg is quiet.

• 1 lake: Erewash Canal – Sandiacre Stretch
• Fish: roach, bream, chub, perch
• Find it: Sandiacre · DE7 5LH

Based on how each lake is set up — not a ranking.

The Erewash Canal – Sandiacre Stretch gives you a proper bit of canal to explore, running from Sandiacre towards Stanton Gate. The wider listed section is around 4.2 miles, so there’s plenty of towpath to wander if the first peg is quiet. No separate lakes here — it’s a straightforward canal fishery, with the sort of mobile approach that suits a day spent looking for a few bites rather than sitting it out in one spot.

Around Sandiacre, the surroundings are fairly urban, but the scenery becomes more rural as you head towards Stanton Gate and Pasture Lock. That change of feel can be handy when you fancy a wander and a fresh look. Access points include Sandiacre Bridge, Mill Lane and Greens, with Stanton Gate Bridge and Station Road in Ilkeston also listed for the wider section. Less faff getting to a different swim is always a bonus.

The reported fish list is classic canal fare. Roach, bream, chub and perch are all noted, with skimmers reported around the Sandy Bottoms area. That gives you a few different ways to tackle it. A float setup is the obvious starting point when you’re after roach, perch and skimmers, while a light feeder is worth packing if bream are on the munch.

Keep things simple and mobile. Have a proper look before setting up, checking the margins, bridge areas and any changes in the canal that might give fish a reason to hold up. A couple of float options, light feeder gear and enough bait for a bit of experimenting should cover most plans. If chub are the target, pay extra attention to tighter cover and quieter-looking edges rather than charging straight into the most obvious swim.

The canal is reported open all year, and night fishing is not permitted. Day-ticket access is reported, with permits available through local tackle shops. No current ticket price or verified breakdown of what the ticket covers is available, so it’s worth checking that before heading off with the gear. You’ll also need the appropriate rod licence alongside the fishery permission.

The fishery is associated with Nottingham Anglers Association, which is listed as the contact in the Environment Agency fishing guide. Mr D Turner is listed there, along with the fishery. Give the latest access, permit and rules position a quick check before fishing, especially if you’re planning a new stretch. Once that’s sorted, you’ve got a cracking length of canal, several access points and enough reported species to make a day on the bank well worth a look.

We're not sure on ticket prices for this one — check with the club or local regulations before you leave.

Good background reading. Most of it is a few years old, so treat it as a starting point and ask on the day.

Videos linked by the fishery

• Our read

  Checked Sept '26 — “A proper canal stretch running from Sandiacre towards Stanton Gate, with roach, bream, chub, perch and skimmers around Sandy Bottoms. Day-ticket access is reported, but check the current permit details with Nottingham Anglers Association before setting off.”

This is our own summary of recurring public feedback and the venue details we checked, not a copied customer review or a promise you’ll catch. Feedback changes, so we keep it separate from the Tackle Index score.