Lee Navigation

Fishery guide · Hertfordshire

Lee Navigation

A proper stretch of the River Lee Navigation around Hertford, Ware and Broxbourne, split into six Towpath Fishery sections. It’s mainly gentle-flowing coarse water, with roach, dace, bream, chub, perch, pike and carp on the cards.

“7.2/10 — A varied navigation with roach, bream, chub, perch, pike and carp, including bigger bream and double-figure carp claims on the Hertford-to-Ware and Hardmead-to-Stanstead stretches.”

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The lowdown

The Lee Navigation around Hertford is a cracking bit of canal water, managed through the Towpath Fishery arrangements of Ware Angling Club and Hertford Angling Club. The fishery is split into six sections, giving you a fair bit of bank to explore rather than one tight little pond.

  • 6 lakes: Section A — Hertford to Ware Lock, Section B — Ware Lock to Hardmead, Section C — Hardmead to Stanstead Lock, Section D — Rye House Bridge to Feildes Weir, Section E — Carthagena Lock to the end of Crown Meadow, Section F — Old Mill Broxbourne
  • Fish: roach, perch, carp, bream, chub, pike
  • Tickets from: Adult membership including joining fee, 2025 — £100
  • Find it: Hertford · SG14 1QR

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Lee Navigation

Hertford · SG14 1QR

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The full rundown on Lee Navigation

The Lee Navigation around Hertford is a cracking bit of canal water, managed through the Towpath Fishery arrangements of Ware Angling Club and Hertford Angling Club. The fishery is split into six sections, giving you a fair bit of bank to explore rather than one tight little pond.

The Hertford-to-Ware stretch starts at Folly Bridge on Bull Plain, Hertford, and runs through areas behind Waitrose and the Hertford allotments. It has a gentle flow, so it’s well suited to trotting and pole fishing. Roach and dace are reported here, with larger bream, chub, perch and carp also in the mix.

There’s a lock cut with purpose-built fishing platforms on the Hertford-to-Ware section, while the Ware Lock-to-Hardmead stretch has three more platforms. The latter contains roach, chub, bream, perch and pike, giving you a decent spread of canal species and a few different ways to fish it.

Further along, the Hardmead-to-Stanstead section is slow moving in places and includes the wider area above Stanstead Lock, known as the Wides. That area holds shoals of bream, while the stretch can also produce double-figure carp. Winter is the time highlighted for productive pike fishing here.

Access varies quite a bit. Hertford has parking and access around Hartham Lane, Mill Road, Marshgate Drive, Mead Lane and Marchant Drive. Ware access includes Priory Street and Park Road. The Hardmead section has limited vehicle access, with some parts requiring a walk from Amwell Lane or Lower Road. Mind yourself near the railway line.

The towpath-side bank is the day-ticket Towpath Fishery, with tickets available on the bank. The natural or offside bank belonging to Ware Angling Club is members-only, while club members can fish the Towpath Fishery without an extra day-ticket charge under club arrangements. You’ll still need an Environment Agency rod licence, and the statutory river close season applies where relevant.

There are no published lake sizes, daily opening hours, current day-ticket price or separate fishing-season timetable. Night fishing isn’t confirmed either, so check the club position before planning a late session. This is coarse fishing water rather than a stocked trout lake, with a nice mix of float work, feeder fishing and targeted predator or carp sessions depending on the section.

Straight from anglers online

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Lee Navigation FAQs

Is there a current published day-ticket price?

No. The official website does not publish a current Towpath Fishery day-ticket price.

Do I need to book a day ticket?

No booking system is shown; tickets are described as available on the bank.

Are opening hours published?

No daily opening hours or separate fishing-season timetable are published.

Are toilets, a café or tackle shop available on site?

The fishery website does not list toilets, a café, tackle shop or on-site accommodation.

Where's the nearest tackle shop?

We haven't found a tackle shop on site at Lee Navigation. Sort your bait and end tackle before you travel, as there's no guarantee of anything close by near Hertford.

Do I need to bring food?

We haven't seen any food on site, so bring your own grub and drinks. A flask and a stove (where allowed) make a long day much better.

Are there toilets on site?

Not that we've seen listed. The fishery doesn't say on what we've checked, so give them a quick call before you set off.

Is there parking, and how close is it to the swims?

Yes — hartham lane car park, hertford, sg14 1qr. Walks to the further pegs can be a trek, so a barrow helps.

What's the postcode for the sat nav?

SG14 1QR.

How much is a ticket?

Adult membership including joining fee, 2025: £100; Adult renewal membership, 2025: £70; Senior membership including joining fee, 2025: £60; Senior renewal membership, 2025: £30; Junior membership for under-16s, 2025: £20. Prices last checked 2026-10-07 — they can change, so check before you go.

Can I just turn up, or do I need to book?

Day tickets are available on Section A — Hertford to Ware Lock, Section B — Ware Lock to Hardmead, Section C — Hardmead to Stanstead Lock, Section D — Rye House Bridge to Feildes Weir, Section E — Carthagena Lock to the end of Crown Meadow, Section F — Old Mill Broxbourne. Busy weekends can fill up, so ring ahead if you've got your heart set on a swim.

What fish are in there?

Across the lakes you'll find roach, perch, carp, bream, chub, pike. See each lake tab for which fish live where.

How many lakes are there?

6 — Section A — Hertford to Ware Lock (Not published), Section B — Ware Lock to Hardmead (Not published), Section C — Hardmead to Stanstead Lock (Not published), Section D — Rye House Bridge to Feildes Weir (Not published), Section E — Carthagena Lock to the end of Crown Meadow (Not published), Section F — Old Mill Broxbourne (Not published).

Is night fishing allowed?

It depends — The official pages do not confirm night-fishing availability.

Can I bring my dog?

Not covered in the rules we've checked. The fishery doesn't say on what we've checked, so give them a quick call before you set off.

Are bait boats allowed?

We haven't seen a bait-boat rule listed. The fishery doesn't say on what we've checked, so give them a quick call before you set off.

Do I need barbless hooks?

Most UK fisheries prefer barbless or micro-barbed hooks — ask on arrival if unsure.

Do I need my own unhooking mat or cradle?

Bring one either way — most fisheries expect it and the fish deserve it.

Is it suitable for disabled anglers?

We haven't seen disabled access listed. The fishery doesn't say on what we've checked, so give them a quick call before you set off.

Do I need a rod licence?

Yes — anyone 13 or over fishing in England and Wales needs an Environment Agency rod licence (or Natural Resources Wales in Wales), on top of your fishery ticket.

When's the best time of year to fish here?

Late spring through autumn is prime for most species. Check our live weather edge for this venue before you go — it updates daily.

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