Ashby Canal – Hinckley Stretch

Ashby Canal – Hinckley Stretch is a proper canal venue, not a little lake complex with everything packed into one corner. The controlled section is reported to run from Bridge 1 at Marston Junction through to Bridge 19 at Hinckley — roughly six miles of navigable water to explore. That gives you plenty of scope to move about, find a quieter bit and make the most of the day.

• 1 lake: Ashby Canal – Hinckley Stretch
• Fish: zander, perch, pike, carp, roach, bream, rudd
• Tickets from: Tusses day membership — £5, valid for 24 hours from the selected date
• Find it: Hinckley · LE10 0QJ

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

Ashby Canal – Hinckley Stretch is a proper canal venue, not a little lake complex with everything packed into one corner. The controlled section is reported to run from Bridge 1 at Marston Junction through to Bridge 19 at Hinckley — roughly six miles of navigable water to explore. That gives you plenty of scope to move about, find a quieter bit and make the most of the day.

It’s a lock-free length, so there aren’t lock pounds to build a session around. Instead, look for the classic canal clues: bridge areas, moored boats, reed edges, cover and any visible changes in depth or flow. The wider Ashby Canal has public towpaths and bridge-based access points, with Hinckley access including Dodwells Road and the Coventry Road/Bridge 17 area. Visitor moorings are also identified near Bridges 16 and 17, so expect a bit of activity around boats and walkers.

The fish mix gives you a few different ways to fish. Zander are reported, with perch and pike also present, while the canal holds substantial silverfish populations. That means a float approach could be a handy starting point if you’re learning the stretch, fancy a few bites or want to see what’s about before switching tactics. For predators, keep your eyes open for signs of baitfish and likely ambush areas, but always keep tackle and rigs suitable for the species you’re targeting.

Carp are present around the Hinckley area, particularly near Trinity Marina, and carp over 20 lb have been reported near the marina entrance. That’s certainly an area to note when planning a session. Important bit, though: fishing within Trinity Marina itself is not permitted. Treat the marina as a landmark rather than somewhere to drop in, and check exactly where the permitted canal water starts before setting up.

Tusses Angling Club is identified as controlling the Hinckley stretch. Its website lists day membership at £5, valid for 24 hours from the selected date, with an online membership route available. That price isn’t explicitly confirmed as covering every Ashby Canal peg, so check the exact access arrangements with Tusses before travelling. Their listed contact number is the fishery. There’s no advance peg-booking system found for the stretch, so a quick check before loading the gear is a bob-on bit of planning.

No opening-hour schedule is published, with access governed by the purchased membership period instead. Night fishing permission hasn’t been confirmed, so don’t assume it’s allowed — get written confirmation from Tusses if you’re planning an overnight. You’ll also need an Environment Agency rod licence, and this is an active waterway, so never obstruct navigation. Bring sensible canal gear, keep the swim tidy, and ask about current restrictions, access points and any venue-specific rules before you crack open the bait.

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 six-mile canal stretch from Bridge 1 at Marston Junction to Bridge 19 at Hinckley, with zander, perch, pike, plenty of silverfish and carp around the Hinckley area. Day membership is listed at £5, but check the exact access arrangements with Tusses 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.