Ashby Canal – Snarestone Stretch

Ashby Canal’s Snarestone Stretch is a compact bit of canal fishing near Snarestone in Leicestershire, reported at approximately 0.506 km. It’s level, has no locks and sits close to Snarestone Tunnel, with the restored water north of Snarestone Wharf adding a bit of interest to this short section. Handy enough to get your bearings without a load of faff.

• 2 lakes: Snarestone Stretch, Restored northern section
• Fish: bream, roach, chub, pike
• Find it: Snarestone · DE12 7DD

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

Ashby Canal’s Snarestone Stretch is a compact bit of canal fishing near Snarestone in Leicestershire, reported at approximately 0.506 km. It’s level, has no locks and sits close to Snarestone Tunnel, with the restored water north of Snarestone Wharf adding a bit of interest to this short section. Handy enough to get your bearings without a load of faff.

This is mixed coarse water, not a one-species job. Bream, roach, chub and pike are all reported, while the Canal & River Trust describes the wider Ashby Canal as supporting coarse fish. That gives you a decent spread of possible targets, whether you fancy a few bites on lighter gear or want to stay alert for something with a bit more attitude.

The restored northern section runs to just beyond Bridge 62 and includes a 16-metre winding hole. Those are useful landmarks when you’re working out the layout, although the checked details don’t set out individual pegs, depths or specific underwater features. The Snarestone-to-Carlton section is also a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest, so you’re fishing in a properly interesting bit of canal country.

The stretch is used by anglers and match fishermen, with match fishing at the Snarestone end historically reported at roughly twice monthly. That gives the place a match-style connection, but don’t assume the same calendar is still running. If you’re planning around an event, ask the club what’s current before loading the tackle box and heading over.

For a first look, keep the kit flexible. A float setup and some lighter tackle would let you search for roach and bream, while a sensible chub and pike plan means you’re not caught short if the bigger residents show themselves. On any unfamiliar canal, have a proper look at the swim, watch for signs of fish, and change things up rather than stubbornly sticking with one depth or bait. The exact approach is yours to work out on the day.

A fishing permit is required, and the listing reports season permits through Measham and District Angling Club. The listed contact is John Wainwright with the fishery. No day-ticket price, season-ticket price, night-fishing permission, opening hours, named season dates or fishery-specific rules are confirmed here, so get those details nailed down before travelling. Snarestone Wharf facilities are nearby, but access to its private road is gated and not guaranteed. Sort the ticket and access position first, then it could be a proper tidy canal session.

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 short, permit-controlled coarse-fishing stretch on the Ashby Canal near Snarestone. It’s a mixed-fish canal with bream, roach, chub and pike, plus a restored northern section and a history of match fishing.”

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.