Short Ferry Old River Witham
Short Ferry Old River Witham is a cracking bit of old-course river fishing beside Shortferry Caravan Park. It’s patron-only, with year-round access and a good mix of small-fish sport, perch, pike and carp potential.
Run by Shortferry Caravan Park · checked 8 Oct 2026
River Witham
Short Ferry Old River Witham
River level
Measured — Environment Agency
Fiskerton Sluice gauge
Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.
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We don't publish an "ideal level" — nobody can promise one. Flood water is dangerous: if it's up and coloured, stay well back from the edge. Open River Ready
The lowdown
- This is the old course of the River Witham, not the main river proper. A weir joins it to the main Witham at the upper end, so there’s a proper bit of river character here.
- The park advertises roughly two miles of river fishing altogether, covering the Old River Witham and nearby Barlings Eau. The exact split for this stretch isn’t given.
- Summer is the time for plenty of small-fish action. The old river is described as prolific then, so it looks well suited to light tackle and keeping the float busy.
- Perch and pike are present, and small lures are reported to work well for both. A cheeky lure around cover, slack edges and crease water sounds bob on.
- Carp have been targeted in the rivers, with fish to 22 lb caught. The park also reports sightings and catches of larger carp nearby, so a patient big-fish approach could be worth a go.
- The wider Shortferry river fishing includes roach, bream, tench and eels, while Barlings Eau is described as a well-stocked Lincolnshire drain holding most other coarse fish.
- There’s a rural caravan-park setting beside the old Witham and Barlings Eau. Handy if you’re staying on site and fancy swapping the lake gear for a bit of moving water.
- Fishing is available all year round, giving you options from summer small-fish sport to colder-season predator work. No separate night-fishing permission is advertised.
- The Old River Witham is separate from the park’s Old Marina fishery, and no separate number of pegs is given for this river. So expect a more natural, exploratory session rather than a numbered-peg setup.
Methods: Float and feeder tactics should suit the summer small-fish sport, while small lures are specifically reported to work well for perch and pike. Carp will need a more patient approach, with fish to 22 lb reported from the rivers.
Access & tickets
Caravan-park patron fishing
Fishing on the river is free for patrons of Shortferry Caravan Park. The water is not advertised as a public day-ticket fishery.
Free (as listed 8 Oct 2026 — check before you go)
Fishing is free for caravan-park patrons. There is no public day ticket advertised, so access is through staying at Shortferry Caravan Park.
Fish the club names
carp, tench, bream, roach, pike, perch, eel
Key rules
- Fishing is for caravan-park patrons only.
- Fishing is available all year round.
- The river is not advertised as a public day-ticket water.
- The Old River Witham is separate from the park’s Old Marina fishery.
Coarse fishing on English rivers is closed from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. That's the law for coarse fish on rivers — it's not a club rule, and game-fishing seasons work differently.
GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fishWhere it is
Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.
Community reported
Recent angler updates
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How busy was it?
Nobody's said yet. It's part of the 20-second update below.
No live tracking — this is what anglers told us after their session, and it's never part of the venue score.
Water updates from anglers
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