Fakenham Angling Club River Wensum Club Stretch

The lowdown

• The club water runs upstream from Bridge Farm, the first bridge above Fakenham Mill, right the way to below Sculthorpe Mill. That’s about 2.5 km, or 1.5 miles, so there’s plenty of water to explore.
• It’s mostly a fairly intimate river, around 3 to 6 metres wide, with depths from roughly 0.5 to 2 metres. Perfect for keeping mobile and picking apart likely-looking bits.
• Willows, alders and reeds fringe the banks, while abundant aquatic plants make plenty of cover and food. Look for glides, gaps in the weed and the crease where steadier water meets the push.
• Above the A1065, the club describes it as a natural, wilderness-like fishery. Expect a proper rural feel, with marshy surroundings that can be damp and insect-prone.
• The river is spring-fed, clear and alkaline, with loads of aquatic insects. That makes trout the main spring and early-summer game, with fly fishing productive from April into about June.
• As the season moves on, dry-fly fishing becomes more useful. Light #2–4 fly tackle is recommended, especially where confined spaces and wary wild fish make a delicate approach bob on.
• When weed growth drops back from around November, light-tackle sport for dace and roach comes into its own. Keep things fine and tidy — clear water and small river fish punish a clumsy faff.
• There’s good wildlife along the way too. Marsh harriers, barn owls, kingfishers, water voles and otters may all put in an appearance while you’re working a swim.
• Parking is available at Goggs Bridge and in a small lay-by opposite the access to Willsmore Lake. Above the A1065, access is via a stile on the south side of the bridge over the river.

Methods: For trout, go light with a #2–4 fly rod, covering likely glides and pockets from April to June, then lean more towards dry fly as the season develops. From around November, light tackle for dace and roach is the ticket as the weed dies back.

Access & tickets

Buy tickets before fishing from Fakenham Garden Centre, Mill Road, Hempton, Fakenham, NR21 7LH, or from Myhills Pet Supplies in Dereham.

Fish the club names

trout, roach, chub

Key rules

• Day tickets must be purchased before fishing.
• Careful catch and release is required.
• Barbless hooks only.
• Brown-trout season: 1 April to 30 September.
• Dace and roach season: 16 June to 14 March.
• Children up to 16 may fish free with a member or day-ticket holder aged 18 or over.

River level

Where it is