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River Ouse – Donkey Woods

Donkey Woods is YDAA’s members-only right-bank stretch of the Ouse, with shallow sand-bed water and deeper swims above the road bridge. It’s a popular winter match fishery, with bream, roach and perch named for the stretch.

Run by York & District Amalgamation of Anglers · checked 5 Oct 2026 · boundaries only partly described by the club

The lowdown

  • The sand bed gives this stretch a relatively shallow section to weigh up. Its top, on Middlethorpe bend, also marks the upper boundary — a handy landmark for keeping your session inside the YDAA water.
  • Looking for deeper water? The swims immediately above the road bridge are the ones to note. That’s the clear depth contrast here, rather than treating the whole stretch as one long, samey bit of river.
  • The York outer ring road divides the fishery, so the bridge is a useful reference when planning your day. At the other end, the lower boundary is the stile before the Archbishop’s Palace.
  • Winter is a proper part of this venue’s character: YDAA calls it a popular winter match fishery. Bream, roach and perch are all specifically named here, giving the stretch a clear silverfish-and-perch flavour.
  • Summer brings a different consideration: boat traffic can affect the fishing. Keep that in mind when choosing your visit — this isn’t a stretch to plan around guaranteed peace and an undisturbed swim.
  • Access follows the public footpath beside the palace grounds, then heads upstream. The top end means a long walk, so think about how much kit you fancy carrying before loading up for the day.
  • There’s no on-site parking. Directions suggest the crematorium car park off Bishopthorpe Road, but it gets locked overnight; YDAA advises roadside parking for evening visits. Worth sorting before you get settled on the bank.
  • Keep the practical bits bob on: no fishing platforms, toilets or disabled access are listed. This is members-only water with no day tickets, and night fishing is prohibited — an evening visit doesn’t mean an overnight session.

Methods: Use the depth contrast to guide your swim choice: relatively shallow water at the sand bed, deeper swims immediately above the road bridge. Keep summer boat traffic in mind when planning your session.

Access & tickets

Full-year adult membership

YDAA membership, running from 1 January to 31 December.

£49 renewal or £59 joining (as listed 5 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Full-year membership, ages 65+

YDAA membership, running from 1 January to 31 December.

£32 renewal or £42 joining (as listed 5 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Membership after 1 October

Published membership prices halve after 1 October; membership expires on 31 December.

Buy a day ticket online from YDAA using an email address and PayPal, or through a YDAA sales outlet. For online purchases, keep the emailed ticket handy on your mobile or bring a printout.

Fish the club names

bream, roach, perch

Key rules

  • Members only; no day tickets.
  • Night fishing is prohibited.
  • Carry your fishing authority.
  • Fish livebait is prohibited.
  • One rod is permitted under the general rule unless an extra-rod premium applies.
  • Fish must not be killed or removed without committee permission.
  • Litter and fires are prohibited.

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 fish

River level

Measured — Environment Agency

Naburn Lock gauge

Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.

Loading latest reading…

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

Where it is

Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.

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