Bedford Road Bridge to Weston Mill Sluice Gates

The lowdown

• This is a named club stretch running from Bedford Road Bridge to Weston Mill Sluice Gates. It is separate from the excluded Weston Mill to Billing Bridge section, so make sure you’re on the right bit.
• The upstream end sits by Bedford Road Sluice, with the river navigable through this part of Northampton. Expect a working river feel rather than a quiet rural ditch.
• It’s urban-fringe fishing, with roads, industrial premises, paths and flood-channel infrastructure nearby. Handy access surroundings, but not exactly a wild bit of Nene.
• Sluices and control structures are the main features to keep in mind. They can shape the flow and give the stretch a proper river character, though the checked details don’t specify depths, pegs or individual swims.
• The club describes its waters as holding carp, bream, tench, roach, dace and chub. Faster river water elsewhere in the club’s portfolio can also hold barbel into double figures.
• There’s enough variety here for a few classic approaches. Trotting a float suits the flowing water, while a feeder can be a bob-on way to search steadier areas.
• Pole or rod-and-line fishing is allowed, so keep things simple and work with the flow. The exact swim layout and bank access aren’t specified, so check the club’s current arrangements before setting up.
• Day membership fishing is dawn to dusk only. Night fishing isn’t permitted under the day-membership terms, so this one’s a daylight session rather than an overnighter.
• You’ll need a valid Environment Agency rod licence alongside the club day membership. No boat or kayak fishing, and no crayfish trapping or magnet fishing on club waters.
• Fish must not be removed from the club waters. Follow the official Northampton Nene Angling Club rules and leave the stretch tidy after your session.

Methods: Keep it classic: trot a float through the running water for roach, dace and chub, or use a feeder where the flow eases. Pole fishing is also allowed, with the sluice-influenced water worth treating carefully.

Access & tickets

You’ll need a Northampton Nene Angling Club membership book to fish Carlton. Contact the club about membership; the fishery page doesn’t give a price.

Fish the club names

carp, tench, bream, roach, barbel, chub

Named by Northampton Nene Angling Club across its waters, not for this stretch on its own.

Key rules

• Fishing is by rod and line or pole only.
• A valid Environment Agency rod licence is required for day membership.
• Fishing from a boat or kayak is prohibited on club waters.
• Crayfish trapping is prohibited on club waters.
• Magnet fishing is prohibited on club waters.
• Removal of fish from club waters is prohibited.
• The official Northampton Nene Angling Club rules apply to this fishery.
• Day-membership fishing is permitted from dawn to dusk only.

River level

Where it is