The Leaps
The Leaps is a town-centre River Nene stretch in Northampton, run by Northampton Nene Angling Club. It fishes from the left bank only, from South Bridge downstream to the lock pound.
Run by Northampton Nene Angling Club · checked 6 Oct 2026 · boundaries only partly described by the club
The lowdown
- This is a canalised urban River Nene stretch, so you’re fishing a proper town-centre bit of river rather than an open rural reach.
- The fishery starts at South Bridge and runs downstream to the lock pound. That gives the stretch a clear start and finish, handy for planning a wander.
- Fishing is from the left bank only. No sneaking round the other side, and boats or kayaks are off-limits on club waters.
- There’s public riverside access through Becketts Park, plus the footpath from Trenery Way off Auctioneers Way.
- You can also get in from the footpath at the corner of Cattlemarket Road and Bridge Street. Handy enough if you’re keeping the gear light.
- Locks are part of the character here, with the stretch running down to the lock pound. Expect an urban river setting and canalised flow.
- Roach, chub, perch, bream, carp and dace are named for the fishery. A decent mixed bag could be on the cards, depending on conditions.
- The club allows rod and line or pole fishing only. Keep things simple and fish within the marked club rules.
- The closed season runs from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. Outside that window, day tickets cover fishing from dawn until dusk.
- Night fishing isn’t allowed on The Leaps, and fish must not be removed from club waters. Crayfish trapping and magnet fishing are also banned.
Methods: Stick to rod-and-line or pole work, with the canalised urban river and lock-pound setting shaping the swim. Trotting, float work or a small feeder setup are the obvious approaches, but no boats or kayaks are allowed.
Access & tickets
Standard day ticket
£6 per person per session. Valid from dawn until dusk.
£6 per person per session (as listed 6 Oct 2026 — check before you go)
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, bream, roach, perch, chub
Key rules
- Closed season: 15 March to 15 June inclusive.
- Fishing is from the left bank only.
- Fishing is restricted to rod and line or pole.
- Fishing from boats or kayaks is not allowed on club waters.
- Removing fish from club waters is not allowed.
- Crayfish trapping and magnet fishing are not allowed on club waters.
- Normal Northampton Nene Angling Club rules apply.
- An Environment Agency rod licence may be requested when purchasing a day ticket.
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 fishRiver level
Measured — Environment Agency
South Bridge 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.
Community reported
Recent angler updates
No angler updates yet — that's normal. Be the first to help the next angler.
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
No active water updates.