Nottingham Canal

Nottingham Canal is the navigable Nottingham/Beeston Canal running through Nottingham. It’s looked after through the Nottingham and District Federation of Angling Societies, so this is a proper permit-style canal rather than a pay-on-the-bank commercial lake. A different sort of session altogether. More reading the water, finding a likely line and working out what the day is telling you.

• 1 lake: Nottingham/Beeston Canal
• Fish: roach, chub, perch, pike, bream, barbel, carp
• Tickets from: Full Federation membership — £55 for the current year
• Find it: Nottingham · NG2 3AQ

Based on how each lake is set up — not a ranking.

Nottingham Canal is the navigable Nottingham/Beeston Canal running through Nottingham. It’s looked after through the Nottingham and District Federation of Angling Societies, so this is a proper permit-style canal rather than a pay-on-the-bank commercial lake. A different sort of session altogether. More reading the water, finding a likely line and working out what the day is telling you.

The canal connects with the River Trent at both ends and provides a bypass around the Clifton Bridge shallows and Beeston Weir. That Trent link is the big attraction. The official fishery page says the canal hosts nearly every species found in the River Trent, which gives you plenty to go at. It could be a tidy silverfish session one day and something rather more serious the next.

No official detailed species list is published for the canal. Likely targets include roach, dace, chub, perch, pike, bream, barbel and carp, based on the River Trent connection, but check locally for the current picture before you go. Ask in a tackle shop or contact the Federation about what’s showing, which areas are accessible and whether any notices are in force. That bit of homework can save a load of faff.

This is a river-style canal, not a managed lake with identical pegs and predictable stocking. Look for the usual clues: comfortable depth, cover, changes in the towpath edge and areas where the water looks different. A light float approach could be bob on when the smaller fish are active, while feeder tactics may suit bream, chub or barbel if conditions allow. For pike or carp, take suitable kit and keep the plan flexible rather than assuming a guaranteed lump.

Before setting off, sort the membership side properly. Access comes through Nottingham Federation membership. Full membership is stated as £55 for the current year, with concessionary membership at £35. The website lists full membership online at £57.50 including the £2.50 postage and card-processing fee. Membership covers Federation waters subject to the rules, but online payment confirmation alone does not guarantee immediate access. New members use photo ID cards, and membership is also available through listed partner tackle shops.

There’s no separate Nottingham Canal day-ticket price published, and no fixed opening hours are listed. Night fishing is strictly prohibited, so plan a daytime visit and check current Federation notices before travelling. All fish must be returned safely, live bait is banned, and bloodworm, feed worm and jokers are prohibited. Take every bit of litter home, don’t alter the bank, and remember that a UK Environment Agency rod licence is additionally required where applicable. Under-16s must be accompanied and supervised by an adult aged 18 or over.

Good background reading. Most of it is a few years old, so treat it as a starting point and ask on the day.

Videos linked by the fishery

• Our read

  Checked Sept '26 — “Nottingham Canal is a proper urban canal venue running from Nottingham through to Beeston, with River Trent connections at both ends. It offers river-style fishing for a broad mix of species, with access through Nottingham Federation membership.”

This is our own summary of recurring public feedback and the venue details we checked, not a copied customer review or a promise you’ll catch. Feedback changes, so we keep it separate from the Tackle Index score.