Gunthorpe Complex — River Trent and lakes

River level

The lowdown

• This is a mixed complex rather than just a river ticket, with the Trent section sitting alongside four club lakes.
• Standard Ashfield Angling Club members can fish the River Trent section. Kingfisher Lake is separate and restricted to affiliated Kingfisher Angling Club members.
• Access is on foot from the Dollar Lake side. No driving along the river, and the left-hand track near the river is for walkers only.
• All vehicles must enter from the A6097 and take it slowly on the estate track. Park well clear of the bridle path.
• The river has a two-rod rule, and rod butts must be no more than three metres apart on both the lakes and river.
• Duffers, FP and Tench Lake can get extremely weedy. Bring tackle suited to the job, plus proper fish-welfare kit.
• Tench Lake is limited to two rods and keepnets are banned. Bait boats and rowing-style boats are only allowed under the club’s trial conditions, with an approved life jacket required on the water.
• No boating into areas that cannot be reached by casting, including around snags. Keep things sensible and fish from accessible water.
• Big-fish kit is required on specimen waters: an unhooking mat, large landing net and carp-care medication. Night fishing is allowed on the Trent section, and the listed lakes fish year-round subject to the rules.
• The club names carp, tench, bream, zander and pike among the complex species. Its wider waters also include barbel, chub and roach. Fires, cutting trees and cutting reeds are prohibited; the site is treated as a wildlife reserve.

Methods: Match the approach to the water and conditions, with tackle suitable for weedy areas and proper big-fish equipment on specimen waters. The river has a two-rod limit, and rod butts must stay within three metres of each other.

Access & tickets

Day tickets at Stoke Bardolph are for the Road Stretch only; the rest of the club's Stoke water is members-only.

Fish the club names

carp, tench, bream, pike, barbel, roach, chub, zander

Key rules

• The river has a two-rod rule.
• Rod butts must not be more than three metres apart on the lakes or river.
• Tench Lake is limited to two rods and keepnets are prohibited.
• Bait boats and rowing-style boats are allowed only under the club’s stated trial conditions. Approved life jackets are required when on the water.
• No boating is allowed to areas that cannot be reached by casting, such as around snags.
• Fires are prohibited except for authorised caretaking purposes.
• Cutting trees or reeds is prohibited; the club describes the venue as a wildlife reserve.
• Members must use appropriate big-fish equipment on specimen waters, including an unhooking mat, large landing net and carp-care medication.

Where it is