Clanfield — Radcot Lock to Rushey Lock (Clanfield AC)

River level

The lowdown

• This is Clanfield Angling Club water on the River Thames, with the club established way back in 1951. A decent bit of history behind it.
• The club says its main water has over 94 pegs, so there’s plenty of room to go hunting for a swim rather than squeezing in shoulder to shoulder.
• For most of the season, weather permitting, members can drive right to their peg. That’s a proper bonus when you’ve got a barrow, feeder gear or a mountain of kit.
• The water holds roach, chub, dace and perch. A nice all-round Thames line-up, with plenty to keep a float angler busy and enough variety for a change of approach.
• The club has carried out habitat work on the Radcot-to-Rushey section. There’s fish-passage gravel, a fenced area, a cattle drinking point, a refuge backwater and in-river wood habitat.
• There’s also an additional north-bank section opposite the Trout Inn, three fields downstream of Tadpole Bridge. That bit has 16 pegs.
• Take extra care around the north-bank section: power cables cross it, and the club says not to fish between the warning signs. No heroic casting under the wires, please.
• Parking on that north-bank section is limited to the layby. Keep gates clear and don’t park in front of them — a small faff that saves a big headache.
• The club’s main water is accessed via Marsh Lane, Clanfield. Vehicle access to many pegs makes this a fairly straightforward stretch to tackle.
• The club rules live in the membership book, and breaches can lead to a permanent ban. Worth having a proper read before settling into the swim.

Methods: Float fishing and trotting should suit the named roach, dace and perch, while chub are always a good reason to explore the crease, cover and slower edges. Feeder work is another sensible Thames approach when the flow has a bit of colour or the fish are holding off the main pace.

Access & tickets

Membership is available from States Tackle in Witney and R.V.'s Tackle in Clanfield. Gate access keys cost £15, with the charge refundable if the angler does not re-join.

Fish the club names

roach, chub, perch, trout

Key rules

• Follow the rules in the membership book.
• Rule breaches can result in a permanent ban from the club’s waters.
• Do not fish between the warning signs on the north-bank section beneath the power cables.
• On the north-bank section, park only in the layby.
• Do not park in front of gates.

Where it is