River Thames — Bablock Hythe to Paxford Bridge

The lowdown

• After a quieter bit of the Thames? The Alliance describes this stretch as quiet and picturesque. That’s the character here: a riverside towpath stretch, with fishing running downstream from Bablock Hythe to Pinkhill.
• The starting point is nice and straightforward: fishing begins when you enter the field at Bablock Hythe. Use that as your upstream starting marker rather than assuming the fishing carries on beyond it.
• Keep to the right-hand bank as you head downstream, following the towpath. That direction matters, so get yourself facing downstream before sorting out which bank to fish. Saves a bit of unnecessary faff.
• Paxford Bridge at Pinkhill is the advertised downstream limit. Those two named endpoints are your guide to the fishing; don’t treat the rest of the river as part of the same permission.
• Roach, perch, pike and chub are the principal fish named for this stretch. A cracking mix of species to have in mind, without turning that list into a promise about what’s in any particular swim.
• Coming by car, take Bablock Hythe Road from Eaton village. The road ends in the car park, so the parking directions give you a clear destination rather than leaving you hunting for an unnamed roadside spot.
• This is Alliance membership fishing, not an advertised public day-ticket stop. Get your digital permit sorted before heading for the bank, and remember that swims cannot be reserved. No saving a cheeky peg for later.

Methods: Fancy lure fishing? Wire traces are required. For any approach, bring a suitably padded unhooking mat or cradle and a landing net of at least 36 inches.

Access & tickets

Get an Alliance coarse-fishing permit through its online shop, and carry the official digital permit as proof of membership. The checked shop does not list a public one-day ticket.

Fish the club names

roach, perch, pike, chub

Key rules

• Carry an official Alliance digital permit as proof of membership. Under-12s may fish free when accompanied by a senior member aged 18 or over.
• Night fishing is prohibited unless a special notice permits it; no venue exception is given.
• A maximum of three rods is allowed, with the appropriate EA licence.
• Do not reserve swims. Remove rods and tackle from the water when leaving your swim.
• Carp, barbel and pike must not be retained in keepnets.
• Carry a suitably padded unhooking mat or cradle and a landing net of at least 36 inches.
• Wire traces are required for lure fishing.
• Keep dogs on leads and remove their waste. Littering and fires are prohibited.

River level

Where it is