Llangollen Canal – Ellesmere Stretch

The Ellesmere Arm of the Llangollen Canal is a proper canal stretch near Ellesmere, Shropshire. It runs between Ellesmere Town Wharf and the main canal junction, with roughly 3.5 miles of water to explore. This includes Ellesmere Basin and the visitor moorings, so there’s a recognisable starting point before you begin hunting out a likely-looking swim.

• 2 lakes: Ellesmere Arm, Ellesmere Basin
• Fish: roach, perch, bream, tench, carp, pike
• Tickets from: Adult Waterway Wanderers permit — bought from 1 April 2026 — £28
• Find it: Ellesmere · SY12 0GD

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

The Ellesmere Arm of the Llangollen Canal is a proper canal stretch near Ellesmere, Shropshire. It runs between Ellesmere Town Wharf and the main canal junction, with roughly 3.5 miles of water to explore. This includes Ellesmere Basin and the visitor moorings, so there’s a recognisable starting point before you begin hunting out a likely-looking swim.

Fishing here is run through the Canal & River Trust’s Waterway Wanderers scheme. You’ll need a valid permit before wetting a line, and it lasts for 12 months from the purchase date. The adult permit is £28 for permits bought from 1 April 2026, with concessionary permits at £18 and junior permits at £7 for anglers aged 16 or under on the purchase date. You’ll also need a separate Environment Agency rod licence.

The fishing is classic canal fare. Roach, perch and bream are listed as typical catches, with tench, carp and pike also present. So there’s a decent mixed-fish angle here, whether you fancy building a silverfish net, picking off perch or having a cheeky look for a carp. As ever on a new canal, a bit of walking and watching can save plenty of faff before you commit to a peg.

Access is generally via bridges, lanes and the towpath. The Ellesmere Arm visitor moorings are suitable for towpath walking and wheeled access, but accessible pegs are only partial and depend on the entry point and towpath condition. Parking immediately beside the pegs isn’t listed as available, so pack with the walk in mind. A light setup, sensible tackle bag and a bit of spare bait will make moving between swims much easier.

There are no toilets listed on the towpath, so it’s worth planning your session around the facilities actually available. The visitor moorings are limited to 48 hours too. Before fishing, check the water at the access point, look for comfortable pegs and watch how the towpath is being used. Canal swims can change quickly with boat traffic, walkers and varying bank access, so staying flexible is bob on.

The rules need a proper read before setting off. A maximum of two rods may be used per permit, and no fishing is allowed within 25 metres of locks, swing bridges or water points. Fishing near overhead power lines is prohibited, fish must not be removed, and non-native species such as zander must not be returned under the relevant permit conditions. Keepnets need pegging out sensibly, and you must carry your permit for authorised bailiffs or Canal & River Trust staff to check. There’s no advertised night-fishing provision, so confirm the current rules before planning anything after dark.

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 — “A proper towpath canal venue around Ellesmere, with roughly 3.5 miles of Waterway Wanderers fishing on the Ellesmere Arm. Expect classic canal fare — roach, perch, bream, tench, occasional carp and pike — with a permit needed before you wet a line.”

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.