River Trent – Watersmeet, Burton upon Trent

The lowdown

• This is a stretch where plenty of swims remain undefined, rather than every spot having a clearly laid-out peg. Take a little time to look over your options before settling in; there’s no published peg total to work from.
• The pipe-bridge swim is the named feature to keep in mind for chub. Coors specifically mentions large chub here, making it a handy starting point if that’s the fish you fancy targeting — not a promise of a bite, mind.
• A short section opposite the island has slower water. That gives you a different pace to consider when choosing a swim, though don’t assume that gentler flow carries on along the whole stretch.
• Some swims have high banks, so getting comfortably set up deserves a bit of thought. Check your footing and how you’ll reach the water with the landing net before you unpack the lot.
• Access comes through double gates beyond Baileys Meadow. The livestock notice makes this foot access only, and vehicles aren’t allowed on Watersmeet meadow. Keeping your kit manageable should save a fair bit of faff.
• Bulls in the field can mean a temporary closure. Check the notices on Baileys gates before heading through with your tackle; an access restriction takes priority over whatever swim you had your eye on.
• It’s strictly dawn-to-dusk fishing, so leave yourself time to pack away. Chub, roach, barbel, pike, carp and bream are named, but there’s no seasonal breakdown supplied to turn into promises about when they’ll be on the munch.

Methods: Use the slower opposite-island water as a starting point when deciding between a float or feeder approach, rather than assuming one setup suits the lot. For a chub-focused session, the pipe-bridge swim is the club’s named pointer.

Access & tickets

Apply to Coors Angling Club for membership; applications need committee approval. No river day-ticket offer is published.

Fish the club names

chub, roach, barbel, pike, carp, bream

Key rules

• Fish strictly dawn to dusk.
• Access is foot only under the published livestock notice; vehicles are prohibited on Watersmeet meadow.
• Dogs are prohibited.
• Observe temporary closures when bulls occupy the field; notices are posted on Baileys gates.
• Carry your membership card and EA rod licence.
• Specimen anglers must use unhooking mats and suitably sized landing nets.

River level

Where it is