42 – River Severn – Hawkbatch

River level

The lowdown

• Water number 42 is run by The White Swan Piscatorials, a club founded way back in 1902.
• The fishing runs through three meadows. The downstream meadow is much smaller than the other two, so it has a slightly tighter feel.
• There’s a good mix of shallow water and deeps. Handy if you fancy switching between trotting, feeder work and looking for a bigger bite.
• The river bed is generally sandstone. Proper solid stuff, and it can be hard on terminal tackle, so take a few spare hooks and rigs.
• This is described as a good all-round middle Severn fishery. Barbel and chub are the obvious targets, with roach, dace, perch and pike also named.
• Bream and rudd are on the club’s species list too, along with eel, occasional trout and salmon.
• Access is described as good, although the forest track can turn rough after heavy rain. The entrance is beside a cottage on the B4194, just over two miles from Bewdley.
• You need to sign in at Hawkbatch Farm before fishing. Bank parking also means signing in and paying a fee there, with the club saying the fee goes to charity.
• The drive from the track entrance to the farmhouse is approximately 1,268 yards through the forest. Livestock may be present in fields where parking is allowed.
• Guest tickets run from sunrise to sunset and cannot be booked on the day. Members need their current membership certificate, and everyone needs a current Environment Agency rod licence.

Methods: A cracking spot for flexible river tactics: trot the shallower runs for roach and dace, or put a feeder into the deeper water for barbel and chub. Keep tackle sensible for the sandstone bed, and have a cheeky change of swim if the first one’s quiet.

Access & tickets

The water is run by The White Swan Piscatorials. 2026 membership is full, with applications being accepted for the 2027 waiting list. Guest tickets must be booked through Clubmate by 11pm on the day before fishing, and the guest must be accompanied by the responsible member.

Fish the club names

barbel, chub, roach, pike, perch, trout, eel, bream, rudd

Key rules

• During the coarse-fishing closed season, 15 March to 15 June, only salmon fishing and fly fishing for trout are permitted.
• Coarse fishing for freshwater fish is prohibited on club river fisheries from 15 March to 15 June.
• Club members must carry a current membership certificate while fishing.
• Members and guests must have a current Environment Agency rod licence.
• Two rods are permitted all year, subject to club conditions.
• Fishing from boats is prohibited on club waters.
• Camping, picnic parties and fires require the landowner’s permission.
• Unleashed dogs, swimming and leaving rods unattended are not allowed. Brown trout, grayling and salmon must be returned immediately.

Where it is