Follow these simple steps to successfully rent fishing rights on our canal and river network.
- Email us to get a list of waters available in your area. You can also check our Waterway Wanderers scheme list, although this may be less accurate as negotiations with a club could already be in progress.
- Meet one of our fisheries and angling technical specialists on site to discuss the details of the fishery. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and find out whether renting fishing rights is the right option for you. Fees and the duration of agreements vary from place to place and are normally negotiated at this stage.
- Complete and return the formal letter and acceptance form.
- Sign and return the legal agreement document covering the fishing rights in question. Have a look at our standard agreement for fishing rights and standard reservoir agreement.
- You must hold third-party public liability insurance to the value of no less than £10 million. Although there are several providers of this service, many clubs choose to obtain insurance through the Angling Trust.
- Once the agreement starts, your club can sell day permits or temporary day memberships if you wish, or you can keep the fishery for members only. Where a fishery was formerly part of the Waterway Wanderers scheme, you must honour all valid season permits issued prior to the commencement of your agreement..
- Anglers may fish the fishery from licensed moored boats but your controlling club is entitled to charge day or annual membership. Please note: purchase of a boat licence does not allow people to fish free of charge from their craft.
- Clubs have to provide bailiffs to patrol the whole length. There will inevitably be part of the overall length where fishing is not permitted, such as near overhead powerlines, in lock chambers and within 25 metres of a lock approach. The club will have responsibility for the bailiffing of these sections. Training for club bailiffs is available (legally known as water keepers) is available.
You're good to go!
