Where to Fish

15 miles of great fishing on the GUC and canalised River Soar in Leicestershire

Leicester Mile Straight

Location:

This city centre stretch of the canalised river soar is best accessed via Upperton Road bridge or Newarke Street bridge. Parking is limited to Western and Eastern Boulevards where parking fees may apply.

Fishing is from the concrete embankment stretching from Leicester City FC, down past Newark street bridge

Species:

Famous for its bream and carp fishing in the 1970s due to the hot water outfall from the now demolished power station, this section sees very little angling these days, but contains a good mixture of coarse fish including roach, bream, tench, carp etc.

Top Tips:

Bridges are well known fish holding spots, especially in winter and at times of bright sunshine and clear water.

Aylestone Riverside Park

Location:

This section is well signposted off the A426 Lutterworth Road heading towards Leicester. The Riverside park has a Free designated car park available to anglers and other riverside users.

Species:

A few hundred yards above the lock, there are some conker trees on the far bank and this is a well known chub area. Roach, perch and other species are also present.

Top Tips:

Below the lock is a small section known as the ‘Dead Arm’ due to the backwater near Aylestone Road taking the flow out of the canal for a few hundred yards. This section can be particularly good when the canalised river Soar above is carrying flood water.

Canal Street Bridge

Location:

Access to Canal Street Bridge is via Granby Road, just off the A426 Lutterworth Road. There is ample parking close to Saint Andrews Football Club.

Species:

Most coarse fish can be found in this section, with an increasing number of dace and chub due to the confluence of the river Soar at Kings Lock.

Top Tips:

The chub average 3lbs, but specimens in excess of 5lbs have been caught in matches. Look for over-hanging trees, bushes and tree roots if you want to target the chub specifically.

Kings Lock

Location:

There is a free car park adjacent to Kings Lock at the bottom of Marsden Lane off the A426 Lutterworth Road.

Immediately below Kings Lock is where the River Soar enters the Grand Union Canal (GUC) and its at this point that the GUC becomes the canalised River Soar. The Environment Agency does not allow fishing on the canalised river Soar from 15th March to 15th June inclusive. Above Kings lock, anglers are permitted to fish year round.

Species:

Above Kings Lock, there is a real mixture of species to be caught including roach, bream, tench and perch. Below the lock and due to the confluence of the river Soar, additional species like dace and chub can also be caught.

Top Tips:

Below Kings Lock, you are effectively fishing a small river, so look to fish near known fish holding areas such as over-hanging trees as well as in the main flow of the river.

Blaby

Location:

Access and parking is on New Bridge Road just on the outskirts of Blaby via the A426. This location also provides access for anglers looking to fish the ‘County Arms’ section of the canal between Blaby and Glen Parva.

Species:

Roach, skimmer bream and Perch are the most popular species to be caught. Carp and tench can also put in an appearance as can the odd chub.

Top Tips:

In the winter months when boat traffic is minimal, fish can often be found in the middle of the canal in the ‘boat track’ where the water is deeper.

Glen Parva

Location:

This large section can be accessed at several points with the most popular being close to the Manor Pub and Restaurant on the Little Glen Rd between Blaby and Glen Parva. Parking is on the slip road adjacent to the Manor Pub.

Species:

Roach and skimmer bream are the main species on this section, but make sure your tackle is up to handling the odd bonus tench and carp!

Top Tips:

Bread, both punched and in small flakes is a great and cheap all year round bait that catches most fish and in particular the roach and bream in the Autumn/Winter months.

Crow Mills

Location:

This popular section is just a few minutes drive from South Wigston on the Countesthorpe Road. There is a designated free car park (height restrictions apply).

Species:

This section is best known for its prolific tench fishing, although it also contains a good mixture of most coarse species including carp. If you are looking to target the tench, then fish early or late in the day close to features like over-hanging bushes and reed beds.

Kilby Bridge

Location:

Access is near to the Navigation Inn Pub on the A5199 approx 2 miles south of Wigston. Parking is on the grass verge on both sides of the A5199 (do not park in the pub car park).

Species:

A mixture of coarse fish, including roach, bream, perch and tench. This section of the canal benefited some years ago from the stocking of several thousand small carp by British Waterways. Since this time, these fish have thrived with fish now in excess of 20lbs being caught.

Top Tips:

If you can put-up with the boat traffic, check out the turning basin just down from the pub where there is a large resident shoal of bream.