LEE ANGLERS' CONSORTIUM
Click on River Guides above and use green drop down menu to flip between map and text
Ware Town
Location
Ware Town is about 8 miles north of the M25 and 2 miles south of Hertford, to the east of the A10. Take the Viaduct Road off the A1170 continue over the river bridge and bear left into High Street and there is a car park on left with access to towing path via footbridge.
Ware Lock and weir downstream
P
Description This is a deep slow moving section for most of the year although when
there is a lot of rain it can become fast and coloured. There is plenty of in-stream
weed which provides an excellent habitat for the fish though at times it can make
fishing difficult especially in the summer months.
The early pegs have plenty of tree cover on both banks. In addition to the roach and bream this section can produce some chub and quality perch. In winter the early pegs near the lock can hold pike.
From the car park footbridge down to the Road bridge the bank is low and level. 
Unfortunately
is also well used by cyclists and walkers at the weekend and extreme care needs to
be taken. All species are to found but as it is hardly fished these days and, therefore,
its potential is unknown. The area opposite the Saracens Head P. H. is used regularly
to feed the large head of wildfowl and therefore can be productive for roach to pole
fished breadpunch. There is also a good chance of landing one of good chub that roam
up and down the off-side of this section.
Good punchbread swims at beginning of Town stretch
Below the road bridge fishing is not permitted for a short section where there is a barrier and thereafter residential development too close to the river's edge has spoilt the ecology of the area.
Below this barrier is the section known locally as ‘The flats’ or ‘Wickhams’. This section is much wider and the waggler or feeder can work well here especially for the shoals of large bream that are to be found in this area. However, it can be very weedy.
Just above the footbridge is a spill weir on the off-side which is the Ware Tumbling Bay leading to a section of the old River Lea. This is strictly private and is controlled by Ware AC.
Below the footbridge the river narrows and is weed fringed. Some good bags of perch can be taken in this section while further down towards Hardmead Lock there are plenty of good sized carp in the summer with excellent pike fishing in the winter. Roach shoals can turn up anywhere along this stretch.
- Section Tips
- Breadpunch is by far the best bait in this section but be careful of the wildfowl. The pegs immediately north of the town bridge are best but probably you will have to fish just above the birds to avoid problems.
- Chopped worm above and below the town will account for perch and also downstream decent size bream may show when there is a little colour in the river.
- The deep town stretch is a busy towpath but can throw some big chub to all methods.
- Small fish are usually at the mouth of the Manifold Ditch when it is flowing hard into river.
When the river starts too run hard the town stretch is best avoided.