LEE ANGLERS' CONSORTIUM

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Lea Bridge to Old Ford

Location

This section of the River Lee runs through the east-end of London with several easy access points.

Description

When the LAC took control of the Lee Navigation in 1992 this stretch was a prime winter fishery . Unfortunately cormorant predation decimated the large roach and dace shoals to a point where they have never recovered. Very few anglers fish this area now and there is little feed back to be able to gauge the exact fish population.

Immediately below Lea Bridge Road is the weir that is the limit of the tidal Lea and takes excess water from the Lee Navigation. The tidal Lee below this weir is not under the control of the LAC.

The area around the weir was an extremely good fishery in the winter months as the roach, dace, chub and bream shoaled up here before spawning. Bags of fish in excess of 20 lbs were regularly taken from the short section of tow-path outside the ‘Prince of Wales’ P. H. Because the weir takes water from the main channel the river downstream is almost still. The only movement is the result of lock movements at Old Ford. Therefore most of the species found in this section are those you would normally associate with still-waters such as bream, tench, roach, perch and carp.

Downstream the next area is the section between Homerton Road and the Eastway. The grass bank is low which makes fishing more comfortable. There are a number of lily-pads on the near-side in this area and they can hold large tench. The carp favour the shallow areas on the far-bank.

Downstream of Carpenters Road the river deepens and joins the Hertford Union Canal. Tench, bream and perch may be caught in the summer while in the winter it can be a holding area for pike seeking roach shoals.

  Old Ford Lock upstream

Section Tips

• Those trying the ‘Prince of Wales’ area will use either a waggler or long pole towards the far bank over loose feed .
• In the Homerton Rd area the perch tend to forage along the near-side shelf. Maggot or worm is usually best.
• Sweet-corn may account for the tench but caster is usually better for the bream.