The Bourne Eau is a short canal stretch of just 1.2km offering diverse coarse fishing opportunities despite its poor condition. This urban waterway holds a good variety of species including pike, perch, and cyprinids, making it attractive to visiting anglers seeking mixed bag fishing. However, the degraded water quality and struggling fish populations mean success rates may be inconsistent.
Bourne Eau holds bream, chub, roach, rudd, tench, dace, perch, pike, gudgeon, eel, bleak, ruffe. Pike are the apex predator on this canal — lure and deadbait tactics both produce well in autumn and winter.
An Environment Agency rod licence is required alongside a Canal & River Trust day or annual fishing licence. Both available online.
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To fish Bourne Eau, you need a valid Environment Agency rod licence, available from gov.uk, plus a Canal & River Trust fishing licence or day permit. Both can be purchased online before your visit. Day tickets, weekly and annual CRT licences are all available.
The towpath alongside Bourne Eau provides bank access for most of its length. Some stretches may be managed by local angling clubs — check for club-only water before setting up. Always leave gates as you find them and take all litter home.