The canals are an excellent and thriving environment for fish. It is remarkable how quickly fish will migrate to newly restored sections of the canal and not only the variety but numbers of fish seem to blossom in the clear, relatively deep channel that the canal creates.
If you spend hours by the water, you learn to appreciate the natural world, and you’ll understand from fishing along the canal how important it is for wildlife. Please follow the ‘golden rules’ published by the Canal and Rivers Trust and the Environment Agency including:
There is further information on fishing in canals produced by the CRT and a detailed publication Angling and wildlife guidelines from the Environment Agency dealing with the protection of wildfowl all of which are protected species covered by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Currently there are two angling clubs which have licences on the SVCC controlled section of the canal between Brimscombe Port and Saul Junction. These are:
The Stroud and District Angling Club (which has been formed as a merger between the Stroud and District Angling Club and the Phoenix Angling Club). This club has the licence from Hope Mill to the Ocean with the exception of the pound between Bowbridge and Wallbridge Upper Locks.
Frampton Angling Club This club has the licence from the A38 roundabout to Lockham Bridge. There are areas that are excluded from these club licences including fishing within locks , within 25m of any lock or bridge and in the vicinity of any overhead power lines.A rod licence is required for anyone over the age of 12 although a free junior licence can be obtained by those between the ages of 13 and 16.
If you are fishing for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel with a rod and line there is a legal requirement to hold a fishing licence as explained here. There is an online procedure to report illegal fishing in England which can be used for used to report fishing out of season, fishing without a licence, the use of illegal equipment to catch fish, for example fixed lines or nets and the catching or trapping of protected types of fish. Membership of the Stroud and District Angling Club is open on payment of annual subscription. Under 16 years membership is free. The Secretary to the Stroud and District Angling Club can be contacted by email at contact@stroudangling.co.uk.There are several high voltage electricity cables which either cross the canal or run adjacent to it. There are warning notices indicating where these cables are and it is strictly forbidden to fish within 30 metres of these warning signs.