ODAA Members have access to some wonderful fishing on the Rother Fishery Association (RFA) waters on the River Rother and the Royal Military Canal. Look at the RFA website for full details which is: Rotherfisheryassociation.org

 

To briefly summarise for now though:

 

Firstly, some of the Rules are different, so make sure you understand them since the three bailiffs are always checking the waters and it is very unlikely you will have a day there without seeing one of them. Rules to be particularly aware of are: maximum two rods; no night fishing (dawn to dusk only); no bivvies; the ’traditional’ Close Season applies ie no fishing March 15th – June 15th inclusive.

 

As to what is on offer, there are several miles (about 7)  of the main River Rother you can fish, in different sections, starting at Robertsbridge and finishing at Wittersham (Blackwall Bridge.) 

 

All RFA waters are very clearly marked with signs, each with a green background with white text and each year we have four occasions when swims are cut on the various lengths we have to make access easy. There are fishable swims in abundance.

 

On the upper Rother (Robertsbridge down through Salehurst, then Udiam, and finally to Bodiam, see the very clear maps on the website) the river is mostly shallow, narrow, fast running with glides and deep pools, and with many overhanging trees. This tends to be suitable for one rod, one reel, roving fishing. The most common fish caught are chub, and I’ve had reports of fish to over 4 pounds in weight, but most British coarse fish are resident. Some very big sea trout have turned up on EA surveys. In some places, the river is many feet below the top of the bank, and I take a rope ladder with me to get down to some places at Salehurst, so be aware of that.

 

Opposite Bodiam Castle, the river begins to change character, becoming wider and slower, and at the next access point downstream (Newenden) it is a different river entirely, becoming quite a lot deeper (6-8 feet being common), much wider, and slower. In summer, the banks have a number of boats moored up, and since Covid, on a sunny day, there’s often many paddle boards and canoes going up and down, but the fish seem used to it all. Newenden is an excellent and popular fishery, and in winter, is a favoured pike venue. For those who enjoy non-carp fishing, it’s a great place to catch roach, bream, perch and rudd on the float, and there have been some hefty catches on winter matches.

 

Downstream from Newenden, we come to Blackwall Bridge, with more than a mile of wide, deep, fen-type river upstream of the bridge, leading up into Potman’s Heath channel, a Rother tributary. This water is also an excellent fishery, and is very popular with match groups. All the usual coarse fish species are present, and there are 106 swims each 20 or so yards apart, so plenty of room going all the way upstream and into the Potman’s Heath Channel, which is much shallower, narrower, very weedy, with many lilies. There is a rake on the gate at the end of the first field downstream from Potman’s Heath Bridge which you can borrow, members should contact ODAA to get the access code. Replace after use of course! This water can produce good catches of tench, but of course, not only that species, all the others too.

 

On the Royal Military Canal, there is six miles of single bank fishing all the way from Iden Lock to Warehorne Bridge. From Iden to Appledore Bridge, the fishing is on the west bank (access on the Military Road) and from Appledore Bridge it switches to the east bank. The canal turns away from the road at Pump House Cottage and the next access points are at Kenardington Bridge (where there is a private car park, access code available to members as above) and then the last access point is at Warehorne Bridge. For those who want to ‘get away from it all’ these two areas offer long stretches of very peaceful fishing. The canal in summer is always weedy and benefits from raking during fishing and at both Kenardington and Warehorne, there are rakes you can borrow chained to a post (the same code applies.) In winter, the canal is lowered by 2-3 feet so becomes very shallow, often less trhan 2 feet deep in places, but it still fishes well. It holds very good stocks of bream, roach, rudd, and perch throughout its length, and the very ‘natural’ (ie sizes not boosted by anglers’ bait!) tench fishing in particular can be excellent. Pike grow to very large sizes (fishing for pike is not permitted before October 1st in any season and is limited to RFA members only.) Eels these days are rare but are often very large.

 

ODAA members are RFA members and you may take a guest but you MUST first get one of the two free guest permits that each RFA affiliated club is given, contact ODAA to receive one through the post. Having said that, on both the canal, and at Blackwall Bridge, you can take a guest and then he or she buys a day ticket from the bailiff on the bank so you won’t need the club card.

 

Finally, I have produced small information (in colour) booklets which give full details of everything you need to know, contact the club if you want one (cost £2 each.)

 

Steve Crowley

ODAA Honorary Treasurer and RFA Organiser