Fordwich Complex

The Fordwich lake complex is situated in the Stour Valley downstream from Fordwich. You approach the area from Canterbury on the A28 until you reach Sturry where you take the right turn immediately before the pedestrian crossing to Fordwich.

Following the road past The George and Dragon Hotel, round a sharp left hand bend, and where the road next turns sharply to the right, you have on your left The Fordwich Arms and in front of you to the left, Fordwich Church.

Going down past the church is a private road known as The Drove, which has a 5mph speed restriction. Follow The Drove to the end where you come to our locked car park.

Members using this or any of our other parking places must display a current CDAA membership car sticker.

FORDWICH LAKE

Fordwich Lake is a mature water with made up fishing places and platforms set in extremely beautiful countryside with a wide variety of bird life. Fordwich Lake adjoins the car park and is approximately 33 acres. It was formed as a result of ground excavation using the drag line method which has given it an almost unique bed formation. The first half of the lake was dug in an east west direction and the further half from north south leaving gravel bars or ridges and islands with deep troughs between giving depths varying from a few centimetres to the occasional 3 to 6 metres (10 – 20 feet), with an overall average of about 1.6 metres (5 feet).

STOUR AND TRENLEY LAKE

The whole of Stour Lake is available for fishing and all but a small section of Trenley Lake, which is clearly marked with notices in the Southeast corner of the lake The only access to both waters is from the Fordwich car park. Having parked their cars, members may then follow the footpath adjacent to the river for about half a mile. At the end of Fordwich Lake members will come to the Trout Pool with Trenley Lake to the right and by continuing along the river bank for a quarter mile will find Stour Lake.

Since the acquisition of these two lakes a great deal of work has been carried out to improve both the banks and the fishing. Landscaping and tree planting as well as improvements to swims and an extensive fish-stocking programme have resulted in the lakes being not only pleasant to fish but also very productive

In recent years Stour Lake has been stocked with carp. Carp fishing is allowed on Stour & Trenley Lakes except for the North bank of Trenley which is reserved for course fishing.

TROUT POOL

The trout pool is nestled in-between Fordwich, Stour and Trenley lakes.

Tickets are available from Associations Headquarters and members may book up to one week in advance. Each ticket is a whole day, prices and conditions may vary and are posted up at Headquarters, the present cost (April 2024) for a ticket is £12.00. Anglers may catch a maximum of 4 fish, 2 of which may be retained. Accompanied junior members who book in advance may purchase a half price ticket for a single fish. Fishing is fly only. The Trout Pool is open for most of the year but is often closed during very hot weather for July and August. Phone Headquarters on 01227710830 to confirm closing dates. Association policy is that the Trout Pool is a self-financing operation and that only sufficient income is derived from it to cover overheads.