TWAPSFishing at Paddock Wood
Paddock Wood is a mixed fishery.
Note: fishing at Paddock Wood is currently suspended until further notice. This includes both the lake and the River Medway.
See tabs below for all essential information and points of interest about fishing at Paddock Wood (Kent).
Known species:
Canal Lake:
Common and mirror carp up to 20lb plus
Roach
Rudd
Perch
Bream
Eels
Pike
Hybrids
River Medway:
Chub
Dace
Roach
Barbel
Bream
Perch
Pike
General Information
Note: TWAPS recommends that for fishing the River Medway, as the river bank is very steep and can be extremely dangerous, anglers should take their own knotted rope (at least 10m in length) and buoyancy aid or life preserver.
In June 2013, TWAPS entered into a shared lease agreement with Darent Otters, giving members only, access to 1 lake (‘Canal Lake’) and approximately 425m, (¼ mile) stretch of the River Medway, near Paddock Wood in Kent. Fishing is available all year round, except for the River Medway, which is subject to the close season (no fishing between 15th March and 15th June inclusive). Night fishing is allowed.
This fishery is situated in a working quarry which was controlled and run by J. Clubb Ltd, and is now under new ownership. The site is very big and there is a long walk from the designated car park, so travelling light is advised, particularly if fishing the Medway.
Access to the site is obtained by the loan of a key from the designated key holder (see below) on a short-term basis. If members would like to borrow a key, please call a few days in advance of your intended fishing session to allow time of arrangements to collect the key to be made. The loss or non-return of a loaned key, or fishing without a key and being locked in the car park will incur a charge.
The lake, which is the closest to the car park and known as the ‘Canal Lake’, is about 1 acre in size, with an even depth down the middle of 2m from end to end. Members who have fished it have caught carp to around 20lb+, roach, rudd, perch, bream, eels, pike and hybrids. The stock in the lake is unclear as it has been flooded several times by the Medway over the years and it is suspected that a number of fish had ‘escaped’. However, there is still plenty of fish in the lake and members continue to catch.
Very strict rules govern access and use of this fishery and juniors must be accompanied by a Society adult member at all times.
The Society has the rights to fish the North bank on the River Medway between the road bridge, A228 Boyle Way and the railway bridge.
There are the usual coarse fish in the river, including chub, dace, roach, barbel, bream, perch and pike etc.
The river bank is overgrown in places, so some bank side clearance may be necessary. A long-handled landing net is also advised.
Note: The footbridge is strictly out of bounds, as is the opposite side of the River.
The site is a working quarry and is governed by the Mine & Quarry Act, and the Quarry Manager has the final say. Whilst on the site care must be taken as there are the customary heavy goods vehicles regularly moving in and out of the quarry. Being a strictly members only water, prospective members may only view the water if accompanied by a Bailiff or Committee Member.
Obtaining a key
Please use the TWAPS website contact page to request keys.
Access
A sketch map of this fishery’s location can be found here.
Nearest postcode: TN12 5HN
What3Words: ///parting.announce.lifestyle
This fishery is situated in a working quarry, previously controlled and run by J. Clubb Ltd, and now under new ownership.
The site very big and there are long walks from the designated car park to the waters, so travelling light is advised.
Access to the site is obtained by the loan of a key on a short term basis. Please contact Phil Townsend on 07879 854030 to request keys.
The loss of a loaned key, or fishing without a key and being locked in the car park will incur a charge.
Keys are loaned for a period of 14 days, if a loaned key is not returned within 3 days after the loan period, the Member’s fishing permit will be suspended until the key is returned.
As the site is a working quarry it is governed by the Mine & Quarry Act. and the quarry manager has the final say.
Whilst on the site care must be taken as there are the customary heavy goods vehicles regularly moving in and out of the quarry.
Being a strictly members only water, prospective members may only view the water by pre-arrangement, if accompanied by a Bailiff or Committee Member.
Courtesy of Bailiff Mark Robertson, during May 2022 the Paddock Wood fishery has had a tidy up.
