The RFA
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The Club has been a member of the Rother Fisheries Association since the early 1980's. The Association was formed in 1872 and has the rights to twelve miles of the River Rother and a stretch of the Royal Military Canal. There are several sections of river that are detailed below.
Maps of the stretches are available to view and/or download here
www.rotherfisheryassociation.org/venue-maps
These waters are all subject to the traditional close season.
No night fishing is allowed on any RFA water.
Don't forget that all Club members must have an RFA sticker on their handbook before they fish RFA waters. If you think you will be fishing these waters please request an RFA sticker when purchasing your club membership.
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The RFA have there own website, if you would like to take a look click on the link below
www.rotherfisheryassociation.org
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​Robertsbridge to Udiam
Along this section the river is narrow and relatively shallow, with deeper pools that usually hold the better fish. Travelling light and roving around is often the best way to fish.
There are Chub, Roach, Brown Trout and the occasional Sea Trout in this stretch.
Udiam to Bodiam
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As this stretch heads downstream towards Bodiam the depth and width increases.
The flow is not quite as fast as the stretch above, but is still obvious.
The main species caught here are Bream, Roach, Tench, Pike and sometimes Eels.
Newenden (downstream)
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This is quite a short section of the river, but it is much deeper and slower than the stretch at Bodiam.
For anglers that can get through the shoals of Bleak, there are large Bream waiting beneath them.
There are also Pike and Eels as well.
Potmans Heath to Blackwall Bridge
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This section is wide and deep, with pronounced ledges beneath the surface on both the near and far banks.
With it's good parking and easy access at either end, this is a very well fished stretch of water.
There are good Bream and Tench here, as well as Bleak, Roach, Gudgeon, Eels and Pike.
Pike fishing in the winter is very popular with fish as big as 30lbs recorded in the past.
The Royal Military Canal (Iden Lock to Appledore Dam)
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This section of the canal is known to be one of the most productive.
The canal is up to 60 feet wide and up to 6 feet deep, although in winter when the water is lowered for flood defence purposes the level falls to around 3 feet.
The best fishing often occurs early in the morning or as dusk approaches, although no night fishing is allowed. The dense patches of lilies often hold more fish than the open water so fishing close to them can be the key to success.
This stretch has yielded Pike over 24lbs and Carp over 16lbs in the past and also contains good stocks of Roach, Bream and Tench.
