River Sections
Pavenham lies upstream of Bedford most noted for its specimen chub (7lb+), barbel (‘double figures’) and perch (3lb+), but other species (e.g. roach, dace, pike, and bream) are present. This 1 mile stretch has a variety of depths and flows and it is best to travel light as accessing the river involves a walk of at least 400 yards from the parking areas.
The relatively short 275 yard stretch of river adjacent to Willington Lake is located downstream of Bedford where chub (6lb+) are the dominant species, but with a good mix of other species (e.g. roach, dace, pike and bream). This area also harbours a good head of river carp with fish to well over 20lb present.
The 350 yard section behind Little Barford power station is located just upstream of St Neots and is an excellent mixed fishery noted for large river carp, tench and zander in addition to the usual river species. The sheltered pegs are located on a relatively flat bank, which lend themselves to both float and ledger tactics.
The Ouse at Little Paxton offers two miles of available bank. The upstream Lammas Meadow section is renowned for its shoals of bream. The river then splits in two with the navigable arm containing a good head of normal river species. The other arm flows through a large weir pool that contains a vast number of species. Mostly noted for barbel into double figures, many predator species are present including zander (10lb+), pike (20lb+) and catfish, the usual river species (including 6lb+ chub and 8lb+ bream), a good head of eels and the occasional large 20lb+ river carp. The weir pool swims are the most popular due to their proximity of the car park. Moving further downstream the two arms rejoin and the river becomes wider with swims of varying depths.
SDAA controls the fishing rights on the Great Ouse in four separate locations, each with varying characteristics and dominant species
The River Ivel is a well known tributary of the Great Ouse. Less well known are the small rivers Hit and Flit, which join in Shefford to form the once navigable Ivel Navigation (River Flit) that joins the Ivel near Langford. SDAA controls 5 miles of fishing rights from Shefford downstream to Jordans Mill near the village of Broom. Many of these river stretches are quite narrow, but offer some excellent fishing producing chub >6lb and perch >4lb in the past. Dace, roach and chub (plus the occasional trout) dominate the upstream reaches. As you move downstream increasing numbers of perch and pike are found, as well as the odd barbel, bream, tench and carp..
