NEW CUT, LONG REACH & THE SHALLOWS

 The first section down from the Leigh Barrier is “New-cut” so called as it was created to straighten the river when the barrier was constructed. The steep, manmade banks discourage some anglers, but a big head of large fish lurk here. Bream nets of 40lb + are quite common, along with good roach and occasional chub. A number of small barbel, 1lb to 8lb, have been taken. The best fish, at 12lb 4oz, has only been caught once and that was in 2003. It should be much larger now. A surprise 8 lb 11oz sturgeon came to day ticket angler Dave Ball when he was after bream using sweetcorn.                                       

Long reach has a towpath one side and is heavily wooded the other. This section of the Medway suits most tastes. Bream bags of 30lb are common; 70lb has been reported. Good roach and chub also come to waggler and feeder methods. A monster 3lb Roach believed to be the largest roach taken from the Medway was caught by Tom White from long Reach. If you like bleak bashing, the summer will provide a multitude of them. This is probably why large pike and perch also inhabit the margins and can be caught with sprats or mackerel dead baits.                                                                                   

The Shallows was once the pride of Tonbridge, until the flow was cut off to facilitate the Leigh Barrier. The shallows is no longer the fast flowing stream over gravel beds that older members still talk about, but it does holds a large head of roach, perch and chub, with the occasional bream showing. It is a refuge for silver fish when the main river is in spate and can then produce large catches, the winter pike fishing is excellent

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This is a members and day ticket water,

Day tickets obtainable on the bank from  bailiffs

Parking at Haysden Country Park and Barden Park

Toilets at Haysden Country Park car park

Dawn to Dusk fishing only

NO NIGHT FISHING

park opening times as displayed at entrances