Bodium
About
Bodiam
his fishery on the River Rother by Bodiam Castle was purchased by the society back in 1988 and has proved to be one of our finest waters, albeit somewhat underused due to its distance from the south London area where many of our members live. It is situated in the most beautiful countryside and is so peaceful and quiet save the sound of birdsong, the occasional walker ,nearby steam train and the pleasure boat that plies its trade during the summer months. We share the castle end of the fishery with the National Trust and have access to the tea room and toilets.
The water is accessed via the Castle grounds via a key code and five bar gate which is updated every season. Once you have accessed the entrance follow the gravel track which runs around the right hand side of the castle, over a cattle grid and follow the track past a cottage and smallholding until you reach a hillock and brick pumping station. Drive over the hillock and follow the grass track by the side in the ditch, after about 400metes you will then arrive at the end of the fishery. You now have a stretch of available water to your right approximately one and a quarter miles of bank going back towards the Castle. Even better is that you can drive directly to your desired comfortable swim.
In the winter when the ground is wet it is wise to park in the castle car park (on the gravel, not the grass) and access the top end of the fishery via the fence.
The water itself meanders with steady current with lots of fishy bends and depths varying from three feet to around eight feet. The water contains a fine head of roach, skimmers, bream, perch, tench and chub. The water also contains and carp and pike, the latter of which are regularly fished for during the winter months. The fish respond well to caster, tare and hempseed for the roach in summer (plenty of fish up to 1 pound and reports of larger specimens). Groundbait for the skimmers and bream. Other useful baits are maggot, worm and corn. The top end of the fishery up by the castle is the area to try for chub to four pound plus especially in the Autumn.
Bodiam is a great fishery and it would be wonderful to see it being used by our members, hope to see you on the water.
Lake Rules
Fishery Rules
Access to the far end is now controlled by a gate code
( Access To Code is in the Membership book )
No fishing within 30 metres of overhead powerlines
During dry conditions you may drive out of the castle car park as indicated and follow the track down to the far end of the fishery over the flood bank by the brick building and follow the river bank round to the right parking may be made along the river bank. No parking or driving on the floodbank. Do not block the pathway for other users
Parking at both ends of fishery as conditions allow
Winter parking to be made in the main castle car park.
The start of the section is over the first stile the end is at the Kent Ditch