Angling on the Basingstoke Canal

Fishing on the canal is on a catch and release basis only.

All anglers on the canal are required to have an Environment Agency rod licence and a fishing permit issued by the Basingstoke Canal Authority. It is an offence to fish without both of these.

Fishing is allowed from the towpath side only and by rod and line (two rods maximum.)

No fishing from any floating craft, public wharf or within 20 metres of any lock, bridge or aqueduct. Take all fishing tackle and litter home.

The Canal is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a close season applies 15 March to 15 June, where no fishing is permitted for the entirety of the canal to allow fish spawning.

Angling in 2025-2026

The Basingstoke Canal is a mainly rural, man-made waterway, running through West Surrey and North Hampshire. The waterway is owned by Surrey and Hampshire County Councils and operate under a joint brand known as the Basingstoke Canal Authority (BCA).

Surveys suggest that the Canal has a healthy self-stocked population of coarse fish.

The BCA manages the angling on the Basingstoke Canal after the closure of the Basingstoke Canal Angling Association (BCAA). All money raised through the sale of angling permits and tickets for the Canal go directly back to the management and maintenance of this SSSI in accordance with the Canal's Conservation Management Plan.

• all permits and day tickets need to be purchased online via the BCA's web shop
• your permit or day ticket will be unique to you, in a digital format
• annual permit holders will be emailed a permit card to print off and attach their photo (passport size) as proof they are the permit holder
• your acceptance of rules and terms of use and canal bylaws is required during the purchase of your annual permit or day ticket
• the BCA has published its own angling rules
• the BCA staff will undertake permit checks on the bank and may be joined by the police or EA bailiffs
• if you want to organise a fishing match you will need to register your application as an event and participants need to hold an annual permit or valid day ticket

Prices

Day permits

Adults (16-64) £5.00
Concessions (65yrs +, Blue Badge, Military ID) £3.00
Juniors (12-15yrs) £3.00
Juniors (Under 12yrs) FREE OF CHARGE

Buy an angling day permit

Annual permits

Adults (16-64) £35.00
Concessions (65yrs +, Blue Badge, Military ID) £25.00
Juniors (12-15yrs) £25.00
Juniors (Under 12yrs) FREE OF CHARGE

Buy an angling annual permit

Canal angling rules

The BCA has published its own angling rules.