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1 species listed
Anglers here can target brown trout.
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1 club or syndicate
Membership water on the River Lea, some with day tickets alongside.
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2 tributaries feed it
Each has its own page, with beats where we list them.
About the River Lea
The River Lea, spelled Lee below Hertford, rises at Leagrave in Luton and runs about 42 miles to the Thames at Bow Creek. It crosses into Hertfordshire some six miles from its source, then flows east south east through Harpenden and Wheathampstead and between Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City, before reaching the county town of Hertford.
At Hertford the river turns briefly north and then south. This is the stretch that matters here. The Mimram, Beane, Rib and Ash all join around the town, and the Stort follows a little downstream, so the Lea changes from a small chalk river to a broad valley of several channels. The Lee Navigation begins at Hertford Castle Weir, and the old river course is the one Izaak Walton wrote about in The Compleat Angler.
The upper river and its tributaries are classed as chalk streams, though the lower Lea is not, and the sources do not settle on one label for the whole course. Brown trout are fished for on reserved stretches, with the odd one turning up among the chub, dace, roach and barbel of the quieter water above and around Hertford.
Check the details for the stretch you plan to fish.
Where the River Lea runs
The river's course with every beat and fishery we list on it. Click a marker to read about that water.
River Lea at a glance
- Length
- 42 miles
- Source
- Well Head, Leagrave Common, Luton
- Mouth
- River Thames at Bow Creek
- Country
- United Kingdom
Conditions now
Fish species
Anglers on the River Lea can target brown trout. Brown trout dominate most beats here; grayling, sea trout, and salmon appear on certain rivers and seasons.
Fishing Beats on the River Lea
Browse all 1 beatBrowse day tickets, syndicate rods, and permit fishing on the River Lea. Each beat listing includes pricing, species, and booking details.
Clubs and syndicates on the River Lea
1 clubMembership bodies holding water on the River Lea. Some sell day tickets alongside membership, others are open to members only, and a few run a waiting list.
Tributaries
Rivers that feed the River Lea.
FAQ
River Lea FAQs
Common questions about fishing the River Lea, from day tickets and seasons to what to expect on the bank.
01Can I fish the River Lea?
02How much does it cost to fish the River Lea?
03When is the fishing season on the River Lea?
04What fish can I catch in the River Lea?
05Do I need a licence to fish the River Lea?
Worth a read
1 bookable beat
On the River Lea
