Stratford Upon Avon Angling Association
Preston on Stour
Stratford Angling Associations beautiful stretch of the Stour at Preston.
Stratford AA's stretch of the Stour at Preston covers a single meadow with fishing available on both banks, the stretch has some wider sections but averages around 13 -14 metres and has very little flow having the feel of fishing a canal, it is pretty deep though consistently around 11 feet down the middle with more than 6 feet of water underneath your rod tip and a pronounced shelf in places with a quite steep drop off at around 3 metres (from the far bank).
There is a small weir at Preston which holds some good chub and the stretch is known to hold decent predators, its tricky to fish the weir as its not easy to get down to the waters edge although I am sure that a determined angler will find a way.
There are lots of small fish to work your way through, its also great to see healthy numbers of Rudd on this water too which were introduced to the water some years ago.
The stretch is good for pole fishing or rod and line and incredibly peaceful you are going to be lucky if you see another soul down there which ever bank you choose to fish.
Directions & Parking
Head to Preston on the A34 out of Stratford, postcode CV37 8NG will take you toward the two bridges on Preston Lane that span the stretch.
The upstream stretch is the Stratford AA water, park on the grass verges as tight as you can before the first bridge for the right hand bank (walk over the bridges) or close to the 5 bar gate providing access to the left hand bank and the Weir. If your a member you can use the code in your membership book you can fish the left bank in which case you can park in the farmyard just over the bridge or you can fish the right hand bank in which case park in the field through the gate (use the code in your book to access) and park close to the hedge.
Non Fishy Facts
Judy Cramer who produces the Mamma Mia film franchise is a Preston local when she is not living in London !
St Marys Church in Preston
The upstream section of the Stour at the two bridges is owned by Alscot park which borders Preston on an estate of 4000 acres of farmland which is actually dissected by the river Stour.
The original Rococco style house was built in the early 18th century for James West who was a secretary to the chancellor of the exchequer.