Activities
From paddleboarding, fishing, kayaking and canoeing – there’s plenty to enjoy on the Bridgewater Canal!
Fishing
Various species of fish can be found in the Bridgewater Canal including Rudd, Roach, Carp, Perch, Bream, Tench and Pike.
If you would like to fish on the canal, there are a number of fishing clubs which have a licence to fish on various stretches.
The clubs and the stretches of canal they are responsible for are listed below. Please ensure you follow the Fishing Code of Practice which can be found here.
Fishing clubs
Lymm Anglers
Waterloo Bridge Runcorn to Waters Meeting Preston Brook
Warrington Anglers Association
Preston Brook Tunnel (Preston Brook) to Hulme Hall Bridge Manchester
Waters Meeting Stretford to A580 East Lancashire Road Morley’s Bridge Leigh.
Contact Secretary: Frank Lythgoe 01928 716238
Leigh and District Anglers
A580 East Lancashire Road Morley’s Bridge Leigh to 62 metres East of King Street Bridge A572 Leigh.
Contact: 01942 604125 or 01942 876163
Paddle boarding
In August 2021, stand-up paddle boarding arrived on the Bridgewater Canal, in commemoration of the 260th anniversary.
In December 2020, the Bridgewater Canal Company carried out a survey into the health and wellbeing benefits of the canal during the Covid-19 lockdowns and SUP was a popular request for additional recreational activities on the canal. As a result, the Bridgewater Canal Company worked with British Canoeing to make the waterway an approved location for stand-up paddle boarding (SUP).
Anyone wishing to use a SUP on the Bridgewater Canal must be a member of British Canoeing.
We recommend that paddle boarders wear high visibility clothing as well as a life buoyancy jacket or personal floatation aid.
British Canoeing provides a wealth of information on stand-up paddle boarding through the Go Paddling website. Join or renew membership with British Canoeing here.
View the routes Go Paddling have made for the canal: gopaddling.info/canals/bridgewater-canal
Canoeing
Canoes, kayaks or stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) that are licensed by British Canoeing are permitted to use the Bridgewater Canal free of charge, subject to the display of a valid licence and our conditions of licensing.
We recommend that you wear high visibility clothing as well as a life buoyancy jacket or personal floatation aid. If you are not a British Canoeing member, you are not permitted to use the Bridgewater Canal. www.britishcanoeing.org.uk
See The Bridgewater Canal from a new perspective, whether you fancy a lone paddle or would like to spend some time with friends or family, Grip Adventure offer you a unique experience. We provide a tutorial on paddle technique and all the equipment you need to have a safe and enjoyable experience. www.gripadventure.co.uk