Canterbury & District Angling Association

Ron Meares

Our Chairman and Trustee Ron Meares died unexpectedly in March after spending just a few days in hospital.

Ron joined the committee in 1984 and had been an active member of our Association for many years before that as well as holding membership of other local clubs including Faversham Angling Club and the Pike Anglers’ Club.

Having been our Vice Chairman from 2016 to 2019, he became our Chairman in 2019 and his four years at the helm of the committee have been arguably some of the busiest and demanding our Association has known. Ron’s passing while still serving on the committee was a huge shock to all members of the committee and wider membership and he is sorely missed.

Ron's funeral will be held at Barham Crematorium at 4.40pm on Wednesday 5th April with the Wake to be at the Hoptimist in Bench Street, Dover, CT17 1JH

Covid 19 update 5-0-06 2022

The government have ruled that all enforceable rules have been lifted.

There is still however a worldwide pandemic with high rates of infection in England and two new variants spreading round the globe.

The committee have decided that the toilets on all our fisheries can be re-opened and we will be installing dispensers of hand sanitizer. We recommend that anglers equip themselves with disposable anti-bacterial, multi surface wipes to clean all the surfaces they touch on the way in and on the way out of the toilets.

Please advise the office or Jon Wier if hand dispensers are found to be empty.

Anglers who have Covid 19 should not visit our fisheries until they are clear of the infection .Anglers who develop symptoms whilst on site should leave the fishery as soon as possible.

--MANDATORY NOTE TO ALL ANGLERS--
Due to a local outbreak of K.H.V. no keepnets to be used on any still waters. Dip tanks are in place on all stillwaters. Nets, mats and slings MUST be dipped (FULLY immersed) for a minimum of 15 minutes. Keep nets are allowed on the River Stour (only) from the start of the river season.

Since 1928 The Association has been managing extensive fisheries in the Stour Valley below Canterbury, offering first class lake and river fishing for a variety of species. The historic and famous stretch of the River Stour, which the Association leases from the Fordwich United Charities, reaches downstream from Fordwich Bridge as far as Plucks Gutter. Fordwich trout were referred to in Izaak Waltons The Compleat Angler, their descendants are still running up the river to spawn, when the conditions are right for them.


The fisheries between Fordwich and Grove Ferry are in surroundings of great natural beauty and are part of an area designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), recently upgraded to an International RAMSAR site. Fishery management in the SSSI is subject to an agreement between the Association and English Nature.


Care is needed not to interfere with wildlife or the natural vegetation. The Associations Committee takes its conservation responsibilities to protect this part of our heritage seriously and will take action against any member found to be damaging the environment.