River Trent – Sutton

We have 1 ½ miles of the tidal Trent at Sutton. First impressions can be deceptive as it looks featureless and barren, but there are many underwater features from rocky areas to gravel runs. A tide chart is a must as locals reckon the top of the tide is favourite. A word of warning here is that when the tide turns you will have to retreat fairly quickly, so extra care must be taken at night.

River Severn – Pixham Ferry

Almost a mile of prime Lower Severn at Pixham Ferry, a stretch steeped in barbel-fishing history and memorable captures for many, with numerous doubles to nearly 16lb and some momentous bags of fish. Famous swims like the Green Door, Cables and Wasps Nest have produced stunning sport in the past, and with the river in this area rapidly returning to former glories, we see this an excellent acquisition. There is easy access to the downstream swims for those who do not want to walk far, with plenty of room for those who wish to explore the water further. Night fishing is allowed.

River Trent – Normanton

Situated just down river from Sutton, separated by Grassthorpe, we have a further mile of the stunning River Trent.

There is plenty to go for, for all anglers on this fishery from very large barbel or the legendary tidal Trent roach. The skies are often filled with the red, blue and white smoke in summer from the RAF’s Red Arrows practicing their display routines out of the nearby RAF Scampton.

Like Sutton, Normanton is tidal and knowing the tide tables is essential for success.

Further information

Please note you must be a current BS Member to join a fishery.

16th June 2024 – 14th March 2025

Single Fishery Permit

Pixham: Full Adult £38
Sutton: Full Adult £90
Normanton: Full Adult £65
Combined Sutton / Normanton £135

Currently both of our Trent sections (Sutton/ Normanton) have waiting lists in operation. The process for new membership is whereby you need a nomination by an existing fishery member to be added to the lists of either or both waters, to register interest please provide details and your nominator to the fishery manager HERE

Guest Tickets. Each member can use 3 x 24 hour guest tickets per season.

The maximum stay for a guest (who must be a member of the Barbel Society) is 48hrs and the member must accompany their guest on the trip. It is the members responsibility to ensure their guest fully complies with fishery rules.

  1. Permit and ticket holders only allowed on a fishery
  2. Membership cards and permit books must be carried at all times
  3. On entering and whilst on the fishery local residents must be respected and noise kept to a minimum
  4. Close & lock all gates without exception ensuring the lock is secure and codes not left visible
  5. No driving on or parking on the top of flood banks at Sutton. Offenders risk losing their permit
  6. Vehicles must be parked in designated areas only
  7. Anglers must hold a valid EA rod licence and produce it on request to a fishery bailiff, failure to do so will result in you being asked to leave the fishery and/or further action taken
  8. Members may fish the same peg for a maximum of 3 nights (72 hours) in one session and must not return to that peg for at least 2 days
  9. No more than 2 rods to have lines in the water fishing at any time
  10. Unhooking mats or cradles must be used and be open and ready to receive fish at all times
  11. Anglers should be familiar with the Society Handling Code and should comply without exception
  12. All fish must be returned
  13. Members shall not enter or tamper with any farm building, , crop, livestock, fences, vehicles or machinery
  14. No dogs or other animals allowed on the fishery
  15. No bankside alteration or tree pruning allowed without consent of a fishery bailiff or manager
  16. Glass bottles & tins are not permitted on the fisheries
  17. All litter to be removed from the fishery
  18. Where toilets are not available and it is not practical or hygienic to remove personal waste products, bury them completely, well away from the fishing area.
  19. Non prescribed behavioural changing substances, including alcohol, are banned. Anyone affected by such substances whether consumed or administered on a society fishery or not will be in breach of this rule
  20. All audio or recording device including telephones shall be used with discretion and without annoyance to others
  21. No keepnets are permitted for any species without committee permission. Tubes/sacks may be used for limited periods for photograph/weighing purposes
  22. No competition or pegged fishing
  23. Swims may not be reserved for any reason
  24. No leads or feeders of a breakaway or fixed wire design may be used
  25. No camping and lighting of fires is allowed on society waters. Bivvies’ and camping stoves are allowed so long as they do not infringe on others

If you know of any suitable waters that you feel would be of interest to the Society, then please drop us a line giving as much information as possible. But be aware it is not Society policy to wrestle waters from clubs with open membership by gazumping them, not only would it be unethical, it would also be a pointless exercise

The Barbel Society Safety & Risk Assessment Statement

General risks associated with angling on Barbel Society Fisheries

All Barbel Society members, officials (committee, fishery managers and bailiffs), visiting anglers fishing under day ticket arrangement and accompanying family members, as member guests, should make themselves aware of the risks they face in the surroundings they find themselves in and carry out their own risk assessment which generally amounts to common sense and taking appropriate action to ensure their own safety and that of others.

It is however the duty of The Barbel Society to advise those referred to above with the principals of safety and risk assessment. Specific risks associated with The Barbel Society Fisheries can be found under the Fisheries tab on our website. These must be read in conjunction with our Fishery Rules and the Barbel Handling Code (together with the
supplement for extreme hot weather) and followed at all times whilst on Society fisheries.

Therefore, it is a requirement that all of the above mentioned individuals read, understand and accept this Safety and Risk Assessment Statement.

Additional risks associated with bailiff duties and working party volunteers

Baillifs and volunteers for working parties are not employees of the Barbel Society and therefore health and safety law does not normally apply. However, the Barbel Society may still have duties under civil law.

Under the common law, voluntary organisations and individual volunteers have a duty of care to each other and others who may be affected by their activities. Where something goes wrong, individuals may, in some cases, sue for damages using the civil law if they are injured as a result of another person’s negligence (the Barbel Society may be a person in this case).

Many of the activities carried out by volunteers will be low risk. However, bailiffs and working party volunteers may also be involved in higher-risk activities (see risk assessments). Where the risk is higher the risk assessment the Society has made is proportionate and considers these additional hazards that individuals may be exposed to.

Additional factors to be considered by Fishery Managers in running working parties that are engaging volunteer members on their fisheries include:

    • Plan and prepare the activity effectively so you know how many volunteers are
      attending and how such volunteers will be deployed;
    • Match the task to the individual by checking they have the capability, confidence and
      competence to do the activity;
    • Make sure effective supervision and monitoring arrangements are in place;
    • Make sure accidents and near misses involving volunteers are recorded and followed up;
    • Make sure your volunteers are covered by the Society’s insurance policy.
Flyby video over our sections of river that we run on the River Trent at Sutton and Normanton and the River Severn at Pixham Ferry.