The Best Fishing Lakes in The UK

The UK boasts some of the best fishing lakes and coarse fishing opportunities in Europe. For anglers of all abilities, whether you're a novice or a seasoned specimen hunter, there are lakes and fisheries across the countries that can offer varied fishing, breathtaking scenery and a chance to reel in that dream catch. Let’s explore some of the best stillwater fishing locations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Have you ever wondered: where are the fishing lakes near me and how to find local fishing spots? Let’s see how to discover new venues and old favourites in your area. 

Stillwaters of all kinds offer great fishing. Check out reservoirs first – they’re often close to urban areas yet provide oases for fish like roach, perch, pike and carp. The usual permit rules apply but amenities like toilets and cafés make them comfortable and hassle-free. Rivers and canals fish well too. They hold good mixed bags and give access to more remote areas. Carp fishing and float fishing for silvers are especially popular. Some urban stretches fish well for perch too.

Commercial day ticket waters are designed specifically for anglers. They’re well maintained and stocked with good numbers of desirable species like carp, tench, bream and crucians. Day ticket access keeps things affordable and you’ll find onsite facilities for comfort. Many have lodge-style cafés, tackle supplies and even lodges or camping. They offer reliable fishing with big bags and specimen fish possible.

So where are the best fishing lakes near me? There are great waters across the UK. Checking sites like FishPal and Angling Times will give specifics for your region. Lincolnshire, Kent and Shropshire boast abundant options for example. Local knowledge beats all though. Chat to tackle shop staff or members at waters to discover little-fished hidden gems. Similarly, forums and social media groups will put you on nearby venues of all kinds.

The UK boasts abundant still waters for all kinds of coarse fishing. Let’s see what destinations offer great sports for everything from float fishing to fly fishing and more.

• Lincolnshire boasts famous waters like Springvale fishing lakes and Angel of the North fishing lakes, with abundant big carp and silverfish across gravel pits, reservoirs, old brick ponds and commercial sites.

• Norfolk and Suffolk in East Anglia have rain-fed natural lakes like Ravensthorpe Reservoir, plus wide water boat fishing on The Broads.

• The Weald of Kent contains intimate estate lakes and massive reservoirs, all offering varied coarse fishing for carp, tench, roach, perch, eels and chub - well-known venues include Tany's Fishing Lake and Gabriels Fishery.

• Scottish lochs and reservoirs hold stocks of hard-fighting wild brown trout, productive for fly fishing and allowing multiple catches plus the chance of big fish to 20lb+ specimens.

• Scotland's pike fishing is highly regarded, with waters like Loch Lomond, Insh, Ruthven and Menteith holding Esox up to 30lb - dead baiting, lures and fly tactics all work.

• There are also mixed coarse fish present, with waters holding good populations of perch, roach and rudd.

• North Wales waters like Llyn Brenig and Alwen Reservoirs offer fantastic pike to 20lb+ along with perch, roach and trout
  
• Mid Wales has mixed fisheries at Clywedog, the Elan Valleys chain, and Llangorse Lake - perch, tench and sewin sea trout present
• In South Wales, Llandegfed and Llangyby Lakes near Cardiff hold carp to 30lb along with a good tench, perch and Zander - productive fly fishing for brown trout too

• Counties Fermanagh and Tyrone may be small but hide numerous intimate fisheries like the legendary Lough Melvin with trout, salmon and bonus pike and perch
• Lower Lough Erne contains Irish pike over 30lb and double-figure perch
• Smaller fisheries like Movanagher and Carnroe now produce big carp to over 40lb - huge pike and catfish also present
• Abundant lakes and mild climate allow year-round fishing - light summer evenings and ice-free winters on all but the coldest days

Carp fishing has boomed in the UK over recent years. Numerous commercial waters now cater specifically for carp and specimen hunters. Read on for the best carp fishing lakes countrywide.

• Lincolnshire waters like Springwater Lakes and Toft Newton Reservoir produce carp over 40lb

• Neighbouring counties like Cambridgeshire and Norfolk boast carp close to 60lb

• The Cotswolds features heavily stocked estates like Bowood Fishery and Cotswold Water Park, holding mirror, linear, Leney and ghost carp

• Berkshire and Oxfordshire also have many carp waters

• Surrey sand pits like Frensham Little Pond and former Medway oxbows in Kent hold 30lb+ specimens

• Specialist waters like Lake of Menteith offer secluded pitches where 30lb+ specimens are possible

• Estate lakes also hold surprises with carp to 20lb+ now caught each season - roach, tench and perch also present

• Doubles have been reported from trout lochs like Malleny and Butterstone but care is needed to avoid salmonid bycatch

• Llandegfedd Reservoir contains beasts over 40lb - previous British record over 51lb came from here

• Neighbouring Llangybi Lakes also boast carp over 35 pounds

• Smaller fisheries like Cefn Mably Lakes hide dark, ultra-wary fish - mirror carp to 47lb landed here

• Seclusion ensures low pressure allowing the real monsters to reach majestic sizes

• Tiny Movanagher fishery holds carp to 40lb+ over just 15 acres
• Neighbouring spots like Portadown Pits and Carnroe Lake produce upper 20-pounders
• Benefitting from seclusion, NI’s carp keep gaining weight year-on-year
• Illegal wild carp to nearly 30lb are present in some natural loughs but should be left undisturbed

For thrilling sports and action-filled sessions, why not target predator fish? Let's look at some prime waters for tangling with toothy critters like pike, perch, zander and catfish.

• East Anglia and Lincolnshire fens hold 30lb+ pike in clear, rich drains
• Rivers like the Nene, Great Ouse, Stour and Witham also have big Esox
• Natural western lakes from Windermere down through North Wales, the Midlands and Ireland boast big pike-float baits or lure casting works well
• Some ecologically sensitive pike waters require additional permits - check rules carefully
• Top pike fisheries include Grafham Reservoir, Lower Lough Erne, Loch Lomond, Llandegfed, Bala Lake and Loch Ken - 25lb+ fish regularly show

• Fantastic 2lb+ perch across Britain in gravel pits, reservoirs, lakes, slow rivers and waterways
• Ireland’s Loughs Melvin, Conn and smaller fisheries hold 4lb+ specimens
• The English Midlands, East Anglian fens and Kent all have good perch waters - Rutland Water produces 5lb+ fish annually
• While perch turn up randomly, targeting known big perch venues improves the chances
• Light tackle provides hard fighting sport from these green and gold striped predators

• Zander invasion of British waterways provides a great winter challenge - low temperatures see exotic 'zeds' feed actively and grow huge
• Prime zander fisheries now in Wales - River Severn, Newport canals and productive still waters like Llandegfed
• Midlands canals around Nottingham and Lincolnshire also offer amazing zander sport - 15lb+ canal fish appear each winter
• Tactics, like drop shotting small soft lures, work brilliantly - liquidised bread draws fish into underused waters

• Catfish from European and hybrid strains now feature across England and Wales, thriving in warmer lowland rivers and reservoirs
• Most prolific in fertile, slower rivers like Great Ouse, Trent and Severn, especially around Bedford, Nottingham and Tewkesbury - multiple 90-150lb fish reported
• Stillwaters like Grafham produce cats to 80lb+ - smaller, heavily stocked estate lakes and quarry pools also hold 60lb+ beasts fairly often
• Smelly, oily baits like pilchards, mackerel and trout heads work well - provide huge fights on rod and line from these tropical giants