The UK has some of the most incredible and iconic fishing lakes and destinations. From historic carp fishing lakes filled with myths and legends to some of the country’s top river stretches to try and fish, here are 15 top fishing spots that you simply have to visit before you kick the bucket….
Redmire Pool, Herefordshire
The altar at which most carp anglers would love to worship.
This tiny farm pool shaped the history of carp fishing for decades most notably in the 1950’s when it produced British best carp for angling heroes Dick Walker and Chris Yates.
The popularity of this venue, which no longer contains any monsters, means getting a session depends on a Glastonbury-style phone booking system on a single day each year (usually January).
Contact: www.redmirepool.biz
Hampshire Avon, The Royalty Fishery, Dorset
The UK's most iconic river fishery.
The Royalty is renowned not only for the famous anglers who have graced its banks but the fact that it regularly produces some stunning fish including barbel, chub, pike and game fish. Classic chalkstream fishing awaits those who visit but take a good pair of polaroids in order to enjoy the sight of fish moving over the gravel beds.
Contact: www.swlakestrust.org.uk or Davis Tackle 01202 485169
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Sywell Reservoir, Sywell, Northamptonshire
John Wilson's tench mecca.
Once known as the tench fishing mecca, this 67-acre, council run water is steeped in angling history. Although it has never laid claim to a record for the species it was the go to venue for big tench to double-figures. Even John Wilson visited its sloping banks for one of his much-loved Go Fishing TV shows. Today there are still big tench to be had and the fishing is on the up thanks to efforts being made by the Tenchfishers group.
Contact: www.northnorthants.gov.uk
Marsh Farm Fishery, Milford, Surrey
Crucian carp superwater.
If you want to catch a crucian carp of a lifetime this is the venue to visit. Available to fish on a day-ticket, the fishery has three pools which hold crucians to 3lb-plus and at least two of the pools are also prolific for tench. Summer fishing at its best.
Contact: Apollo Angling 01483 428885, www.godalminganglingsociety.co.uk
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River Wye, Symonds Yat, Herefordshire
The most beautiful river venue in the UK?
We’ve chosen this place just for its sheer beauty. Surrounded by steep, forest clad, limestone cliffs, this stunning stretch of river will leave you breathless. The fishing isn't bad too with big barbel, chub, grayling, roach and pike in abundance.
Contact: www.anglingdreams.co.uk
Yateley Complex, Yateley, Hampshire/Surrey
The historic home of carp fishing.
Some of the most infamous fish have been caught on these hallowed grounds. Although most have now passed, there are still some huge and incredible carp to catch. The lakes at Yateley have a real aura about them and when you wet a line there you can just feel the history and importance the area has provided for modern day carp angling.
Contact: Yateley Angling 01252 861955 www.yateleysocial.co.uk or www.farnhamanglingsociety.com
Chesil Beach**, Weymouth, Dorset**
The 'beach of broken dreams'.
Whilst the beach may be known as the 'beach of broken dreams' to some, the fishing on offer here can be spectacular and in some of the UK's finest surroundings. The beach runs for a length of around 18-miles, with deep water close in, it really can throw anything up from mackerel to huge tope. It is also home to the UK stingray record of 78lb 6oz. If you want to go fishing in picturesque surroundings and truly have no idea what the next bite will be, this is the place, and it is free to fish.
Contact: www.weymouthangling.com or 01305 777771
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River Trent, Collingham Weir, Nottinghamshire
The most prolific barbel venue ever?
You'll need a bionic arm to fish this famous weirpool as the barbel fishing is often out of this world. Anglers often go there and catch as many as 40 fish in a single session, including lots of PB breaking doubles.
Contact: www.collinghamaa.co.uk
Norfolk Broads, Norfolk
The jewel in the crown of the UK's natural fishing waterways.
With over 300-square-kilometres of SSSI rivers and shallow lakes the Broads supports numerous species of wildfowl, invertebrates and incredible stocks of fish. Big pike, bream, tench, roach, rudd and practically every coarse fishing species resides in these waterways, and with so much to explore there really is a never ending supply of incredible fishing on offer. Hotspots include the River Wensum for chub and roach, with Potter Height great for bream and large eels.
Contact: www.broads-authority.gov.uk
Chew Reservoir, Somerset
Target a pike of your dreams.
Now the pike fishing mecca of Britain, there is nowhere else better to break your personal best pike than on this huge 1200-acre water. Monster fish to over 40lb show regularly, mainly during the cooler months and anglers catch them on a variety of methods, including the fly!
Contact: www.bristolwaterfisheries.co.uk
Llandegfedd Reservoir, Pontypool, Monmouthshire
The home of UK record pike.
If you want wild, windswept fishing similar to what you get in Ireland with a relatively unknown stock of huge bream, pike and roach, Llandegfedd is a really unspoiled natural wonder. Bags of bream totalling 300lb have been recorded with hard fighting hybrids thrown in too. You never really know how the days fishing is going to go, it still retains some mystery about it, which we love. If you can find the coloured water where the wind has stirred it up, the fish are never far behind.
Contact: www.llandegfedd.co.uk
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Horseshoe Lake, Lechlade, Gloucestershire
Fish a true carp fishing great.
Originally made famous for its Leney strain of big carp, Horseshoe has for years been one of carp angling's most sought after venues. Its history and traditional values are what attracts hundreds of anglers to the 62-acre water each year. There’s also a huge head of big tench, with the pool also popular with members of the Tenchfishers.
Contact: www.thecarpsociety.com
River Ribble, Lancashire/Yorkshire
One of the North's premier barbel and salmon rivers.
This spate river is home to some truly exceptional fishing for a whole manner of specimen fish. Barbel are generally the main target with loads of fish over the double figure mark recorded consistently, with some double figure bream and huge chub also present - it's a specimen angler's dream. If you prefer to run a float through, the large head of roach and dace will make for a prolific day, and if you've never caught a salmon, the Ribble is renowned for its good runs of fish.
Contact: www.sdaa.org.uk or www.ribblevalley.gov.uk
Loch Ken**, Dumfries, Kirkcudbrightshire**
Scotland's roach fishing mecca.
This 9-mile long loch is renowned for its quality roach fishing. Numerous 2lb-plus specimens are caught week after week on feeder tactics along with big bags of quality bream. The pike fishing can be exceptional too, with lots of fish over 20lb, and with the size of the loch, it could hold a truly massive specimen. You just never really know what's out there. You'll struggle to find a better, more scenic environment to cast a line, it's truly remarkable.
Contact: www.lochken.org.uk
Lough Erne, Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
One of the best fisheries in Northern Ireland.
A massive 300-square-mile waterway that is packed with coarse and game fish alike. If you enjoy lure fishing for big pike, feeder or pole fishing for huge bags of roach, bream and hybrids or fly fishing for wild brown trout, Lough Erne can provide everything an angler could wish for. You can fish from its shore or piers or take a boat out for a truly immersive experience to soak up the amazing surroundings.
Contact: www.nidirect.gov.uk
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