| County | Fishery / Lake | Location | Typography | Trout stocked | Typical flies | Methods / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheshire | Westlow Mere | Congleton | Clear spring-fed quarry-style mere; main trout lake + smaller carp lake | Rainbow, Blue, Brown (triploids) | Buzzers, Diawl Bachs, Hares Ear, Muskins, orange dries | Fly-only; bank & punt/boat options; day tickets |
| Cheshire | Danebridge Fisheries | Wincle | Spring-fed valley lake; clear water | Rainbow, Brown, Blue, Sparctic | Buzzers, black/orange lures, daddies, fry patterns | Fly-only; day tickets; sport & match options |
| Cumbria | Bessy Beck Trout Farm | Near Lake District | Small farm ponds; clear, spring-fed | Rainbow & Brown trout | Buzzer nymphs, dries, fry patterns | Bank fishing; boat hire not required; day tickets available |
| Cumbria | Blackton Reservoir | Teesdale area | Upland reservoir; deep water, long shorelines | Wild Brown trout | Buzzer tips, floating dries in summer | Bank fishing only; scenic upland location |
| Derbyshire | Staunton Harold Reservoir | Near Ashby-de-la-Zouch | Large reservoir; long shorelines, points, silt/sand shelves | Rainbow & Brown trout (managed) | Boat drifts, buzzer tips, tapered leaders | Shore anglers fish deeper edges and points; boat recommended for open water |
| Devon | Kennick Reservoir | Near Dartmoor | Medium reservoir; open water + shallow margins | Rainbow trout | Boat drifts; buzzers & small nymphs | Day tickets; some bank swims |
| Devon | Colliford Reservoir | Bodmin Moor area (Cornwall/Devon border) | Large reservoir; clear, open water | Rainbow trout; occasional brown trout | Boat drifts; long-line nymphing | Day tickets; public access for anglers |
| County | Fishery / Lake | Location | Typography | Trout stocked | Typical flies | Methods / Notes |
| Essex | Chigborough Farm & Fisheries | Maldon | Series of spring-fed lakes, clear water | Rainbow, Brown trout | Buzzers, Hares Ear, Diawl Bach | Fly-only; day tickets; tuition available |
| Essex | Friths Farm Trout Fishery | Near Brentwood | Medium spring-fed lakes, clear margins | Rainbow trout | Small nymphs, buzzer tips, dries | Bank and platform fishing; day tickets |
| Gloucestershire | Great Burrows Trout Fishery | Cotswolds | Small, undulating spring-fed lake | Rainbow, Brown trout | Buzzers, dries, small nymphs | Day tickets; family-friendly; fly-only |
| Hampshire | Avington Trout Fishery | Winchester area | Spring-fed lake, clear margins, open water | Rainbow, Brown trout | Buzzers, Diawl Bach, dries | Bank fishing and tuition; day tickets available |
| Hampshire | Meon Springs | Hampshire, South Downs | Four spring-fed lakes, clear water | Rainbow, Brown trout | Nymphs, buzzers, dries | Fly-only; day tickets and tuition available |
| Herefordshire | Yazor Fishery | Near Leominster | Spring-fed lake with shallow margins and deeper channels | Rainbow, Brown trout | Buzzers, Hares Ear, small dries | Bank fishing only; day tickets available |
| Hertfordshire | Lakeside Trout Fishery | Near Watford | Medium-sized spring-fed lake; clear margins, some weed beds | Rainbow trout | Buzzer patterns, dries, small nymphs | Fly-only; tuition and day tickets available |
Looking for the best stillwater trout fisheries in the UK and wondering what flies, lines and tactics work? You’re in the right place.
This hub pulls together some of the top waters, from small spring-fed lakes to huge reservoirs like Rutland and Eyebrook. Each fishery has its own dedicated page with:
- Best flies by season (with step-by-step tying guides)
- Depth and line setup tips (floating, midge-tip, intermediate, sink lines)
- Leader setups and retrieves that actually catch fish
- Cheat sheets so you know what to tie on before you hit the water
It’s designed so you can go from “where should I fish this weekend?” to “what exact fly, depth, and retrieve should I start with?” in just a couple of clicks.
Westlow Mere
Ellerdine Lakes