Best Fishing in Nottingham (2026): Top Spots, Lakes & Rivers Within 25 Miles
108 named fishing venues sit within 25 miles of Nottingham, carp lakes, day-ticket fisheries, canals and river stretches. Below are the top 12, sorted by distance, with species, descriptions and direct links to each venue page.
Top 12 Fishing Spots in Nottingham
Sorted by distance from Nottingham city centre. Click any venue for full details: species, facilities, postcode and how to book.
Listicle
- 1
Gerry's Premier Angling Centre
· Less than 1 mile of NottinghamGerry's Premier Angling Centre is a fishing venue near Nottingham. Check the GilledIt app for live catch reports and conditions.
- 2
Highfields Lake
· 2 miles SW of NottinghamHighfields Lake is a named lake in the East Midlands, listed in the GilledIt directory. Confirm access, permits and any club rules before fishing. Open GilledIt to log catches and check conditions here.
- 3
Raleigh Pond
· 2 miles W of NottinghamRaleigh Pond is a fishing venue in Nottingham, unparished area, Nottingham.
- 4
Colwick (Holme Sluices) Fish Pass
· 3 miles E of NottinghamColwick (Holme Sluices) Fish Pass is a fishing venue in Colwick, Nottinghamshire.
- 5
Oldmoor Pond
· 4 miles W of NottinghamA private Nottingham Anglers Association water in Cossall, Nottinghamshire holding bream, carp, crucian, mirror carp, perch, roach, rudd and tench, with disabled and wheelchair pegs.
breamcarpcrucianmirror carpperchroach
- 6
Bulwell Hall Park Lakes
· 5 miles N of NottinghamTrout lake set in the grounds of Walton Hall, Nottingham, regularly stocked with rainbow, brown and blue trout. Open all year with day and 5hr tickets; booking essential.
carppiketrout
- 7
Grange Pond
· 6 miles SW of NottinghamGrange Pond in Erewash, Derbyshire, comprises six ponds with varying depths offering year-round coarse fishing for barbel, carp, catfish, chub, perch, pike and tench.
barbelcarpcatfishchubperchpike
- 8
Stanton Fishing Club
· 6 miles W of NottinghamStanton Fishing Club is a fishing venue in Stanton by Dale, Derbyshire.
- 9
Shelford Fishery
· 6 miles E of NottinghamShelford Fishery is a fishing venue in Shelford, Nottinghamshire.
- 10
Ashfield Angling
· 6 miles SW of NottinghamAshfield Angling is a fishing venue in the East Midlands. Open GilledIt to see recent catches, weather and directions.
- 11
Sowbrook Lake
· 7 miles W of NottinghamSowbrook Lake is a fishing venue in Erewash, unparished area, Derbyshire.
- 12
Eastwood Angling Centre
· 7 miles NW of NottinghamFound near Nottingham, Eastwood Angling Centre is a fishing venue listed on GilledIt. See what's been caught recently in the GilledIt app.
Want more options? Browse the full regional pond directory →
Free vs Day-Ticket Fishing Near Nottingham
Most UK fishing falls into one of three access types. Here's how they break down around your area.
Access & Licensing
Day-Ticket Fisheries
Commercial venues with stocked lakes, pegs, parking and toilets. Tickets typically £8–£25 per day. Best for beginners, families and anyone wanting reliable bites near Nottingham.
Free Fishing
Public stretches of river, canal towpaths and some park lakes. No venue fee, but you still need a valid rod licence (or permit in Scotland and NI). Plenty of free urban water exists around Nottingham.
Club Waters
Annual club memberships (£30–£150/year) unlock multiple lakes and river beats around Nottingham. Best value if you fish weekly.
Licence requirement in Nottingham
Anyone aged 13+ fishing freshwater in Nottingham needs an Environment Agency rod licence. A 1-day licence costs £7.30, 8-day £14.70, and a full annual coarse and trout licence £36.80 (2026 rates). You can buy one in minutes at GOV.UK. Sea fishing from the shore is free and needs no licence.
Best Time to Fish Near Nottingham
Each season opens different doors. Here's what to target through the year.
When to Go
Spring
March – May
Spring is when waters near Nottingham wake up. Stillwater carp start feeding from late April once temperatures climb above 10°C, and trout season opens on most rivers and reservoirs from mid-March. Note the statutory close season for coarse fish on rivers runs 15 March to 15 June in England and Wales, most stillwaters and canals stay open year-round.
Summer
June – August
Peak season. Carp, tench and bream feed hard on stillwaters around Nottingham, rivers reopen on 16 June, and barbel come into form. Early-morning and late-evening sessions beat the heat. Sea fishing along the nearest coast picks up for mackerel and bass.
Autumn
September – November
Autumn around Nottingham is the predator-angler's window, pike, perch and zander start hunting hard as small fish shoal up. Carp also feed up before winter. River conditions are usually at their best after the first decent rain.
Winter
December – February
Winter near Nottingham thins the crowds. Pike fishing peaks on rivers and reservoirs, chub stay catchable on rivers throughout, and stocked rainbow trout fisheries fish well year-round. Pick mild, overcast days and target deeper water where fish hold up.
Nottingham Fishing FAQ
There are over 108 named fishing venues within 25 miles of Nottingham, ranging from commercial day-ticket carp lakes to free stretches of river and canal. The top spots within easy reach include Gerry's Premier Angling Centre, Highfields Lake, Raleigh Pond. Each offers different species and access; see the listing below for distance, species and a description of each venue.
Yes. While you still need an Environment Agency rod licence, plenty of free fishing exists near Nottingham along Canal & River Trust towpaths (over 2,000 miles of waterway across England and Wales), public river stretches and some council park lakes. Many urban canals running through Nottingham can be fished for free with just a rod licence.
Yes. Nottingham is in England and Wales, so anyone aged 13 or over fishing inland waters needs an Environment Agency rod licence. Prices start at £7.30 for one day or £36.80 for a full year (2026). Under 13s fish free. Sea fishing from the shore is free and needs no licence unless you target salmon or sea trout.
The most commonly stocked and reported species across venues within 25 miles of Nottingham are Carp, Bream, Pike, Tench, Perch, Roach. Species mix varies by venue, check each venue page for its recorded list.
Based on proximity and venue data, Gerry's Premier Angling Centre is the closest fishing venue to Nottingham at around 1 miles W. Gerry's Premier Angling Centre is a fishing venue near Nottingham. Check the GilledIt app for live catch reports and conditions. Browse the listing below to compare top venues by distance.
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