Best Fishing in Nottingham (2026): Top Spots, Lakes & Rivers Within 25 Miles
33 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.
Listicle
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.
- 1
Raleigh Pond
· 2 miles W of NottinghamRaleigh Pond is a fishing venue near Nottingham, unparished area.
- 2
Colwick (Holme Sluices) Fish Pass
· 3 miles E of NottinghamColwick (Holme Sluices) Fish Pass is a fishing venue near Colwick.
- 3
Oldmoor Pond
· 4 miles W of NottinghamOldmoor Pond is a fishing venue near Cossall.
- 4
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
- 5
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
- 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 near Stanton by Dale.
- 9
Shelford Fishery
· 6 miles E of NottinghamShelford Fishery is a fishing venue near Shelford.
- 10
Sowbrook Lake
· 7 miles W of NottinghamSowbrook Lake is a fishing venue near Erewash, unparished area.
- 11
Walkers Lake
· 8 miles SW of NottinghamWalkers Lake is a fishing venue near Ratcliffe on Soar.
- 12
Aldercar Lane Fishery
· 9 miles NW of NottinghamCoarse fishery in Nottingham, Derbyshire holding carp, bream, tench, chub and rudd, with cafe, parking, toilets and night fishing on offer.
breamcarpchubruddtench
Want more options? Browse the full regional pond directory →
Access & Licensing
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.
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. Most clubs have waiting lists for prime carp waters.
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 (2025-26 rates). You can buy one in minutes at GOV.UK. Sea fishing from the shore is free and needs no licence.
When to Go
Best Time to Fish Near Nottingham
Each season opens different doors. Here's what to target through the year.
Spring
March – May
Spring is when waters near Nottingham wake up. Stillwater carp start feeding from late April once temperatures climb above 10°C. Trout season opens in most rivers and reservoirs from mid-March. Note the statutory river close season runs 15 March to 15 June for coarse fish in England and Wales.
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 33 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 Raleigh Pond, Colwick (Holme Sluices) Fish Pass, Oldmoor 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 (2025-26). 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, Tench, Pike, Bream, Perch, Rudd. Carp is the dominant target species at most commercial fisheries, while rivers and reservoirs in the area also hold pike, perch, roach, bream and tench.
Based on proximity and venue data, Raleigh Pond is the closest fishing venue to Nottingham at around 2 miles W. Raleigh Pond is a fishing venue near Nottingham, unparished area. Browse the listing below to compare top venues by distance.
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