Best Fishing in Sheffield (2026): Top Spots, Lakes & Rivers Within 25 Miles
190 named fishing venues sit within 25 miles of Sheffield — 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 Sheffield
Sorted by distance from Sheffield city centre. Click any venue for full details: species, facilities, postcode and how to book.
- 1
Oxspring Dam
· 2 miles N of SheffieldOxspring Dam is a fishing venue near Sheffield, unparished area.
- 2
Mill Dam Fishing
· 3 miles NW of SheffieldMill Dam (Hoyle Mill) near Bradfield, Sheffield is an 8-acre wooded lake with 60 pegs across three banks and over 13 acres of fishable water, holding carp, crucian, perch, pike and tench.
carpcrucianperchpiketench
- 3
Collier's Pond
· 3 miles SW of SheffieldSet in Yorkshire & the Humber, Collier's Pond is a lake. Confirm access, permits and any club rules before fishing. See it on the map and log your session in GilledIt.
- 4
Rivelin Corn Mill Dam
· 4 miles W of SheffieldRivelin Corn Mill Dam is a reservoir in Yorkshire & the Humber. UK reservoirs are often managed for trout or coarse fishing through a water company or club — check for day tickets and access before travelling. Open GilledIt to log catches and check conditions here.
- 5
Loxley Fishery
· 4 miles NW of SheffieldLoxley Fishery is a family-owned coarse pond on Storrs Bridge Lane in the wooded Loxley valley, on the north-west edge of Sheffield towards Bradfield. The well stocked water suits both relaxed pleasure sessions and competitive matches, with common, mirror and F1 carp joined by crucians, bream, chub, barbel, tench and hybrids. Day tickets are collected on the bank by the bailiff and can be paid in cash or by card, with discounts for senior citizens; keep your ticket handy as it may be checked. Parking and night fishing are available. See lfs.areafish.com for current prices and rules before heading out.
barbelbreamcarpchubcruciantench
- 6
Cow Gap Farm Fishery
· 5 miles W of SheffieldCow Gap Farm Fishery is a small mixed coarse pond in the Bradfield countryside on the western edge of Sheffield, close to Dungworth and Stannington. Around 20 pegs sit on a water of roughly six feet at its deepest, shallowing towards a reedy island, and it fishes well on the pole. Stock is genuinely mixed: carp and F1s, crucians, tench, skimmers and roach, plus a sprinkling of small barbel and chub, which makes it a productive pleasure venue for a few hours. Ticket prices and opening arrangements are not widely published online, so check with the fishery for current day tickets and rules before travelling.
barbelbreamcarpchubcrucianroach
- 7
Rivelin Lower Reservoir
· 5 miles W of SheffieldRivelin Lower Reservoir is a named reservoir in Yorkshire & the Humber, listed in the GilledIt directory. UK reservoirs are often managed for trout or coarse fishing through a water company or club — check for day tickets and access before travelling. See it on the map and log your session in GilledIt.
- 8
Bradleys Fishing Ponds
· 5 miles SE of SheffieldBradleys Fishing Ponds is a fishing venue near Eckington.
- 9
Rivelin Upper Reservoir
· 5 miles W of SheffieldSet in Yorkshire & the Humber, Rivelin Upper Reservoir is a reservoir. UK reservoirs are often managed for trout or coarse fishing through a water company or club — check for day tickets and access before travelling. See it on the map and log your session in GilledIt.
- 10
Ughill Pond
· 5 miles NW of SheffieldSet in Yorkshire & the Humber, Ughill Pond is a reservoir. UK reservoirs are often managed for trout or coarse fishing through a water company or club — check for day tickets and access before travelling. Open GilledIt to log catches and check conditions here.
- 11
Damflask Reservoir
· 5 miles NW of SheffieldDamflask Reservoir is a reservoir in Yorkshire & the Humber. UK reservoirs are often managed for trout or coarse fishing through a water company or club — check for day tickets and access before travelling. Track catches and weather for this water in the GilledIt app.
- 12
Redmires Lower Reservoir
· 5 miles W of SheffieldRedmires Lower Reservoir is a reservoir in Yorkshire & the Humber. UK reservoirs are often managed for trout or coarse fishing through a water company or club — check for day tickets and access before travelling. Open GilledIt to log catches and check conditions here.
Want more options? Browse the full regional pond directory →
Access & Licensing
Free vs Day-Ticket Fishing Near Sheffield
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 Sheffield.
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 Sheffield.
Club Waters
Annual club memberships (£30–£150/year) unlock multiple lakes and river beats around Sheffield. Best value if you fish weekly. Most clubs have waiting lists for prime carp waters.
Licence requirement in Sheffield
Anyone aged 13+ fishing freshwater in Sheffield 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 Sheffield
Each season opens different doors. Here's what to target through the year.
Spring
March – May
Spring is when waters near Sheffield 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 Sheffield, 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 Sheffield 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 Sheffield 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.
Sheffield Fishing FAQ
There are over 190 named fishing venues within 25 miles of Sheffield, ranging from commercial day-ticket carp lakes to free stretches of river and canal. The top spots within easy reach include Oxspring Dam, Mill Dam Fishing, Collier's 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 Sheffield 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 Sheffield can be fished for free with just a rod licence.
Yes. Sheffield 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 Sheffield are Carp, Crucian, Tench, Barbel, Bream, Chub. 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, Oxspring Dam is the closest fishing venue to Sheffield at around 2 miles N. Oxspring Dam is a fishing venue near Sheffield, unparished area. Browse the listing below to compare top venues by distance.
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