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Overview: England's Finest Lake Country
The Lake District National Park in Cumbria contains 16 major lakes and tarns including Windermere (England's largest natural lake at 14.8 km long), Ullswater, Coniston Water, Bassenthwaite, Derwent Water and Wast Water.
Combining wild brown trout, pike, perch, char (a glacial relict species), and salmon and sea trout in the connecting rivers, the Lakes offer some of the most scenic and diverse freshwater fishing in Britain.
Best Species and Tactics
Brown trout are everywhere — wild fish to 2 lb in most lakes and to 5 lb in Ullswater and Windermere. Traditional methods include trolling with fly or spinner, dapping daddy-long-legs from a drifting boat, and bank fly fishing in summer evenings.
Pike to 30 lb haunt the deeper basins of Bassenthwaite, Esthwaite and Windermere. Arctic char are a Lake District speciality — caught by deep trolling on Coniston, Windermere and Wast Water. Salmon and sea trout run the River Leven, River Derwent and River Eden in autumn.
Where to Fish in the Lake District
Windermere offers trout, char, pike and perch, with day-ticket access from Bowness-on-Windermere. Coniston Water is famous for char and pike. Ullswater holds the lake-strain trout known as the Schelly and big brown trout.
Esthwaite Water near Hawkshead is a managed rainbow trout fishery and one of England's most consistent pike waters. Bassenthwaite and Derwent Water offer wild trout, pike and perch in stunning scenery.
Best Season to Fish
Brown trout season runs 15 March to 30 September on most Cumbrian waters. Char fishing peaks May-July when fish move into thermoclines accessible by downrigger trolling.
Pike season runs October to March (after the trout season closes) on most managed lakes. Salmon and sea trout run from June onwards with autumn fish from September. The English river coarse close season (15 March – 15 June) applies to coarse fish in connecting rivers.
Access, Permits and Regulations
Every angler aged 13 and over needs an Environment Agency rod licence — and the migratory salmon and sea trout licence if targeting those species. Each lake has its own owner and permit scheme.
Permits are sold through the Lake District National Park Authority, local tackle shops in Ambleside, Keswick and Bowness, and individual fisheries like Esthwaite (esthwaitewater.com). Boat hire is widely available at Windermere, Coniston, Ullswater and Derwent.
Nearby Spots Worth a Day Trip
The River Eden in Cumbria is one of England's premier salmon and sea trout rivers. The River Derwent and River Leven offer accessible salmon and trout fishing within the National Park.
Killington Reservoir and Haweswater offer additional stillwater trout fishing. Across the border, the Solway Firth produces sea trout and salmon, and the River Annan in Scotland is two hours away by car.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brown trout season generally runs 15 March to 30 September on Cumbrian waters, though specific lakes can vary slightly. Always check the local fishery and Environment Agency byelaws before fishing for trout in the Lake District.
Yes. Arctic char are a glacial relict species found in Windermere, Coniston Water and Wast Water. They are caught by deep trolling with small spinners and plummets — historically using the famous Windermere char rods with side-mounted brass plummets.
Yes — an EA rod licence plus a Windermere permit, which is widely available from tackle shops in Bowness and Ambleside. Different sections of the lake have different owners; the Freshwater Biological Association manages some research-protected areas.
Yes, and it's excellent. Bassenthwaite, Esthwaite Water and Windermere all produce 20 lb-plus pike, with the British record once held by Lake District fish. The season generally runs October to March after the trout close season ends.
The English river coarse close season runs 15 March to 15 June and applies to coarse species in connecting rivers. Most stillwaters in the Lake District are exempt from the close season but follow individual fishery rules — always check before fishing.