Trout FishingWe extend a warm welcome to all trout anglers. The range of fishing we offer ensures excellent sport for all abilities. Our still water fisheries are among the best in the west and vary in size from around 50 to over 900 acres! Our fisheries are picturesque and atmospheric lakes, including countless secluded bays, weedy shores and tree line margins to explore. We boast rainbows, browns and a large number of blues of the highest quality. Traditional fly fishing is the rule at our stocked fisheries, although other methods can be used at our free wilderness trout waters. Young People and Newcomers We are working hard to encourage young people and newcomers to take up the sport. Under 18 fish for free with a paying adult and part of their bag limit. Throughout the season, we host open days and events where we offer free fly fishing tuition for all. Boat Fishing Boats are available at most of our waters which provide an alternative to bank angling. These must be pre-booked, either by calling 01566 771930 (8.30am - 5.00pm 7 days a week) or online by scrolling to the bottom of your chosen lake page. You will need to sign a disclaimer before you can take a boat out. Once a year you will need to complete a boat induction – please watch the induction video here. Access for All Most of the waters benefit from facilities designed for disabled or wheelchair anglers, either by platforms or Wheelyboats. These boats must be booked at least 48 hours in advance. Clubs A number of the fisheries have associated local clubs. These are a great way to meet fellow anglers, as well as participating in competitions and social events. We run several competitions during the season - more details of each of these are available on our competitions page. Environment Agency Rod Licence Anglers on all our waters must have a valid Environment Agency rod licence which are available from post offices or via the Environment Agency. The only exception may be when attending a bona fide course or a coaching session with a qualified coach – please check beforehand. South West Lakes Trust South West Lakes Trust is the managing charity of SW Lakes Trust Fishing. The charity is a member of The Angling Trust. In 2014, the South West Lakes Trust fisheries hosted the Commonwealth Fly Fishing Championships; Scotland took gold and England won silver. Reporting an Incident: South West Lakes Trust manages a portfolio of nearly 50 lakes and other natural resources so it is not always possible for our wardens to be on the scene when issues occur. The very remote and rural nature of our estate, the thing that makes them so special, also means that modern mobile communications don’t always cover the areas we would like them to. This makes getting an immediate response to ongoing incidents very challenging. Please use this form to report any incidents of poaching, illegal fishing or any other form of antisocial behaviour to the management team so that we are able to take appropriate action. Complete Form Waters Prices Competitions and Events News and Results Catch Returns About us Contact News and Results South West Lakes Trout Fisheries Report - May 2022 There was some welcome rain in May which freshened up the water and raised water levels, while some warmer days meant that there was an increase in insect activity and more fish rising to feed from the surface. Kennick Anglers enjoyed steady sport, with rods averaging just under three fish per angler. Fish were well spread out around the lake, from the Causeway up to Boat Bay and the dam, with both boat and bank anglers catching well. With bountiful hatches, fish were looking up and eager to feed, and floating lines with long leaders proved to be the method of choice, with a variety of sub-surface nymphs (Diawl Bachs and Damsels in particular), buzzers, and lures (Tadpoles, Cormorants, and Vivas) all producing results. The best fish caught during the month (and a personal best for Steve Hadley from Paignton) was a 4lb 6oz rainbow, as part of a bag of ten fish. Brian Sedgebeer (from Islington) caught nine rainbows to 2lb 10oz while fishing from a float tube using a Damsel, and Brian Parry (from Newton Abbot) caught nine rainbows to 2lb 8oz on a floating line, long leader, and slow retrieve. Burrator Plenty of hatches brought fish to the surface, eager to feed, particularly later in the day, with Intermediate and Floating lines with long leaders producing the best results. Anglers averaged 2.6 fish per rod, with fish well spread out around the lake (Longstone Point, Bennetts Lawn, and Sheepstor Dam proved to be particularly popular). While some fish took dry patterns (Claret Hopper and Hawthorn), most took sub-surface Buzzers, Nymphs (Damsels, Diawl Bachs), Shrimps, and Spiders, or deeper fished lure patterns (Cats Whisker, Orange and Green Blobs). Mike Lunney (from Dowsland) caught ten rainbows to 2lb 8oz from a boat, and nine in another session, while Stephen Eldridge (from Yelverton) caught five rainbows to 2lb using a floating line and long tippet. Siblyback Fish have been feeding throughout the water column, meaning that anglers have been catching fish with floating, intermediate, and sinking lines, although the most popular method has been a floating line with a long leader and slow retrieve. Anglers averaged three fish per rod, and fish have been well spread out around the lake (Stocky Bay, North Bank, and Two Meadows proving to be particularly productive). Plenty of Buzzers have been hatching, and a variety of patterns have caught fish – Hoppers, Black Gnats, and Foam Beetles on the surface, or Buzzers, Diawl Bachs, Damsels and Hares Ears sub-surface, while Cats Whiskers and Orange Blobs have caught the deeper fish. Ron Wilday (from Liskeard) caught seven rainbows to 2lb on a floating line, Paul Huppler (from Exeter) caught four rainbows to 2lb, while George Hext (from Liskeard) caught ten rainbows and one brown on nymph patterns fished between two and three feet below the surface. Stithians Although there has not been a lot of insect activity or fish rising to feed on naturals, anglers have enjoyed some great sport this month (averaging 3.1 fish per rod), including a number of fish caught on dry flies (Black Hoppers, Hawthorns, Beetles, and Black Wulffs). Apart from a few fish caught on Orange Blobs, the remainder of the catches were on a wide variety of nymph, buzzer, and emerger patterns fished between one and ten foot down, usually on a slow retrieve. Fish were caught from all around the lake (Mossopps and Deepbank proved particularly popular). Stephen Cook (from Redruth) caught an overwintered, full-finned rainbow of 3lb in perfect condition on a floating line and slow retrieve; Dave Rundell (from St Austell) caught a bag of nine rainbows on Damsel and Bibio patterns. Fernworthy There was little surface action from feeding fish until the last week of the month, when fish were rising to sedges and emerging buzzers – however Hawthorns, Black Hoppers, Black Gnats, and dry Sedges all tempted fish to the surface throughout the month. Anglers averaged 4.5 fish per rod, with most fish being caught by the Permit Hut, Thornworthy Bank, and Lowton Bay. Louise Hindley (from Newton Abbot) caught three browns to fifteen inches on a Kate McLaren and Black and Peacock Spider, while Gen Angel (from Teignmouth) landed six on a floating line and slow retrieve. Brian Sedgebeer (from Islington) caught fourteen browns, while Matt Baines caught ten, all on a floating line fished just below the surface with a slow twitched retrieve. Colliford Again this month, no particularly large fish were caught at Colliford, but this was more than made up for by the outstanding sport to be had, with fish well spread out, and anglers averaging 5.4 fish per rod. Most fish were caught on floating lines with a mixture of retrieval styles. With surface feeding fish particularly active in the early morning, plenty of fish were taken on dry patterns (Hares Ear Hopper, Black Gnat, Black Hopper, Foam Beetle), or pulled wets on a floating line. Dean Boucher (from Gunnislake) enjoyed some excellent sessions, catching bags of eighteen, fifteen, and fourteen browns on separate occasions, either on a dry Black Hopper, or a pulled team of wets (Soldier Palmer, White-tailed Zulu, and Black Tadpole). Nick Odle (from Looe caught a bag of fourteen – four on dries and the rest on wets using a slow retrieve. Chris Hall (June 2022) Manage Cookie Preferences