Coarse Fishing

Our coarse fisheries include over 275 acres of water with fisheries ranging in size from 2 to 81 acres. Our established lakes are located in outstandingly beautiful and secluded rural areas across the South West.

At South West Lakes Trust Fishing we offer more than just great angling, our unique fisheries are matched with a recognised reputation for great fish quality.

Enjoy the tranquility that our waters provide with established tree-lined banks, lily pads and weed beds with natural woodlands surrounding the lakes. Our coarse fisheries offer a peaceful setting within picturesque and wildlife-rich surroundings.

Coarse fishing in the South West:

We regularly hold carp and match competitions at Upper Tamar Lake with prize money exceeding £3,500. Season tickets are available online. Day tickets are bookable through Catch. Download the Catch app from App Store or Google Play.

Facilities include onsite cafes, parking, toilets, showers, wheelchair access platforms, on-site permit rooms and easy access paths and swims.

SW Lakes Fishing Trust is managed by South West Lakes Trust.

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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.

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Upper Tamar

Upper Tamar Lake, Cornwall EX23 9SB

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Fishery Information
Tackle and Bait Shop
Fishing Tuition and Tackle Hire
Competitions
Fishery Map
Venue Records
Facilities
Report an Incident

Upper Tamar Lake, nestled on the Devon and Cornwall border, is the perfect spot for your next angling adventure, voted the best still water coarse fishery in the UK in 2021!

Regular 48-hour Carp competitions are held at this popular Cornish fishery, with limited space available. Please check our competitions page for details of other competitions that may affect the number of swims available.

Built in 1977, this 81 acre venue was originally a trout lake until the 1990s when it changed over to a coarse fishery. There are three miles of bank to be explored and several bays and attractive marginal areas, which produce plenty of great sport and some lovely peace and quiet. It is an extremely well stocked fishery with all species and, surrounded by British countryside, it is a beautiful place to fish.

Tamar has carp to the mid 30lb range with a good number of fish over 20lbs. Just over 300 new carp to 35lb have been stocked in the last few years, so expect plenty of fish if the conditions are right. Roughly one in three carp are over 20lbs. Anglers have caught as many as 25 carp in a single 24 hour session. The bigger fish can be elusive but there are many big secrets lurking in the depths!

Tamar is also a big perch mecca stuffed with fish averaging around 2lbs but fish to 5lb have been caught on lures, prawns or worms. 43 Perch, with the smallest being 2lb, were caught during a day session by a single angler a couple of years ago! Tamar has also featured on BBC TV’s Gone Fishing series with Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse who enjoyed some great perch fishing at the venue.

There is also a huge head of eels to well over 5lbs for the avid eel enthusiasts.

Competitions:

Tamar is recognised as a major match fishing competition water. 50lb+ bags of Bream, Skimmers, roach, perch and rudd can be expected to feeder, pole, waggler and whip. Tamar is home to the Preston Innovations Feedermasters grand final, which is arguably the biggest competition in the UK.

Anyone wanting to enter any silver fish festivals can get more details here.

If you would like to enter our Mainline Baits sponsored carp competitions please see more details here.

Fishing Tuition:

Learn to fish with one of our experienced professionally qualified anglers at one of the best still waters in Devon and Cornwall. For more information or to book give us a call on 01288 321712 or email [email protected]

Fishery Information:

Address: Upper Tamar Lake, Kilkhampton, Bude, Cornwall EX23 9SB

Fishery Size: 81 acres

Number of Swims: 100 (unlimited)

Species: Carp, bream, rudd, roach, perch, eels

Fishing Times: Open all year, dawn until dusk

Day Permits: Book through Catch. Download the Catch app from App Store or Google Play.

Season Permits: Available online or from South West Lakes on 01566 771930

Contact: 01288 321262

Click here for Upper Tamar Lake and South West Water Rules

Find the full price list here

Venue Records:

Common Carp: 34.04 February 2018 - Ashley Bunning
Mirror Carp: 36.08 October 2017 - Karl Yates
Bream: 8lb
Perch: 5lb
Eel: 6lb 4oz - 2001, 5lb 10oz - 2016 Alan Judd
Roach: 3lb
Rudd: 1lb 8oz

Stay the night at Upper Tamar Lake:

The fishery has two fishing lodges which are available to anglers at only £15 per person per night. Contact head office to book your stay, telephone 01566 771930.

Directions:

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Whenever you leave the lakes, remember to Check, Clean, Dry

Invasive plants and animals can carry diseases that kill fish. Protect the environment and sport you enjoy by cleaning your kit before and after using the water.

Find out more here

Facilities:

Upper Tamar Lake facilities include; cafe, car park, toilets, showers and it is a dog friendly fishery.

Latest

Invasive Species Week Success

As we come to the end of a super summer season, our Invasive Species Officer Laura recaps the successful activities held during Invasive Species Week.
Mainline Baits Competition July 2024

July saw the second South West Lakes Trust Mainline pairs competition of the year at Upper Tamar lake. Once again the weather was kind and sunny. This time 18 pairs took part in the competition with 28 pegs available, so anglers had plenty of space to choose from. Most anglers walked the lake to see if any fish were showing in any particular area and they were all very serious and not letting on where fish were showing.
Using Heavy Horses for Moorland River Works

The Dartmoor Green Recovery project recently welcomed volunteers from the Environment Agency and a team from Dartmoor Horse Loggers to a site near Princetown. Dartmoor Biodiversity Officer Morwenna explains the use of heavy horses for moorland river works.
Rediscovering a lost love at the lake

After rekindling his love of windsurfing after a thirty-year break, Phil Brown joined South West Lakes Trust as a launch member at Wimbleball Lake and is loving every minute of it!

Coarse Fishing at Christchurch Harbour, Lower Avon and Stour

Christchurch Harbour, Lower Avon, Stour and Claypool offers some of the best coarse fishing in Dorset. Coarse fish are found in large numbers with roach and dace offering quality sport in winter.
River Fishery at Longham

This river fishery is a three quarter mile stretch of the River Stour, including weir pools, and is open from 07:30 until one hour after sunset. Here you’ll find roach, barbel, chub up to 8 lbs, pike up to 25 lbs, dace, bream up to 9 lbs and carp.
Longham Lake

Longham Lake is a great pike fishery producing many double figure fish, and has gained a reputation as one of Dorset’s great coarse fisheries. This popular fishery has also produced bream up to 18lbs and carp up to 41lbs.
Trenchford

Visit Trenchford Reservoir on Dartmoor and enjoy the spectacular scenery whilst fishing for pike up to 27lb. The reservoir, which is nestled amongst farmland and woodland, offers a peaceful atmosphere for your next angling escape in Devon.
Darracott

Situated just outside of Torrington in Devon, Darracott is a fantastic mixed coarse fishery, perfect for beginners or pleasure anglers. This picturesque fishery has a really good stock of fish and, at 3 acres in size, there are plenty of swims for you to choose from.
Lower Slade

Lower Slade, tucked away in the rolling hills of Ilfracombe in North Devon, is a must visit on your next angling escape. This long narrow lake has a great mix of fish species and is a really great venue for the all-round angler or pleasure fisherman.
Melbury

This picturesque and mature Devon coarse fishery borders forestry and farmland near Bideford in North Devon. It is well stocked with a good mix of mirror and common carp to 30lb, the perfect spot for your next angling escape. There are some stunning, highly sought after fish such as ‘The fully scaled’ at over 25lbs and ‘The Train’ at around 27lbs.
Bussow

This peaceful 7 acre coarse fishery is placed close to the popular coastal resorts of St Ives and Penzance in Cornwall. Bussow has mirror and common carp to 32lbs with a handful of fish over 30lb and really good head of back up 20lb fish.
Jennetts

With a national reputation for its carp fishing, Jennetts Reservoir is known as a ‘runs' water. This popular Devon coarse fishery holds carp to 32lb which can be caught off the bottom or off the surface.
Squabmoor

Squabmoor fishery is simply beautiful. Situated on Woodbury Common, which is a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), this scenic Devon fishery offers 15 immaculate swims for you to choose from. The shallow end of the reservoir has an attractive area of lily pads which the carp in particular love to patrol.

Current reservoir levels

See the current water levels in our reservoirs.
Equipment Hire

Experience the ultimate family adventure by exploring the lakes at your own pace. We have a variety of watersports equipment available to hire including; kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards and more.
Wimbleball Lake, Exmoor

Wimbleball is a hub of colour and activity throughout all the seasons. Nestled within the rolling hills of Exmoor National Park, there are plenty of ways to get active at Wimbleball. With an array of walking and cycling trails winding around the 530 acre site, and a fantastic range of watersports and other activities available, this is the perfect location to spend a day outdoors – whether you are looking for a leisurely stroll or a challenging expedition.
South West Lakes Trust Booking Confirmation

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Self-launch and Launch Membership

Already have your own kit? You can launch your own kayak, canoe, dingy or stand up paddleboard at our lakes! And, if you are a regular visitor, you can even become a member and launch as often as you like at all five activity centres!
Wimbleball Campsite (Exmoor)

Experience a family camping holiday like no other at Wimbleball Lake, nestled in the hills of Exmoor National Park. Create the ultimate camping break packed with adventure, creating lasting memories for the whole family.
Roadford Lake, Devon

Roadford Lake sits within the stunning surroundings of the Wolf Valley, close to Launceston on the Cornwall border. One of the biggest and busiest inland waters in the South West, the lake is surrounded by a variety of natural habitats, including Culm Grasslands, woodlands, old pastures and orchards.
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Siblyback, Cornwall

Surrounded by the striking backdrop of Bodmin Moor, Siblyback Lake lies within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). There is a beautiful 5km round lake circuit, which is perfect for pushchairs, wheelchairs and bicycles. The path runs adjacent to the lake, and passes by the impressive Siblyback Dam and through woodlands.F