🇬🇧 Fishing at Chew Valley Lake
Somerset's famous trout water, with a reputation for genuinely big fish
Chew Valley Lake in Somerset has long had a reputation for unusually large rainbow and brown trout, producing several record fish over the years. The lake also holds a healthy pike population in its shallower areas.
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Weather at Chew Valley Lake
Best fishing times today
Day length: 14h 20mBite windows today
- Dawn03:58 – 06:05Excellent
- Morning06:05 – 12:15Good
- Midday12:15 – 16:25Calm
- Afternoon16:25 – 18:25Good
- Dusk18:25 – 20:31Excellent
- Night20:31 – 03:58Good
Geography & facts
Chew Valley Lake sits in Somerset, south west England, near the city of Bristol. The lake covers around 4.9 km², built as a drinking water reservoir but well known for its fishing.
How to fish
Fly fishing for rainbow and brown trout dominates, with boat fishing giving access to the deeper areas where the biggest fish are often found. Pike are fished in the shallower bays, especially in autumn and winter.
Fish species
Gear & tips for rainbow trout
- Streamers
- Egg patterns
- Nymphs
- Dry flies
- Boobies
Put-and-take fishing is common. Vary your depth. Popular Swedish waters: Bunn, Sommen and many small stocked put-and-take ponds.
Licence & rules
On top of the Environment Agency licence, a separate permit from the lake's own fishery management (Bristol Water) is required, which handles access and rules for Chew Valley Lake.
Full international rules overview →