Cumbria & the Lakes
Cumbria has more fishing waters than any other county in England, and the Lake District's own lakes are the reason why — Windermere, Ullswater, Coniston, Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite between them offer an unusual mix of free bank fishing, boat fishing and genuinely big pike, alongside the county's real game-fishing backbone: the River Eden, which holds the record for the largest fly-caught salmon ever landed in England.
The lakes themselves are quietly unusual biologically — Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite are two of only two places in the UK where you can still catch vendace, an ice-age relict fish found almost nowhere else, and Ullswater holds schelly, another rare protected species found in only a handful of English lakes. Most of the big lakes are free to fish with just a standard Environment Agency rod licence, which is unusual for water this productive.
Rivers
River Eden
Around 80 miles long, rising in the Pennines and flowing through Appleby and Carlisle to the Solway Firth. Widely regarded as one of the best salmon rivers in the north of England, and holds the record for the largest fly-caught salmon in the country. Also strong for wild brown trout and grayling, with chub and dace in its lower, more coarse-fishable stretches.
Salmon · Grayling · TroutRiver Derwent (Cumbrian)
Flows through Keswick and Cockermouth, via Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite, to the sea at Workington. A genuine late-season salmon and sea trout river with ten distinct beats around Cockermouth — note it does not hold grayling, unlike the Eden.
Salmon · Sea troutRiver Eamont & River Lowther
The Eamont flows out of Ullswater and is the Eden's main tributary — a beautiful river with good stocks of wild brown trout. The Lowther is a smaller, similarly well-regarded tributary.
Wild troutBorder Esk
A smaller, prolific spate river in the far north of the county, easily accessed and well suited to fly fishing for salmon and sea trout.
Salmon · Sea troutLakes
Windermere
The largest natural lake in England, free to fish with a standard licence. Known for some of the biggest pike fishing in the Lakes — reports of fish over 30lb are not unusual — plus brown trout, roach, perch, char, eels, salmon and sea trout passing through.
Pike · TroutUllswater
Free to fish. Wild brown trout and perch throughout, plus the rare and protected schelly — handle any caught by mistake with care and return immediately.
Wild trout · SchellyDerwentwater & Bassenthwaite Lake
Near Keswick — pike, trout, perch and roach in both, with salmon also present in Bassenthwaite. One of just two UK locations where the rare vendace can still be caught.
Pike · VendaceConiston Water
Free to fish. Pike, roach, perch, brown trout and Arctic char, with reports of pike up to 20lb most years — quieter than Windermere or Ullswater.
Pike · CharHaweswater
A more remote reservoir holding brown trout, schelly, Arctic charr and perch — a good option for solitude away from the busier Lakes.
Trout · CharrGeneral guide only — always confirm current club membership, day-ticket availability, boat/bank permit differences and any local byelaws directly with the relevant angling association or the Environment Agency before fishing. Live-baiting for pike is banned by the Environment Agency across Cumbria.
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