Grasmere

Grasmere is situated on the eastern side of the A591 Ambleside to Keswick road just before Grasmere village. This small lake is one of the regions best natural coarse fisheries holding prolific shoals of roach, quality perch and big pike. Genuine thirty pound plus pike have been caught in the past and twenty pound fish are caught every year, along with good numbers of doubles.

Grasmere is surprisingly underfished for other species. The roach have a high average size and 2lb fish are not uncommon. Similarly, 3lb perch are by no means unusual.

Access is good along the roadside bank, and on the far shore from the outflow to the end of the footpath. The shoreline from here right around the top of the lake and back to the Daffodil  Hotel is private.

The biggest problem with Grasmere is the lack of free parking, although this tends to protect the fishery from overuse. There are two lay-bys on the main road taking three vehicles each. Once those are full you will have to find  either parking in Grasmere Village, or the car park at White Moss, near Rydal Water – both options will cost you and present you with a long walk with piking gear.

The fishery is open from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. No night fishing is allowed. Three rods maximum, no keepnets. Flies, lures, worm or deadbait permitted. Maggots may be used except from 15th March until 15th June. Strictly no live bait.  No fishing from or access to the island or private land on the north and west shores. No dogs, wading, fires, barbecues.

Fishing is from the highlighted areas (in red) only.