Fishing Rules

We have five lakes available to lodge guests with a variety of coarse fish at Clovelly Lakes and we want you to enjoy your fishing experience with us.

Lakes 1-5, Beech, Maple, Larch, Cherry and Marsh lakes are available for residents to fish.

  • Lake 6, Fir Tree Lake is an exclusive hire lake for between 1 and 6 anglers to camp at for a minimum of 48 hours.

  • Lake 4, Larch Lake has now become the specimen lake for lodge guests.

To fish at Clovelly Lakes you must be a resident and hold a current rod licence. Children under 13 do not need a licence. Licences for children aged between 13 and 16 are free.
Visit: https://www.gov.uk/fishing-licences for more information.

Please follow these rules in respect for our fish, lakes and other anglers and guests:

  • The welfare and care of our fish is paramount. Any anglers causing harm or distress to any fish in our lakes will be permanently banned from Clovelly Lakes.

  • All carp anglers to carry a ‘carp care kit’

  • Please stay quiet, respect other guests and nature. Each lodge has a swim allocated to their lodge. Swims without a lodge may be used by any angler. Lodges without swims, Barn Owl 9, Wren 10 and Goldfinch 11 may use swims not allocated to other lodges. ** All 5 lakes (except Lake 6) may be fished. **

  • All photos to be taken kneeling down or sitting, not standing up to ensure minimum distress and avoid accidental damage to fish.

  • Barbless hooks only please, barbed hooks will not be tolerated and WILL be challenged

  • 42” landing nets must be used when landing carp. A smaller, more appropriate sized net may be used when fishing for silvers. 3 rods maximum per angler

  • A large unhooking mat (preferably padded) must be used when landing any fish

  • No fixed leads, safety rigs only

  • All litter, including cigarette butts, should be disposed of in bins/ashtrays… please leave your swim clean and tidy

  • Children under 16 must always be supervised by an adult

  • All coarse fish to be returned alive and not killed or taken off site

  • Night fishing available only with prior consent from the property owner

  • All anglers are expected to have and be able to produce a current rod licence

  • Bait boats are not necessary for our size of lakes. However, to support those with disabilities and mobility problems, bait boats can be used.

We do have some unhooking mats on site that can be borrowed, if necessary.

BAITS: Currently, we do not have a bait shop on site.

  1. Sweet smelling baits work well pre-spawning & post spawning e.g. tutti frutti boilies, particulalry in Beech Lake

  2. No fake or plastic baits, no lead core

  3. No nuts or home-made particles

  4. Shop prepared baits only