Coarse Fishing On The Longleat Estate

Longleat Estate offers some of the highest quality coarse fishing available in Britain on its superb lakes, set in beautiful surroundings in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside.

The Estate redeveloped the fishing at Longleat in 1989 and over the last 19 years, with careful fishery management and an extensive stocking programme, the fisheries have flourished to become renowned nationwide.

The Estate’s fisheries consist of five lakes, each offering something different to cater for the specimen angler, the pleasure angler and the complete beginner. As a guide detailing what each lake has to offer, we have included a brief summary.

Top Lake, Longleat

The Top Lake, extending to some 7 acres, is a specialist carp fishery with 600+ carp over 10lb. Over the last three years the Top Lake has really come into its own for carp fishing with the venue’s young, fast growing carp now reaching up to just over 35lb, with a good head of twenties. The fishery contains mirrors, ghosts, and commons, and the average size is high at around 17-18lb. Day-tickets and night-tickets are available for the Top Lake.

Prices:
Day ticket (07:00hrs - 19:00hrs) £10 per person
All night tickets (24 hours) £20 per person
Spectators (1 per paying angler) £5 each

Middle Lake, Longleat

The 4 acre Middle Lake is a very heavily stocked, predominantly carp fishery, with a large number of fish in the 3lb to 20lb bracket with bags to 60lb plus taken on a daily basis during the warmer months, along with numerous 100lb plus hauls over the course of the season. The Middle Lake also holds a good head of quality roach to 2lb, and bream to 6lb making it an ideal pleasure fishery.

Prices:
Day ticket (07:00hrs - 19:00hrs)
Adults - £8 per person
Senior Citizens - £4 per person (must be in possession of concession license)
Juniors - 1 rod £4 per person / 2 rods £8 per person (must be in possession of a junior rod licence)
Night fishing (24 hours) £20 per person
Spectators (1 per paying angler) £5 each

Bottom Lake, Longleat

Set in the grounds of Longleat House, the 2 acre Bottom Lake is ideal for novices, juniors, and more experienced anglers who want plenty of action. The lake is heavily stocked with small carp, perch, and crucians, with mixed bags to 60lb common place. The lake is the shallowest of the three lakes at Longleat making it the easiest for inexperienced anglers to fish. There is a car park near the Bottom Lake which also makes it ideal for the disabled or those with walking difficulties.

Prices:
Day ticket (07:00hrs - 19:00hrs)
Adults - £8 per person
Senior Citizens - £4 per person (must be in possession of concession license)
Juniors - 1 rod £4 per person / 2 rods £8 per person (must be in possession of a junior rod licence)
Night fishing (24 hours) £20 per person
Spectators (1 per paying angler) £5 each

Shear Water Lake, Crockerton (Nr Warminster)

Extending to some 37 acres, Shear Water Lake offers some of the finest fishing available in Britain, in a site of outstanding beauty. Completely surrounded by mature trees and bushes, Shear Water is without doubt one of the most scenic fishing spots in the country and its massive head of quality fish makes it extremely popular.

The Estate took Shear Water back in hand in the late 1980’s and the fishery has now developed into one of the country’s top venues. The Lake holds a big head of carp from 2lb to 26lb providing excellent sport for the specimen and pleasure anglers. The lake also boasts a huge head of bream which produce bags regularly over 50lb. Quality roach, perch, tench and rudd are in profusion making Shear Water a truly mixed fishery. In 2002, 15 new carp were introduced to the lake, weighing in at 15-18lbs. A yearly stocking programme of young, fast growing carp is also in place.

Night Fishing Main Road Side Only

Prices:
Day ticket (07:00hrs - 19:00hrs)
Adults - £8 per person
Senior Citizens - £4 per person (must be in possession of concession license)
Juniors - 1 rod £4 per person / 2 rods £8 per person (must be in possession of a junior rod licence)
Night fishing (24 hours) £15 per person
Spectators (1 per paying angler) £5 each

Little Shear Water, Crockerton (Nr Warminster)

The 1½ acre Little Shear Water (directly below the main lake) is an outstanding roach venue with stacks of quality roach to 1lb 8oz that regularly produce bags of 30lb plus. The venue also holds a big head of carp (up to 22lb) well into double figures, plus a good head of perch, rudd and bream, making it an ideal all round venue for anglers who like small, intimate venues.

Prices:
Day ticket (07:00hrs - 19:00hrs)
Adults - £8 per person
Senior Citizens - £4 per person (must be in possession of concession license)
Juniors - 1 rod £4 per person / 2 rods £8 per person (must be in possession of a junior rod licence)
Night fishing (24 hours) £15 per person
Spectators (1 per paying angler) £5 each

Rules

1. No nuts, peas, beans or party mix
2. No keepnets or carp sacks
3. Up to 3 rods (2 licenses required)
4. Barbless hook only – Rig checks will be carried out
5. No braided line
6. Minimum 10lb line, Top Lake
7. Bivvies only – strictly NO TENTS for night fishing
8. Spectators - £10.00 each
9. All fish to be returned to lakes
10. Environment Agency licence required for all lakes
11. No Alcohol
12. Strictly no Dogs (Longleat)
13. No fires or BBQ’s. Only small gas stoves are allowed
14. No Bait Boats
    
    Please note that there is no parking on the Main Lodge Drive and driving across the grass is not permitted.

NO BBQ’S

For Tickets please pay on the banks.

Please note that for night fishing you must have entered Longleat and be at the lake side before 7pm. There is no access to the Longleat Estate after this time.

All lakes open 7am on 29th February 2008.

For prices and further information please contact:

Nick Robbins, Longleat Water Bailiff
Tel: 01985 844496
Mob: 07889 625999

...between the hours of 08:00am and 6:00pm ONLY.