With its abundance of commercial coarse and trout fisheries, rivers and canals, it's not surprising that anglers travel from throughout the country to fish in the Midlands. The Warwickshire Avon offers mainly coarse fishing, with some stretches becoming excellent barbel fisheries. The Blythe and the Alne hold wild brown trout, while other coarse rivers in the county include the Leam, the River Teme, and the Stour.
Canals in Warwickshire include the Grand Union, Coventry, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Oxford canals. Draycote Water is a 590-acre reservoir offering trout fishing from both bank and boats. Commercial coarse fisheries in Warwickshire are too numerous to mention although there are some major venues including Makins Fishery at Bramcote and Packington Somers Fisheries at Meriden.
Trout Fisheries in Coventry and Warwickshire
Surprisingly there are not a lot of trout fisheries in Warwickshire. Whilst there is a limited amount of wild brown trout in some of the smaller rivers as mentioned above, there are also few stillwater trout fisheries including Draycote Water. This is a 590-acre reservoir and country park near the village of Dunchurch which is owned and operated by Severn Trent Water and offers trout fishing from both bank and a fleet of boats.
Meanwhile, the Warwickshire Flyfishers is a non-profit making club with two trout lakes at Wolvey, two at Copston Magna and a new water it has recently taken over at Marston Jabbett near Bulkington. The waters are stocked with rainbows averaging 2.6lbs to 6lbs and brown trout averaging 2lbs.
Coarse Fisheries in Coventry and Warwickshire
However, it is the area's stillwater commercial coarse fisheries which makes Coventry and Warwickshire a magnet for coarse anglers who have more venues to choose from than they can chuck a float at. Commercial coarse fisheries in Warwickshire are too numerous to mention although there are some major venues including Makins Fishery at Bramcote, said to be the largest commercial fishery in Warwickshire and one of the biggest in the country with a total of 18 lakes and pools offering more than 600 fishing pegs.
Located at the reputed heart of England, Packington Somers Fisheries at Meriden between Birmingham and Coventry is another major commercial coarse fishery as is Bishops Bowl Fishery at Bishops Itchington, near Leamington Spa. A former limestone quarry, it has nine lakes offering anglers a variety of fishing including specimen fishing for carp to 36lbs.
Our Pick of Fishing Venues in Coventry and Warwickshire
In collaboration with Fisheries, a brilliant resource for finding angling venues and information within the UK, we've selected a wide range of the best fishery locations you can visit in the Midlands. This guide provides information on how to book, what the key features of each fishery are and what fish you can expect to find in their waters. So if you're thinking of approaching a new venue, keep reading!
Blythe Waters
Location: Hampton Road, Knowle, Solihull, B93 ONU
About: Blythe Waters offers five attractive lakes set in pleasant rolling countryside between Hampton-in-Arden and Knowle to the east of Solihull. Although Blythe is a popular match venue, it is also well suited to pleasure anglers.
Key Features and Facts: Decent sized carp, bream, tench and roach • Good facilities for disabled anglers • On-site cafe • Site for five caravans • Toilet and shower facilities
Ideal For: Pleasure anglers • Club matches • Carp anglers • Disabled anglers • Pole and waggler fishing
How to Book / Prices: Pleasure anglers do not need to book. Club match bookings through The Canal and River Trust website at prices of £7.00 for adults or £6.00 for concessionary anglers.
Butlers Hill Fishery
Location: Great Rollright, near Chipping Norton, OX7 5SJ
About: Butlers Hill offers three attractive pools in a rural setting on the Warwickshire/Oxfordshire border at Great Rollright. Ideal for all coarse tactics the pools hold a good mix of silvers fish and carp with the match record standing at over 200lbs. The venue can now accommodate up to five caravans and 10 tents for members of the Caravan Club.
Key Features and Facts: Carp to over 20lbs • Good head of silver fish • Ticket monies from on-site caravan or on bank • Night fishing by prior arrangement • Floating baits good in summer
Ideal For: Pleasure anglers • Novice anglers and youngsters • Carp anglers • Night fishing available • Caravan and camping available
How to Book / Prices: No need to book. Prices are £8.00 for adults or £7.00 for concessions. 24-hour tickets £24.00 for adults and £23.00 for concessions.
Coombe Pool Fishery
Location: Coombe Abbey Park, Brinklow Road, Binley, Coventry, CV3 2AB
About: Once one of the country’s leading big bream match waters, Coombe Pool now concentrates on providing pleasure and specimen angling for day ticket and season ticket anglers on what is still one of the UK’s most stunning specimen fisheries with carp to over 20lbs, bream to 10lbs, tench to double figures, zander to 16lbs and big pike regularly being banked.
Key Features and Facts: Estate lake angling at a low price • Good for big carp, tench, bream, pike and zander • Crucian carp to over 4lbs • Season tickets also available • Second largest stillwater in Warwickshire
Ideal For: Specimen anglers • Pleasure anglers • Large crucian carp, large zander and pike • Day tickets from car park ticket machine
How to Book / Prices: No need to book. Day tickets from £3.00 or from £4.00 for specimen anglers. Variety of season tickets available. Day tickets should be purchased from the car park ticket machine.
Temple Farm
Location: Temple Farm Fishery, Temple Hill, Wolvey, Hinckley, Warwickshire, LE10 3HY
About: An attractive and informal two-pool fishery with carp to over 30lbs and decent silver fish. Temple Farm has flat grass banks and a car park at the entrance to the main Dave’s Pool which makes it suitable for disabled anglers in dry weather. The main Dave's Pool is easy to fish although the delightfully attractive Dad's Pool at the far end of Dave's is more difficult. Dave's is a well-established water offering about 25 pegs which give access to open water, fishing the margins or fishing to the tree-clad island. Dad's has only a handful of pegs and offers more traditional fishing amid lily pads.
Key Features and Facts: Friendly informal fishery • Ticket money collected on the bank • Easy to fish for all anglers • Suitable for accompanied young anglers • Few rules
Ideal For: Carp anglers • Pleasure anglers • Family fishing • Good bags of silver fish
How to Book / Prices: No need to book. Day tickets are £8.00 for adults and £6.00 for OAP/Juniors/Disabled anglers. Further details on 01455 220422.
Hopsford Hall
Location: Withybrook Lane, Shilton, near Coventry, CV7 9HY
About: Over the past few years Hopsford Hall has developed a growing reputation as a leading Midlands specimen and pleasure fishery with carp now being caught to over 30lbs and bream to an impressive 15lbs and perch to over 3lbs. Unusually, it is in winter that boilies come more into their own. Generally effective throughout the year are sweetcorn, trout pellet paste, dog-food mixers, maggots and worms.
Key Features and Facts: Attractive old estate lake in a rural setting • Plenty of fish in the mid 20s • Day ticket fishing from 7.00am until 6.00pm • Night fishing by prior appointment • Card payments taken
Ideal For: Specimen anglers • Pleasure anglers • Large bream • Day tickets on the bank • Card payment accepted
How to Book / Prices: Day ticket anglers do not need to book but night fishing is by appointment only. Day tickets are £10.00 for up to two rods. 24-hour tickets are £25.00. Anglers wishing to book can make an enquiry via Hopsford's entry on Fisheries.co.uk or telephoning 07831 674721.
The Riddings Fishery
Location: Watling Street, Grendon, near Atherstone, Warwickshire, CV9 2PE
About: Four attractive and well-maintained pools offering specimen carp, pleasure and match angling as well as a one acre specialist crucian carp pool which is also believed to hold near record-breaking golden orfe to over 7lbs. Plenty of bankside cover and carp to over 30lbs. The fishery is open from 6.00am until 9.00pm in summer and 7.00am until 5.00pm in winter.
Key Features and Facts: Gravel walkway to every peg • Suitable for disabled anglers • Carp to 30lbs, bream and tench to 7lbs • Keepnets allowed on two pools • On-site snack bar
Ideal For: Specimen anglers • Pleasure anglers • Club matches • Day tickets on the bank
How to Book / Prices: Adult day tickets are £9.00 (£6.00 concessions). Specimen Pool £12.00 for all anglers. Bookings and enquiries via The Riddings entry on Fisheries.co.uk or telephoning 07739 934097 or 01827 713244.
Kingsbury Water Park
Location: Bodymoor Heath Lane, Bodymoor Heath, Sutton Coldfield, B76 0DY
About: One of the largest and most diverse fisheries in the Midlands with a total of 12 landscaped lakes in a scenic country park setting, Kingsbury Water Park is owned and managed by Warwickshire County Council and offers day-ticket and annual permit fishing. All the lakes can be fished year-round with day tickets with the exception of the Canal Pool specimen carp water which is available only to permit holders. There is free fishing for junior anglers aged 16 and under on Willows Pool.
Key Features and Facts: Good access for disabled anglers • Camping and caravan site available • Information Centre, cafe and toilets on site • Behind peg parking in many areas • Day and season tickets available
Ideal For: Specimen, pleasure and match anglers • Disabled anglers • Family fishing
How to Book / Prices: Day tickets from £7.50 adults and £6.50 concessions. Pay by card in ‘Pay and Display’ parking areas. Prices include parking and fishing. Further information on 01827 872660.
Packington Somers Fishery
Location: Somers Road, Meriden, CV7 7PL
About: A well-established former gravel pit complex in the heart of the ‘Meriden Gap’ Green Belt between Birmingham and Coventry, Packington Somers has to be one of the most successful and varied commercial coarse fisheries in the Midlands, if not the UK. Packington offers a mix of fishing on 13 lakes and pools and a one mile stretch of the River Blythe. Stocks include carp to 28lbs, tench and bream to about 8lbs, crucian carp to over 3lbs and good stocks of roach and perch.
Key Features and Facts: Purpose built fishing lodge • Cafe and toilets • On-site tackle shop • Regular Open Matches • Lakeside parking
Ideal For: Specimen, pleasure and match angling • Disabled anglers • Excellent pleasure and match weights
How to Book / Prices: Mix of tickets – morning/afternoon/evening and day tickets from £6.00 for adults and £5.50 concessions. Pay in the Lodge before fishing. Card payment accepted. Further information on 01676 523833.
Oakham Farm
Location: Loxley, Warwickshire, CV35 9HY
About: Four well stocked farm pools to the south of Stratford-upon-Avon which offer informal easy fishing for carp, tench, roach and perch. Island Pool, which holds mirrors and commons to 20lbs but averaging 2lbs to 5lbs, can be reserved for small club matches requiring up to 15 pegs at the standard day ticket costs. Because it is near the car park and has flat even banks, Island Pool is also popular with disabled anglers. The fishery has toilet facilities.
Key Features and Facts: Fishes well all year round • Day ticket fees collected on the bank • Keepnets permitted for fish under 2lbs • One pool can be reserved for small club matches • Island Pool suitable for disabled anglers
Ideal For: Pleasure and match angling • Disabled anglers • ‘Dads and Lads' and family fishing
How to Book / Prices: £7.00 for adults, £6.00 for juniors under 16 and £5.00 for OAPs and disabled. Pay on the bank. Further information on 07866 495177.
Earlswood Reservoir
Location: Earlswood, Solihull, B94 5JH
About: Three attractive large reservoirs set in pleasant, wooded countryside near Earlswood to the south of Solihull. Nationally renowned as a prolific match venue, it is also popular with pleasure anglers who regularly catch over 200lbs leading to the fishery being recognised as the finest of its type in the Midlands where decent catches of carp and big bream are virtually assured. Because it is used as a balancing reservoir for the local canal network, water levels can change dramatically with the seasons.
Key Features and Facts: Car parks near the lakes • Timber platforms with umbrella and bankstick holders • Terry’s Pool available only on season ticket • Engine Pool gives big pleasure and match catches • Windmill popular for big bream • Suitable for pole, waggler and feeder fishing
Ideal For: Pleasure and match angling • Pole, waggler and ledger fishing • Carp, roach and perch fishing
How to Book / Prices: Mix of day ticket options from £5.00 for adults and £4.00 concessions. Season tickets available for Terry's Pool. Pay on the bank. Further information on 07906 798610.
Ryton Pool
Location: Ryton Road, Bubbenhall, Coventry, CV8 3BH
About: Ryton Pools Country Park near Coventry offers fishing for carp to 30lbs, good sized tench and double figure pike. Run by Leamington Spa AA, the fishing at Ryton Pool has improved greatly over the last few years. A recently constructed concrete bank level with the car park offers a long section which is easily accessed by less able anglers and wheelchair users. There is also a specially constructed disabled fishing platform which is available to blue badge holders and offers easy access for up to three disabled anglers. Float fishing the margins can bring good bags of perch, tench, rudd and roach.
Key Features and Facts: Radar key disabled anglers’ fishing platform • Visitor Centre • Use a large landing net! • Car park fee payable on entry • Toilets and cafe in Visitor Centre • Leamington Spa AA membership required
Ideal For: Big carp, pike and decent tench fishing
How to Book / Prices: Entry to the park costs £3.00 per vehicle or £6.00 for more than four hours. Leamington AAS membership required. Further information on 02476 305592 or 01926 312319.
Other Nearby Venues Worth a Visit:
Alcott Farm Fishery
Location: Icknield Street, Weatheroak, Alvechurch, Worcestershire, B48 7EH
About: A lovely pleasure fishery which is suitable for disabled anglers and offers behind the peg parking in dry weather, Alcott Farm has three pools stocked with carp to 26lbs as well as decent heads of crucian carp, tench, bream good quality roach and some handsome perch to 2lbs.
Key Features and Facts: Behind the peg parking in dry weather • Plenty of well-spaced pegs • Plenty of carp around 6lbs • Good head of silver fish • Friendly informal fishery
Ideal For: Pleasure anglers • Novice anglers and youngsters • Carp anglers • Disabled anglers • Pole and waggler fishing • Cottage accommodation available
How to Book / Prices: No need to book. Prices are £8.00 or £7.00 for OAP and disabled anglers.
Anchor Meadow Fishery
Location: Anchor Lane, Harvington, near Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 8PA
About: Despite having only 40 pegs, Anchor Meadow is one of the most productive stretches of the Warwickshire Avon with barbel of 18lbs 10oz and carp to 48lb having been caught. The swims vary between deep slow-moving water for carp, tench, bream, roach, perch and pike to shallower fast-running stretches favoured by those after big barbel and chub.
Key Features and Facts: Camping and caravanning facilities available • Advisable to book weekend fishing • Pay at the bungalow on arrival • Parking near all pegs in dry weather • Ladies' and gents’ toilets and showers
Ideal For: Specimen barbel anglers • River pleasure anglers • Pike anglers • Night anglers
How to Book / Prices: Booking directly with the fishery on 01386 48065 is advisable especially for weekend stays. Calls are monitored by BT Callguard so state you want to book a peg. Alternatively book on-line at the venues listing on Fisheries.co.uk. Prices £10.00 day ticket or £16.00 per 24 hours.
Angling Clubs in Warwickshire
There are many angling clubs in Warwickshire which offer fishing on the county’s rivers, lakes and canals. Birmingham Anglers Association, probably the biggest angling club in the West Midlands, has a variety of fishing in the county including more than a dozen stretches of the Warwickshire Avon as well as a stretch of the River Alne near Wootton Wawen which holds trout as well as coarse fish.
The Shipston-on-Stour and District Angling Club has seven stretches on the River Stour totalling approximately four miles of riverbank. The majority of fishing is for coarse fish although trout are present in a couple of the higher stretches where the water is fishable with the fly in spring before the weed gets hold. The club also has a clutch of stillwaters. The Leamington Angling Association offers stretches of the River Avon and River Leam as well as fishing on the Grand Union Canal and pools which include Napton Reservoir which is renowned for its fishing for tench, crucian carp, bream, roach and specimen carp.
Another significant club is the Stratford-on-Avon AC which offers fishing on several miles of the River Avon at Seven Meadows, Stannells Meadow, Luddington and Manor Farm together with a long stretch of the River Stour between Wimpstone and Preston-on Stour and an offshoot of the Avon called Hampton Lucy Brook. In addition, there are many other angling clubs particularly at Warwick, Redditch, Coventry, Astwood Bank and Nuneaton.
With such a selection to choose from it's not surprising that the Coventry and Warwickshire area has for decades attracted anglers particularly from throughout the country, particularly the North West, Yorkshire and the North East.
Even More Fishing Venues
For more information about places to go fishing, we recommend heading over to www.fisheries.co.uk for hundreds of great fishing venues to try.
