Esthwaite Water

Esthwaite Water is a first class, well managed Trout fishery. It is a beautiful natural 280 acre water situated in the heart of the English Lake District with excellent facilities for boat or bank fishing.

It is regularly stocked with quality Trout throughout the season and whether you are an expert or beginner, our friendly, knowledgeable staff offer a warm welcome to ensure your visit is a memorable one!

As well as fantastic Trout fishing, this premier Lake District venue offers legendary winter Pike fishing as well as general coarse fishing. We have a fully stocked on site fishing tackle shop and offer fly fishing tuition and a guiding service which is second to none.

Please look no further than Esthwaite Water Trout Fishery for fishing in the Lake District.

www.hawksheadtrout.com

Tel – 015394 36541

Email – trout@hawkshead.demon.co.uk

FLOOCKBOURGH FORAGING

Two Day Coastal Foraging Course
in Flookburgh

Course Description

This two day course looks at the wonderful edible plants of the sands and salt marshes of the South Lakes. We will search out shrimps and shellfish in Morecambe bay and try our hands at catching flat fish.

The base for the course is the lovely Eeabank Lodge B&B at Cark in Cartmel, close to the sea. From here you will learn about the wonderful edible plants of the salt marsh, forage for sea vegetables and take a trip out in to Morecambe bay. Expert local fisherman Steve Manning will take us out into the bay to search out shrimps and shellfish. His family have worked on the sands for three generations and there is much to learn. We will try our hands at netting flat fish and learn about traditional ways of catching our supper.

There will be cooking demonstrations and walks to look at seasonal edible plants. Chris and Rose will be teaching and hosting. We prepare our foraged harvest together and guests can do as much or as little cooking as they want.

Be prepared for good food, learning, relaxation and an all round good time!

Of course you get to eat all that we forage and catch!

Sample Itinerary

(itineraries can change due to the weather and the seasons)

Arrival Day

Day 1

Day 2

Course Schedule

Course Calendar

Coastal Foraging

& Fishing Courses

Wild Food, Foraging
& Cooking Courses

One off Courses

Fishing

Esthwaite Farm Offers Free Fishing

Fishing on Esthwaite Water

Esthwaite Farm offers free permits to its guests to fish on Esthwaite Water. There is private access to the shore across the fields … so you do’t even need the car !

Trout Fishing

You will need to have a valid rod licence from the Environment Agency which you can buy online or at selected  post offices.

Esthwaite Water is the only fishery in the north of England capable of producing true grown on fish and every season fish into double figures are reported. Rainbow trout are stocked on a regular basis averaging 1.75lb with a proportion of larger fish to 6lbs. A breeding population has established and, truly wild rainbows may be caught. Wild brown trout are present but to supplement the existing stock browns are periodically introduced. The fishery record for Rainbow Trout is 16lb 3oz and 10lb 12oz for Brown Trout respectively.

The fishery is open for fly fishing throughout the winter. Sinking lines and lures are generally the order of the day during the colder months although prolonged mild spells can see the fish surface feeding to small midge. By late August fish are really back on the move again and once into September surface sport is again the big attraction with a variety of fly in evidence. By now the fish from earlier stockings will be in superb condition. Given reasonable weather surface activity can continue through into November when early afternoon buzzer hatches can still be expected. The first hard frosts will put the fish down and signal its time for the sinkers to come out once again. Boat and rod hire can be arranged at ‘The Hawkshead Trout Farm’.They also offer fly fishing tuition for both the expert or beginner.

Coarse Fishing

Hawkshead Trout Fishery has now opened Esthwaite for coarse angling from 1st November to the 31st March inclusive, and it is obvious from trial sessions that a huge coarse fish population still exists. Good nets of mainly roach and perch have been taken by anglers using groundbait or feeder methods in conjunction with maggot. Fish are caught under the most severe conditions and November, December and March are particularly productive months. Milder overcast days are best as the fish will feed all day. Cold bright days usually limit action to dusk.

The average size of the roach is around the seven ounce mark but larger fish, some in excess of 2lb, are caught every year. Huge shoals of roach are present in Esthwaite but the restricted bank access really means that the fish have to be in a couple of areas or fishing can be slow. Night fishing is not allowed and anglers are restricted to using one rod when fishing for trout. Two rods are permitted on the pike and coarse permit but no trout may be retained. Besides roach and rudd there are good stocks of perch and these are often caught by anglers fishing worm for the rainbow trout. Esthwaite contains a few tench and gudgeon along with the ubiquitous eel. The eels grow to very good size and fish over 5lb have been trapped in fyke nets.

Winter Pike Fishing

Esthwaite Water over the past decade or more has established itself as one of the most productive pike fisheries in the country, with many high profile anglers throughout the UK fishing Esthwaite on a regular basis, throughout the winter. The season lasts from 1st October through to 31st March, with no summer fishing for the pike allowed except by special arrangement. Methods are restricted to dead baits and lures only. Fly fishing for the pike is also welcomed throughout the winter season.

If you have any specific questions about fishing on Esthwaite you can call the fish farm direct on 015394 36541 or email trout@hawkshead.demon.co.uk

FISHING

Share this page