Fishing enthusiasts are spoilt for choice, with rich coastal pickings as well as a wealth of rivers, lakes and ponds. A combination of beautiful scenery and clean fresh air makes fishing the rivers and streams on Exmoor a special pleasure and the chance of catching a salmon or trout brings people back time and time again. S
The banks of the Rivers, Exe, Barle, Mole, Taw & Lyn offer salmon and trout fishing. Wimbleball Lake has all year round Trout fishing.
The rivers and streams of Exmoor offer a fine challenge.
More information on rivers, ponds and lakes can be obtained from National Park visitor centres, outlets selling permits
Excellent sea fishing can be had along the coast, including escorted boat trips at Combe Martin, Minehead, Porlock Weir, Watchet and further afield Ilfracombe.
Exmoor has a variety of easily accessible fishing opportunities, mainly fly fishing for both trout and salmon, also some grayling, and, a little further away, sea trout. Trout are both wild brown trout and rainbows in scenic rivers, streams and large and small lakes.
There are numerous rivers: Exe, Little Exe, Hadeo and Barle, (trout, salmon, and some grayling), Wimbleball Lake, (rainbows and wild browns), Exebridge Fishery and a private trout lake. It is possible to gain permits for each of these.
In this unique area can be found not only fine game fishing for salmon and sea trout but good coarse fishing and, on the coast, excellent sea fishing. To fish on West Somerset rivers, national rod licences must be obtained from the Environment Agency as well as permits from the owners ot fishing rights.
Most still water fisheries are covered by the agency's general licences, but owners' permits may be required in addition or in place of them. This includes some reservoirs owned by water companies.
Permits can be obtained on site at the larger reservoirs such as Wimbleball. South West Water runs Wimbleball and reservoirs to the south and west of Exmoor, and Wessex Water runs those to the north and east.
Don't forget that fishing off stony beaches and rocky headlands may play havoc with your tackle, and if you are after larger fish then you can always hire a boat in Watchet, Minehead or Porlock Weir.
The fast-flowing streams of Exmoor offer excellent scope
for trout fishing. Around
Dulverton and at other spots there are hotels and pubs that are dedicated
to the angler. Tourist Information Centres will have details. Somerset also contains a number of large reservoirs. Durleigh, Clatworthy and Wimbleball are in the west of the county whilst the big Bristol reservoirs of Chew
Valley and Blagdon are in the north. In the south of the county is Sutton
Bingham Reservoir which also encourages fly fishing.
Sea fishing is available in Bridgwater Bay and yields an interesting
range of fish. There are also numerous smaller lakes and rivers throughout
the county.
Fishing
Fishing — in the sea, rivers, reservoirs or
stocked ponds.
Fishing for trout
Permits
- Brendon:- Brendon House Hotel: 01598
741206
- Dulverton:- Lance Nicholson, Gun Shop, High
Street,: 01398 323409
- Ilfracombe:- Variety Sports, 23 Broad
Street: 01271 862039
- Lynton:- Tourist Information Centre, Town
Hall, Lee Road: 01598 752225
- South West Water (permit only):- Leisure
Services, Higher Combe Park, Lewdown, Okehampton, EX20 4QT: TEL:01837
871 565
If you enjoyf fly-fishing for rainbow trout, you'll love Wistlandpound Reservoir sunk among its trees a few miles north of Bratton Fleming. If your wish is sea angling, then there are many opportunities along the coast, along with organised boat trips from the local harbours.
River Exe
River Barle
River Lyn
River Taw
River Mole
Clatworthy Reservoir
Nick Hart Fly Fishing
Oxenleaze Farm
Wimbleball Lake
Combe Martin Sea Angling Club
The Shippen, Loxhore Cott, Nr Barnstaple, North Devon, EX31 4ST
Tel: 01271 850586
E-mail: wayne@cmsac.co.uk
Web: www.cmsac.co.uk
Please contact the club secretary, Wayne Thomas for further details about meeting times etc.
Clovelly Saltwater Flyfishing
Clovelly
Tel: 01237 431956 Fax: 0797 9017099
E-mail: sam@clovelly-saltwater-fly-fishing.co.uk
Web: www.clovelly-saltwater-fly-fishing.co.uk
For more information, bookings and price list please phone Sam Rush.
Oxenleaze Farm
Chipstable, Wiveliscombe, Somerset, TA4 2QH
Tel: 01984 623427
E-mail: enquiries@oxenleazefarm.co.uk
Web: www.oxenleazefarm.co.uk
Oxenleaze is renowned for its excellent coarse fishing. The farm owns 3 lakes, which occupy 2 acres of the valley, only a short walk (500m) from the doorstep. Stocked with carp, tench, roach, rudd and bream. Free to residents!
Wimbleball LAKE
Near Brompton Regis, Dulverton, Somerset
Tel: 01566 771930
E-mail: info@swlakestrust.org.uk
Explore Exmoor's largest inland water. Learn to sail, windsurf or kayak. Hire a fishing boat for a day's trout fishing!
Nick Hart Fly Fishing
Exford View, 1 Chapel Street, Exford , Nr Minehead, Somerset, TA24 7PY
Tel: 01643 831101 Mobile: 07971 198559
E-mail: nick@hartflyfishing.demon.co.uk
Web: www.hartflyfishing.demon.co.uk
Qualified Fly Fishing Tuition, Courses, Holidays & Advice from an International Instructor and Guide.
www.fishtheexe.co.uk
Spinning for sea bass from the rocky beaches of Hartland is not only exciting but can be rewarding. In addition coarse fishing is available in Hartland for carp, rudd and bream or fly fishing for trout. Travel a little further to find at least 5 other excellent fisheries in the area. If you fancy sea fishing this can be arranged from Clovelly.
Rod Licences are available from Post Offices.
Environment Agency: Tel: 08708506506
South West Water (permit only) Leisure Services, Higher Coombepark, Lewdown, Okehampton, EX20 4GT. Tel: 01566 771930
Environment Agency and/or owners' permit (including some angling club permits) may be obtained from the following suppliers: Brendon House Hotel, Tel: 01598 741206
Dulverton Lance Nicholson, Gun Shop, High Street, Tel: 01398 323409
llfracombe Variety Sports, 23 Broad Street, Tel: 01271 862039
Lynton Tourist Information Centre, Town Hall, Lee Road, Tel: 01598 752225
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