Fishing and Boating

Local byelaws must be observed and a permit is usually required before starting to fish or launch your own craft. Rod licences, Bassenthwaite Lake permits and Keswick Anglers Association permits are available from Keswick Information Centre. For more information contact the Lake District National Park who operates the information centre tel 0845 901 0845.

An Environment Agency fishing rod licence is required to fish in all rivers, lakes and tarns which can be obtained from the Post Office or online.
To fish from the shore of Derwentwater lake you can get a day, week or season ticket from Keswick TIC.
No permit required to fish from a boat on Derwentwater lake.To fish from the shore of rivers Greta and Derwent for trout or Salmon (in season) you can get a day ticket from Keswick TIC or a weekly ticket for trout only.
Keswick Tourist Information Centre sells shore fishing permits to Bassenthwaite Lake (for day/week/season) and rowing boat tickets including permission for one person to fish for a day/season and salmon fishing permits for a day or season.
Keswick Tourist Information Centre also sells watercraft permits (canoe, sailboat, sailing dinghies, rowing boat and kayaks) for Bassenthwaite Lake. There is no right of navigation on Bassenthwaite Lake. You must have a permit to take any craft onto the lake.
Please respect the no boating zones. These protect the most important sites for breeding and over-wintering birds. Canoeing from the River Derwent? Please pass through the no boating zone as quickly and quietly as possible, keeping along the east shore. You can then leave the lake at Peel Wyke or Blackstock Point.
Permits cannot be purchased in advance, you will need to buy them in person at Keswick Tourist Information Centre in the Moot Hall in the Market Square.

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Download pdf of map of Bassenthwaite lake

bassenthwaite-map.pdf

River Greta and Derwent

It contains brown trout, sometimes sea trout and salmon. Only fly fishing methods are allowed.

Derwentwater
It contains brown trout, perch, pike and roach. Use of live or dead freshwater fish at any time and maggots between 15 March and 15 June as bait is prohibited. Boats are available for hire. Your own boat may be launched with permission. A 10mph speed limit must be observed.

Bassenthwaite Lake

This large lake is regarded principally as a pike fishery although it also contains roach, perch, brown trout, roach, dace and eels. Some salmon fishing takes place at the outflow by Ouse Bridge. Your own boat (no power) may be launched with a boat permit.

Watendlath Tarn
A trout fishery stocked with rainbow trout. Tickets and fly-fishing tackle can be obtained from the Tea rooms at Watendlath.

Buttermere
Contains trout, char, pike and perch. No power craft. A limit of 10 craft for canoeing, windsurfers, dinghies and rowing boats.

Crummock Water
Contains trout, char, pike and perch. Salmon and sea trout from July onwards. No power craft. A limit of 10 craft for canoeing, windsurfers, dinghies and rowing boats. No launching facilities.

Visit Keswick Angling Society or www.lakedistrictfishing.net for more information