Fishing on Exmoor

For providers offering fishing breaks, click here.

Exmoor and its immediate surroundings offer a wide choice of opportunities for fresh and sea water fishing, mostly at very reasonable prices. They offer both variety and challenges to serious fisherman on dedicated trips and options for a more varied holiday - the fisherman/women can slip away in the early morning, in the evening, (or at any time!), leaving the others to relax and enjoy their chosen base, be it bed and breakfast, self-catering or a peaceful inn or hotel.

Most of the freshwater fishing is game fishing although there are some coarse fisheries, several of which are private lakes associated with self-catering and bed and breakfast cottages and farms.

Game fishing choices are very varied: wild brown trout, stocked trout, mainly, but by no means exclusively, rainbows, some grayling, (e.g. in the River Exe), sea trout and salmon. The surrounding scenery is peaceful and stunning. Because few people know about Exmoor, its fishing is uncrowded and fellow fishermen that you may meet are friendly and helpful. Most of the waters are accessible by short notice, or self-serve, day permits with very long lengths of bank to explore. For a lunchtime, or evening break, there is usually a good pub nearby - probably requiring a few minutes in the car.

If you enjoy having the freedom to search miles of river for wild brown trout and fishing small nymphs or dry flies, then consider the rivers Barle, Little Exe and Lyn.

If you like searching round the bays and small inlets of larger still waters to find where the rainbows are patrolling or the lies of wild brownies, then try Wimbleball and Clatworthy Reservoirs, (the Upton Arm of the former has a small mayfly hatch!)

If you have studded waters and are energetic, try for a fresh run salmon or grilse in the dramatic East Lyn.

If you are new to fly fishing, want to introduce a friend or spouse to it or just feel like a bit of easy fun, then try the large lake of Exe Valley Fishery, at Exbridge, and fish on or close to the surface -- or put together your own week's fishing at these and several other fisheries -- or even just decide on the day!

The choices are yours - come and make them!
Seasons: trout: mainly mid March to end Oct. (some fisheries open all year), salmon mid March - end Sept.)