Fishing Near Me | 13 waters to try for big pike

Want to catch a monster pike and not have to travel to Chew Valley to land it? Then you best check out our top 13 waters to try this winter and land yourself a new pb. All of the venues below contain pike over 25lb and are dotted all around the country. 

1) Esthwaite Water, Hawkshead, Cumbria

This huge Lake District venue holds fish to over 45lb and regularly produces fish well into the thirties. 

Contact: 015394 36541

Postcode: LA22 0QF


2) Wykeham Lakes, Scarborough, N Yorks

Predator angler Wyndon Coole netted a colossal 46lb 11oz pike from the nine-acre predator lake at this Yorkshire venue. The same fish was caught this week at 41lb (see Netbusters pages 10&11).

Contact: 07515 992981

Postcode: YO13 9QU


3) Rutland Water, Oakham, Leics

This huge water may be famous for its zander sport but it also holds some monster pike rumoured to be in excess of 40lb. You can fish from a boat for them on a day ticket, too.

Contact: 01780 686441

Postcode: LE15 8HD


4) Ten Mile Bank, King’s Lynn, Norfolk

This long, featureless water holds a good head of pike with the odd fish to over 30lb. Fishing the reedy margins with lures and wobbled baits is a good way to explore a stretch of this wide Fenland drain. Try the section at Modney Bridge.

Contact: Shipshape Tackle, 01553 764058


5) Loch Lomond, Balloch, Scotland

Arguably the best pike fishing water in Britain, Lomond has repeatedly produced monster fish of 40lb or more. Back in August Andrew Carson bagged a 40lb 5oz specimen from this historic 24-mile-long venue. Run by Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association, you can fish Lomond on a day ticket.

Contact: Ticklers Tackle,
01436 675044

Postcode: G83 8EG


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6) Grafham Water, Huntingdon, Cambs

Boat fishing on this large Anglian Water-run reservoir regularly produces pike to 25lb-plus. They catch them on the fly, lures and bait here.

Contact: 01480 810531

Postcode: PE28 0BX


7) Rudyard Lake, Leek, Staffs

Run by Stoke on Trent Angling Society but available on a day ticket, this
180-acre lake in the Peak DIstrict holds pike to 32lb-plus. Locating fish is key, but you can hire boats for fishing.

Contact: 01538 306280

Postcode: ST13 8XB


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8) River Wye, Goodrich, Herefordshire

The lower River Wye is one of the best areas for a river thirty, but location is key. The Angling Dreams-run Thomas Wood stretch is a hotspot. Look for the deep pools and be prepared to fish into dusk.

Contact: Angling Dreams,
07976 908985


9) Llangorse Lake, Brecon, Powys

The premier pike water in Wales, Llangorse offers a chance of boating specimen fish in excess of 30lb.

Contact: 01874 658226

Postcode: LD3 7TR


10) Watermark Fishery, South Cerney, Glos

This day-ticket venue, part of the prolific Cotswold Water Park, has its own pike lake which regularly produces 20lb-plus fish and offers the chance of a dream 30-pounder.

Contact: 07769 173108

Postcode: GL7 5UZ


11) Hampshire Avon, Royalty Fishery, Christchurch, Dorset

This famous fishery comes alive with pike in winter, when some monsters inhabit its gravel-laden runs. The Little Weir, House Pool and Railway swims are hotspots. 

Contact: Davis Tackle, 01202 485169


12) Farmoor Reservoir, Farmoor, Oxon

Lake 1 of this huge Thames Water-run reservoir holds pike to over 30lb. Last February fishery manager Ben Farley landed a 36lb 4oz fish on a lure here.

Contact: 07747 640707 

Postcode: OX2 9NS


13) Bury Hill Fishery, Dorking, Surrey

You can fish from the bank or a punt on the Old Lake and this delightful water, complete with an island, holds pike to over 30lb.

Contact: 01306 877540

Postcode: RH4 3JU