Permits first
Local byelaws must be observed, and a permit is usually required before you start to fish or launch your own craft. There are two separate things to get right: a rod licence, which is national, and a permit for the particular water, which is local.
An Environment Agency rod licence is required to fish any river, lake or tarn in England. It is available online or from the Post Office, and it does not on its own let you fish a particular water.
Where to buy a permit
Rod licences, Bassenthwaite permits for canoes, sailboats and sailing dinghies, and Keswick Anglers Association permits plus fishing and watercraft permits, please contact the Lake District National Park Authority — 0845 901 0845.
- Derwentwater, from the shore — a day, week or season ticket from Keswick Information Centre.
- Derwentwater, from a boat — a separate permit, also from the information centre.
- The Greta and the Derwent — a day ticket for trout or salmon in season, or a weekly ticket for trout only.
- Bassenthwaite, from the shore — day, week or season permits, and rowing boat tickets that include permission for one person to fish for a day or a season. Salmon permits are sold by the day or the season.
- Bassenthwaite, on the water — watercraft permits for canoes, sailboats, sailing dinghies, rowing boats and kayaks.
- Buttermere, Crummock Water and Loweswater — from the National Trust. Day permits come from the machine in the Buttermere car park (CA13 9UZ), which takes coins only. For an annual permit, call the North Lakes office on 017687 74649.
Bassenthwaite, and buying online
There is no right of navigation on Bassenthwaite. You need a permit to take any craft at all onto the lake, and if you want to fish from your own boat you need both a boating permit and a fishing permit.
Both can be bought from the Lake District National Park. Keep the email permit, printed or on your phone, to show the ranger patrols — the email also carries a map of the lake.
Respect the no-boating zones. They protect the most important sites for breeding and over-wintering birds. Coming down the River Derwent by canoe, pass through the zone as quickly and quietly as you can, keeping to the east shore, then leave the lake at Peel Wyke or Blackstock Point.
What is in each water
Brown trout, sometimes sea trout, and salmon. Fly fishing methods only.
Fly only
Brown trout, perch, pike and roach. Live or dead freshwater fish are prohibited as bait at any time, and maggots between 15 March and 15 June. Boats are for hire, your own may be launched with permission, and there is a 10mph limit.
Derwentwater10mph limit
Principally a pike fishery, and also roach, perch, brown trout, dace and eels. Some salmon fishing at the outflow by Ouse Bridge. Your own unpowered boat may be launched with a permit.
Bassenthwaite LakePike
Trout, char, pike and perch. No powered craft, and a limit of ten craft at a time for canoes, windsurfers, dinghies and rowing boats.
ButtermereTen craft
Trout, char, pike and perch, with salmon and sea trout from July onwards. No powered craft, a limit of ten craft, and no launching facilities.
Crummock WaterNo launching
Brown trout with a bag limit of three, and coarse fishing for pike and perch. No launching facilities, but you can launch your own boat under four metres, canoes included. Four craft on the lake at any one time.
The Buttermere valleyBag limit 3
Launching on Derwentwater
You can launch small craft at the National Trust’s Kettlewell car park, where you can also land and picnic.
Permits and licences for Buttermere, Crummock Water and Loweswater are on the National Trust’s Buttermere valley page. The Keswick Angling Society have more on fishing locally.
Before you go out
Cold water is the risk people underestimate — even in summer. Safety on the fells and water covers what to check first, and transport and parking has the car parks nearest each launching point.
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