Fishing Season: 8th March to end of October

Chew Valley Lake - GB-SOM

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

63

Martin Cottis's Tip of the Week

Fabulous fishing this past week with loads of fish on top. What a change - with cooler water, more fresh fish and anglers actually fishing the lakes! All sorts of methods now working.

Directions open in app

Map of Chew Valley Lake

5-Day Outlook as of 10/7/26

Best week I have had on the lake for most of this season. Dry fly action right from the "off". Hard fighting fish of fantastic quality. Just like Chew Valley lake should be producing...

Techniques & Tips as of 10/7/26

For nymph fishing, long leaders and team of three flies - "buzzer" pupae in various colours. It is important to move the flies VERY slowly if at all! With dry fly, best to use two flies on a 10 - 12 foot leader spaced about five feet apart. 12 on the point and 14 on the dropper. For the pike a wire trace is compulsory, and as there are some very large fish in the lake, a minimum tippet strength of 25lbs is required. Large (2/0 and 3/0) bait immitations are best.

Local Species Available 8th March to end of October

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    Rainbow trout

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    brown trout

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    perch and pike

Martin Cottis's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Birchell’s Hatching Midge claret/fiery brown 12, 14
Birchell’s Hatching Midge natural 10, 12
March Brown Wet natural 10, 12
Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear Wet black or red 12, 14
Diawl Bach natural 10, 12
Bob's Bits claret, fiery brown, 12, 14
fry patterns white, silver 8, 10
booby lure black, orange 10

Birchell’s Hatching Midge

Birchell’s Hatching Midge is fly pattern to use as a dry fly or emerger.

2.99

Item #12A1

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Martin Cottis's Recommended Gear

Description: About Chew Valley Lake

Chew Valley Lake at around 1400 acres is one of the largest reservoirs in the south of England. Construction work began on the lake in 1953 and in June 1956 it was officially opened by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Since then it has provided wonderful trout fishing for both local and visiting anglers. Found to the south of Bristol and handily placed for flights into Bristol Airport, Chew has long been a venue sought after by anglers wishing to fish small and mostly immitative nymph and dry fly patterns. The new Lodge was opened in 2000 by the celebrated angler and actor Bernard Cribbins.

Nearest Airport:

Bristol International Airport (about six miles away)

Hatches:

Midge - these are the predominant species from start to end of season. Corixae - all season but more important as weather warms. Fry patterns - especially late in season. Ants - for a couple of "hot" weeks in summer Terrestrials - all year

Best Time to Fish:

bank - early and late, boats all day if cloudy, eve otherwise

Best Stretch:

Heron's Green Bay, North Shore, Woodford, Sailing Club frontage

Best Access:

From Woodford Lodge