Haweswater in Cumbria is a reservoir where anglers can fish for brown trout.
The reservoir covers the submerged village of Mardale, offering a unique fishing experience in a mountainous setting.
Anglers can expect continuous action, though catching record-breaking fish may be rare.
The best spots for fishing are on the northwestern shore, requiring some walking, and fly fishing is the preferred method.
Access to Haweswater is through Bampton, with narrow and slow roads leading to the
Haweswater
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About Haweswater
Haweswater in Cumbria is a reservoir owned by United Utilities where you can fish for free with just your rod licence.
The reservoir covers the village of Mardale, which is now underwater. Sometimes during droughts, you can see the abandoned fields of the village. The reservoir is now a great place to fish for brown trout, with most fish weighing around six to eight ounces. You may not catch any record-breaking fish, but you can enjoy a day of continuous action in a beautiful mountain setting.
You can fish from the banks all around the reservoir, but the best spots are on the northwestern shore, which requires a bit of a walk to reach. You’ll likely be moving around a lot, trying different fishing methods like wet flies or dry flies depending on the conditions. The trout in Haweswater are fast and you may miss as many as you catch, but they are not picky eaters and will go for most standard fly patterns.
Most anglers prefer the top end of the lake, but fishing is good all around the shoreline. The best method is fly fishing.
To get to Haweswater, take the A6 at Shap and follow the signs to the reservoir through Bampton. The roads are narrow and slow, so take your time driving there.