Roadford Lake

Roadford Lake is South West Lakes Trust’s largest Devon trout water, a 738 acre reservoir in rolling hills on the edge of Dartmoor, between Okehampton and Launceston. Culm grassland, old pasture and orchard surround the lake, and a ranger team keeps extra banks fishable even when water levels run high.

Brown trout, wild and stocked, run through the reservoir in good numbers; most are stocked at ten to twelve inches, with some grown on to two pounds, and the biggest fish recorded here is eight pounds four ounces. Catches of thirty or more fish in a day by boat are not unusual in season, and hawthorn flies bring good dry fly sport in May.

Fishing is by fly only, from bank or boat. Boats for up to two anglers can be hired directly, no club membership needed, for £17.50 a day, with a safety induction required before first use; float tube and kayak self launch is also available. A cafe, toilets, showers and eight car parks around the lake make it an easy day out. Day tickets, evening tickets and season tickets are sold online or by phone, and Roadford is also covered by the multi-water Castabout season permit.