The Fly Fishing Lakes

The fly fishing lakes at Tavistock Trout Fishery are five lakes on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, fed from the River Tavy, including lakes named Osprey, Kingfisher, Heron and Mallard. They opened in 1991 and are stocked with rainbow and brown trout alongside tiger, golden and blue trout, all from one and a half pounds, with rainbows stocked most days and the other varieties stocked weekly.

A full day permit takes four fish for £54, a five hour session takes three fish for £44, and an evening permit from 5pm takes two fish for £35, a price also available to over 65s at any time of day. A parent and child permit takes three fish each over a shared five hour session for £84, and a beginner’s permit includes a fish, rod and net hire and a short casting demonstration over five hours for £35. Extra fish cost £14 each and must be bought before they are caught.

Hooks must be barbed rather than barbless, flies are single or tandem only, and nothing may be fished static except a dry fly. Every angler must carry and use a landing net, and every fish caught must be weighed and recorded. Catch and release is not permitted except on Mallard and the brown trout lakes. Well behaved dogs are allowed on a lead while their owner is fishing.

In summer, anglers can start fishing from first light on a self service permit bought at the office, so long as it is at least a three fish permit, with no upgrading once bought.