Fishing Derwent Water in Cumbria, England

• Overview

  Out in Cumbria, England, sits Derwent Water. Elevation runs to 246 feet. At 1,283 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. Some 9.5 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. On our Cumbria list it sits near the top for size. Keswick is the closest place, 1.2 miles off. For a city, Blackpool is 53 miles off. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Derwent Water

  We hold no depth figure for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name brown trout, Atlantic salmon, European eel, perch and northern pike. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Take Derwent Water a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 13°C; the cold one sits at 2°C. The year gives four workable seasons without severe ends. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Plan any trip to Derwent Water around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A launch point is recorded some half a mile off. There is a marina, Nichol End Marine, half a mile away. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. There is a toilet block some 0.9 miles out. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Thirlmere at 4.8 miles is the sensible second choice. For Derwent Water in particular, ask before you travel.