Stillwater · Volcanic · Lake District / West Cumbria

Ennerdale Water

Ennerdale Water venue image
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Ennerdale Water is the most remote of the main Lake District lakes and the one that most rewards a fly angler.

Marginal · Trout
Buzzer · 10-14
A patient day, if you fancy it
Glassy and bright — hard work without a breeze. A flat lough is a quiet lough — wait for the breeze.
41% confidence
limited data
What moved it
  • WindE 4 km/hCalm
Today’s fly
Buzzer
Buzzer10-14
Washing-line, in the film
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Calm
E 4 km/h
N
E
from the east
WaveFlat calm
Water temp
Air temp12°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1021 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for trout
When
May to September; evening sedge fishing excellent from late June. September can produce the best fish of the year as trout feed up before spawning.
Where
With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work Shipman's Buzzer on the bob and Marabou Damsel on the point. In the calm, a single dry fly or buzzer-under-bung approach may be more effective than a drifted team.
The plan
Plan A

With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work Shipman's Buzzer on the bob and Marabou Damsel on the point. In the calm, a single dry fly or buzzer-under-bung approach may be more effective than a drifted team.

Plan B

If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.

Watch for

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

Bank

Flat calm suits bank fishing near features — points, weed beds, and inflows where fish patrol.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
2
3
2
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Trout fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • United Utilities fishing permit required
  • Available via unitedutilities.com/recreation
  • Boat hire available through permit system
  • Access via Bowness Knott car park (western end)
  • No vehicle access beyond car park on foot permit.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
54%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp25%

A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Fishing better nearby · 5
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Ennerdale Water is the most remote of the main Lake District lakes and the one that most rewards a fly angler. United Utilities permit water in the far west of the national park — no road runs along the south shore and the valley is largely car-free, which means the wild brown trout have seen relatively few flies. The trout are genuine wild fish, typically 8–14 oz but with fish to 2lb+ present, in excellent condition from the volcanic catchment's clean, well-oxygenated water. Arctic charr are present in the lake but live deep and are not a fly fishing target. The fishing is loch-style — drift from a boat with teams of wet flies, or work the bankside shallows at dusk with sedge and dry fly. United Utilities issues day and season permits; boat hire is available through the permit system. The combination of remoteness, wild fish, and spectacular fell backdrop makes Ennerdale one of the best-kept secrets in English still-water fly fishing.

  • Volcanic
Water quality (WFD)
  • EcologyGood
  • ChemicalUnknown
Why this score
  • Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout15 March → 30 September
Related guides
Booking & contacts