Waters · United Kingdom
Chew Valley Lake fishing report
Updated Friday, 9 October 2026 · refreshed automatically through the day
A shallow, rich reservoir with a cult reputation for giant pike — UK fish over 40 lb have come from its trout-stocked water. Pike trials are ticketed and sell out fast.
Species and season on Chew Valley Lake
Chew is best known as a trout fishery — stocked rainbows and wild-feeding browns from spring to autumn, with the boat fishing at its best on warm, settled days when fish rise to buzzers and daphnia feeders. In winter the focus switches to pike and big perch, with ticketed pike trials in the colder months drawing anglers from across the UK.
How to fish it
Pressure and wind direction are the two things worth checking. Trout move with the wind and the food it pushes into the downwind bays; pike like a mild, overcast, low-pressure day after a cold snap. The lake is shallow and rich, so fish are rarely far from the margins and weed edges when conditions are right.
Access, licences and local rules
Fishing is by permit from the lake's fishery, with boat and bank tickets, and pike trial places are limited and release dates are announced in advance. An Environment Agency rod licence is required in England. Boat fishing is the main method for trout, and rules on bait, hooks and handling differ between trout and pike sessions — read the fishery's current rules before you book.
Rules, seasons and permit systems change. Treat this as orientation and confirm with the licensing authority or fishery manager before you fish.
Today's report: excellent (81/100)
European Perch is the most promising species on Chew Valley Lake today. Water temperature is around 17°C and barometric pressure is falling.
Best time to fish today
- 18:00–20:00 local time — score 87/100
- 07:00–09:00 local time — score 89/100
- 12:00–14:00 local time — score 94/100
3-day outlook by species
| Species | Thursday 8 Oct | Friday 9 Oct | Saturday 10 Oct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Pike | 79 — good | 86 — excellent | 89 — excellent |
| Rainbow Trout | 32 — poor | 36 — poor | 39 — poor |
| European Perch | 81 — excellent | 90 — excellent | 94 — excellent |
Why this score
Cast & Scan uses a deterministic, published scoring model — no black box. The strongest influences on today's Chew Valley Lake rating:
- water temperature: helping (+1)
- season: helping (+1)
- light: helping (+0.9)
- wind: helping (+0.9)
- precipitation: helping (+0.9)
- pressure trend: helping (+0.8)
Forecast computed Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:26:24 GMT · data: Open-Meteo · refreshed automatically through the day · see our published accuracy
Wondering how this stacks up against the apps you already know? Cast & Scan vs Fishbrain vs BassForecast — an honest comparison, including where they beat us.
Read before you go
- When pike bite: the pressure, light and temperature windows
- Trout stream tactics, read through the forecast
- Barometric pressure and fishing, explained
More northern pike waters
- Lake Windermere — Lake District, England
- Loch Lomond — Scotland
- River Thames (Reading) — Berkshire, England
- River Wye (Hereford) — Herefordshire, England
- Bodensee (Lake Constance) — Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Nearby waters
- River Wye (Hereford) — Herefordshire, England (79 km away)
- River Test — Hampshire, England (85 km away)
- River Thames (Reading) — Berkshire, England (115 km away)
- Rutland Water — Rutland, England (199 km away)
- Norfolk Broads — Norfolk, England (319 km away)
- Lake Windermere — Lake District, England (335 km away)