Fly Fishing in East Anglia. Norfolk & Suffolk aren’t really the county that you relate to fly fishing. Suffolk has very low lying land consisting mainly of fields, forest and marshland.
So fly fishing for Trout is mainly still water based with a few rivers in Suffolk and neighbouring Norfolk holding a head of wild and stocked brown Trout.
I’ve been only fly fishing for just over a year now and its been a massive leap into the sport and I can say i’m truly ‘hooked’ on it.
After my first day trying to cast a fly line my ability and knowledge of the methods and the fish has massively increased.
With limited fly fishing waters near me I researched fisheries fairly local to me (Beccles) and have ventured to fish a few of them.
Here’s a list of Trout fisheries that I have fished in East Anglia. (if you know of any more please contact me as i’d love to fish them and add them to the list.
Fly Fishing in East Anglia, Venues.
Willow Lakes, Chediston, Suffolk
Willow lakes was the first place I went Fly Fishing in East Anglia. As a complete beginner and within an hour I had four fish on the bank.
Located just outside Halesworth, Willow Lakes consists of two lakes of 11/2 and 21/2 acres, well sheltered from cold winds, with deep water close to the banks.
Both lakes are well sheltered from the wind and each peg is well groomed with easy water access, rubbish bin and most with a perching log.
Facilities here are second to none.
With an anglers caring with tea & coffee, sink, sofas and scales it is the perfect place to retire to if the weather changes or you fancy a break for lunch.
Outside the cabin is the good old faithful thunder box and also a gutting bench for your catch.
Willow lakes is non Catch and Release with a four fish limit on a day ticket.
Day tickets are purchased from the farm just up the road for £30.00 (Ash Farm,Chediston,Halesworth IP19 0BB)
The lakes are stocked with rainbows and a small quantity of browns. Fishery record is 9lbs Rainbow and 5lbs Brown
For further information see Willow Lakes or email willowlakessuffolk@gmail.com, Tel: 01986 785250 / 07729 472909
South Elmham Lakes, St Nicolas, Norfolk / Suffolk border.
I’ve only fished here a few times with varying luck.
There’s been days i’ve been there and people have been constantly pulling fish out of the water.
South Elmham Lakes consist of 4 lakes.
(3 are only fished at present) with a head of hard fighting Rainbow and Brown trout, ranging from 1.5lbs to specimen size.
4lb to 8lb fish are regularly caught and released, and specimens over 10lb have been caught.
Catch and release is available here as long as barbless hooks are used.
Currently once you catch your 3 fish limit on Frog Hall lake you have to move to old hall lake for your catch and release.
(Although i’ve never seen any fish come out of this lake).
Crabtree Resevoir is a 5 minute walk and holds a good head of fish and on warm dull days the fish move into the margins, perfect for stalking with a Tenkara Rod.
Day Ticket costs £25.00 for 3 fish in the bag and 3 catch and release (see fishery rules) Contact the bailiff prior to arrival on 07500 703389 For further information see South Elmham Lakes
Black Dyke Fishery, Hockwold Cum Wilton, Norfolk.
Now, I blanked fishing here, that’s not to say that there’s no fish, just how it is some days. The team at Black dyke are friendly and really accommodating.
I emailed to ask if they knew of a campsite locally as I wanted to fish the evening and the following day.
I was offered and electric hook up in the car park for £10 a night (brilliant!)
Black dyke fishery is an 8 acre lake with boat fishing available for an extra charge. I chose to fish out of a Neris BigFun EXP packraft (to no avail I might add)
Stocked with Rainbows and Brownies and regularly restocked. Weekly news letter stating catches, flies used and next restocking.
Prices vary from £27 to £20 depending how many fish you want to take home. All hook barbless and all brown trout to be returned as any rainbow trout over 5lb.
For more information see Black Dyke Fishery or email: bartondnm@gmail.com Tel: 07525730447
Narborough Fisheries, Narborough, Norfolk.
The final place for fly fishing in East Anglia i’ve visited was part of a week in the campervan with the family and friends.
My eldest has just started fishing by himself and wanted to go carp fishing.
So with great course fishing and some really good trout fishing we had a week with a really mixed bag of fishing.
Narborough is a great place for fishing.
If you own a caravan / camper then a week or weekend here is great or, if your visiting the area and dance a day ticket.
With 5 fishing lakes: 2 specifically for trout 1 x catch and release and the other for take home.
Course fishing here is really good. With a specific specimen Carp lake and 2 other lakes with a mix of everything.
Had some great fun testing out the new range of telescopic rods by Rigged and Ready. Surface fishing for carp with some floaters was great fun!
Trout fishing whilst we where there was hard. It was really warm and there wasn’t many fish coming out until the evening.
A weighted Montana or a snake seem to be the best.
For further information see Narborough Fisheries, email: info.fishing@narfish.co.uk or Tel: 01760 338005
If you know of other place for fly fishing in East Anglia then please let me know.
email: info@vildmark.co.uk
Below is a map of Trout Fisheries in Norfolk and Suffolk I have found.
