Venue guides · Devon
Fishing Lakes Near Devon
Seven day-ticket and club waters within 30 km, ranked by the anglers who fish them, with the honest notes I would want before booking a day on any of them.
I have not fished every water on this list. The ratings come from anglers who have; the advice on choosing between them is mine.
Carp fishing in Devon
Devon is a big, green county with two coasts, two moors and a great many small lakes in the valleys between them. Almost all of the carp fishing is on farm lakes and purpose-built fisheries rather than gravel pits, and many of the best are attached to holiday parks and cottages, which makes the county a natural choice for a fishing break.
The mild climate means Devon carp feed earlier and later than fish further north, and the well-stocked commercial complexes around Exeter, Torbay and the north coast give plenty of choice. The A38 and A30 carry you across the county, but the lanes to the venues themselves can add half an hour, so leave time.
The map below plots the fisheries anglers rate most highly within roughly 30 km, so you can shortlist a water, get directions and check the reviews in one place. Treat the ratings as a filter rather than a verdict, and read the notes on choosing a venue before you ring ahead.
The fisheries, mapped
Every venue below is plotted from its real address. Tap a pin on the map or the button on any card for directions.
🎣 Found 7 fisheries near Devon, sorted by angler rating. Click any pin on the map or card for directions.
📋 Fishery Cards
1 Winswell Fishing Lakes ⭐ Top Rated
📍 Winswell Fishing Lakes, Winswell, Petersmarland, Torrington EX38 8QB, UK
2 Serenity Coarse Fishery
📍 Serenity Coarse Fishery, Tavistock PL19 8PZ, UK
3 Thatchers Island Carp Fishery
📍 Hockwell cross EX22 7LS, UK
4 Furzebray Carp Lakes
📍 Furzebray Farm/George Nympton Rd, South Molton EX36 4ER, UK
5 Milemead Lakes and Tackle Ltd
📍 Mill Hill, Mill Hill, Tavistock PL19 8NP, UK
6 Anglers Paradise, Mystery Lake
📍 Halwill, Beaworthy EX21 5XT, UK
7 Creedy Lakes
📍 Creedy Manor, Long Barn, Crediton EX17 4AB, UK
📊 Full Fishery Table
| # | Fishery Name | Address | Rating | Reviews | Directions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winswell Fishing Lakes | Winswell Fishing Lakes, Winswell, Petersmarland, Torrington EX38 8QB, UK | ★★★★★ | 4 | 📍 Map |
| 2 | Serenity Coarse Fishery | Serenity Coarse Fishery, Tavistock PL19 8PZ, UK | ★★★★★ | 13 | 📍 Map |
| 3 | Thatchers Island Carp Fishery | Hockwell cross EX22 7LS, UK | ★★★★★ | 3 | 📍 Map |
| 4 | Furzebray Carp Lakes | Furzebray Farm/George Nympton Rd, South Molton EX36 4ER, UK | ★★★★☆ | 102 | 📍 Map |
| 5 | Milemead Lakes and Tackle Ltd | Mill Hill, Mill Hill, Tavistock PL19 8NP, UK | ★★★★☆ | 200 | 📍 Map |
| 6 | Anglers Paradise, Mystery Lake | Halwill, Beaworthy EX21 5XT, UK | ★★★★☆ | 18 | 📍 Map |
| 7 | Creedy Lakes | Creedy Manor, Long Barn, Crediton EX17 4AB, UK | ★★★★☆ | 65 | 📍 Map |
How to choose a venue from this list
A five-star water with a dozen reviews and a 4.8 with three hundred are not the same weight of evidence. Weigh the rating against the review count, read the most recent few for current stock reports, and then check these four things before you commit a day to a water.
Day ticket or syndicate?
Most waters here are day-ticket commercials, but some are club or syndicate lakes that need membership arranged in advance. Confirm how you get on the bank before you travel.
Night fishing and bivvies
Plenty of day-ticket waters are daytime only. If you want an overnighter, check the venue allows night fishing and bivvies rather than assuming it does.
Tackle and bait rules
Barbless hooks, unhooking-mat requirements, banned baits and boilie or particle limits vary from water to water. Read the fishery’s own rules, not a general guide.
Match the water to your session
Larger pits and reservoirs reward longer sessions and distance work; smaller lakes and canal stretches suit a short evening after work. Pick the water that fits the time you have.
What to expect from the water
Most of the accessible carp fishing here falls into three kinds of water, and each fishes differently. Knowing which you are turning up to changes what you pack and how long you plan to stay.
Valley lakes
The farm lakes
Sheltered, weedy and full of natural food, Devon’s valley lakes grow good carp and fish well from early spring. Most are day-ticket or attached to accommodation, and a light, mobile approach usually beats sitting it out.
Holiday fisheries
Fishing where you stay
A large number of Devon fisheries have lodges, cottages or pitches on the bank. Check whether the lakes are exclusive to guests, what the night-fishing rules are, and pack for the week rather than a day.
Commercials
The day-ticket complexes
Around the bigger towns the commercial complexes are heavily stocked and well run. They are the reliable choice for a first session in the county or for a day when the weather on the moors is doing its worst.
Before you set off
A valid Environment Agency rod licence
Anyone aged 13 or over fishing with rod and line for coarse fish in England needs one. It is separate from the fishery’s day ticket and takes two minutes to buy online.
The fishery’s own rules
Booking method, opening hours, night-fishing policy, barbless-only, banned baits and mat requirements all vary. A look at the venue’s page or a quick call saves a wasted trip.
Mat, forceps, antiseptic and a sling
The minimum for handling carp safely, and many waters will send you home without them.
A phone call in peak season
Popular day-ticket lakes fill up at weekends and through the summer. Confirm there is space, and ask how it has been fishing while you are on.
A note on ratings
The star ratings and review counts on this page are pulled from public angler reviews, not written by me. They are good at telling you whether a venue is well run and welcoming; they are less good at telling you what is in the water or how it is fishing this month.
For that, read the most recent handful of reviews, and ring the fishery. Owners will usually tell you straight.
Willing to travel a little further?
Neighbouring guides, each with its own map, ratings and notes.
Last Updated on September 9, 2026 by Shane Stanford
Shane Stanford has fished for carp for over twenty years, in the UK and in France, and currently fishes a private syndicate water in West Sussex. He writes Fishing Again to put the things he learned the hard way into plain language: location and watercraft first, then bait, rigs and gear. He is straight about which kit he has actually fished and which he has assessed on specification, and says so on the page.