Welbeck Lakes Fishery is now open for the 2023/24 season.
Important - Angler Information Announcement
Scheduled works to the Welbeck Lakes will commence on the 25th of September and continue until around 22nd of December.
Great Lake and the car park will be closed for the duration of the works. Carburton Forge and Carburton Dam will be closed as and when required by the contractors, but we will ensure that one of the two lakes will always be available for fishing at any time. Weather depending. The works at Carburton Forge and Carburton Dam should last around 1.5 weeks each. No parking will be allowed at Great Lake but there will be space at Carburton Forge before work starts and when this has been completed.
Anglers have come to fish at Welbeck for generations, drawn not only by the exceptional beauty of the estate but also by the abundant number of fish and diverse range of species found in the lakes.
Welbeck Lakes Fishery offers three well-stocked lakes with up to 80 acres of fishing. Pike, eel, bream, roach, perch, tench, carp and cyprinids can be found in the lakes. Pike up to 40lbs and carp up to 30lbs have been caught.
The Fishery is centrally located on the Welbeck estate, offering members the opportunity to fish in a natural setting surrounded by stunning estate parkland with spectacular views of Welbeck Abbey across the Great Lake.
The lakes and areas surrounding them have been designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest by Natural England. They provide a fantastic habitat for a diverse range of wildlife, particularly birds, including grebes, buzzards, ducks, pheasants and goldfinches.
Season
The 2023/24 season runs from 16 June 2023 and runs until 14 March 2024.
However, we must make you aware that essential work will take place on the lakes this year. We may therefore, need to withdraw permits with a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice. Should this be the case, further information will be provided.
Membership
Existing Members
Registration for this year's season can be made at Cavendish House Reception. Open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm.
Full payment must be made prior to fishing. A head and shoulders passport-sized photograph is required to go on your fishing permit.
Payment can be made by cheque or cash. Please make cheques payable to The Welbeck Estates Company Limited.
New Members
If you are applying for a fishing permit for the first time, you will need to complete an application form. The application form can be downloaded from our website and completed and printed out, and returned to Cavendish House Reception. Open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm. Alternatively, a form can be collected from Cavendish House.
Full payment must be made prior to fishing. A head and shoulders passport-sized photograph is required to go on your fishing permit.
Payment can be made by cheque or cash. Please make cheques payable to The Welbeck Estates Company Limited.
Pricing
Single Rod - £85.00
Double Rod - £110.00
Junior Permit (below 16 years of age) Single rod – £35.00.
Ongoing Works
It is believed that the first lake at Welbeck estate, known as Carburton Forge Lake, was built in 1695. Lakes were added upstream under the design of Francis Richardson and then Humphry Repton during the 18th century. Great Lake was extended to its current form during the latter part of the 19th century.
The risk of flooding associated with the construction of large lakes has only become a serious consideration in the past hundred years. During this time, improvements have been made to the dams at Welbeck to keep them in a safe condition and minimise the risk to those living and working downstream. A detailed inspection of the lakes has identified the need for further improvement works at three of the dams. These improvements will ensure the dams meet the current reservoir safety standards set by the Environment Agency and will help ensure the integrity of these essential features at Welbeck for the future.
Since the recommendations were made, several studies have been carried out to help identify the most appropriate course of action to meet current standards within the setting of the Welbeck estate. As well as the engineering requirements, ecology, landscape and heritage studies have been undertaken to help ensure the proposed works are carried out in the most sympathetic way avoiding adverse impacts.
The works will be on the three dams that impound the lower three of the cascade of lakes, namely: Great Lake, Carburton Forge Lake and Carburton Lake.
The Environment
Protecting the environment, and maintaining the amenity value of the lakes, for fishing, sailing and bird watching are of the utmost importance. A careful consultation process has been undertaken with Natural England, with support from an expert ecologist, to ensure the scheme proposals have no long term adverse impacts. For instance, whilst the lake levels will need to be lowered temporarily to allow the works to be constructed safely, in all cases, the levels will be unchanged once the works are complete.