Fishery guide · Derbyshire
Staunton Harold Reservoir
Staunton Harold Reservoir is a big, mixed coarse-fishing water near Melbourne, managed by Burton Mutual Angling Association. It offers around 2.2 km of bank fishing, with night fishing available to BMAA members.
“7.6/10 — A sizeable, deep reservoir with a strong mixed coarse species list and a decent length of fishable bank.”
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The lowdown
Staunton Harold Reservoir is a proper bit of water on the Derbyshire–Leicestershire border, close to Melbourne. It covers roughly 209–210 acres and drops to around 80 feet in places, so this is no tiny puddle venue. There’s plenty of water to go at and around 2.2 km of bank fishing is listed.
- 1 lake: Staunton Harold Reservoir
- Fish: roach, bream, tench, rudd, perch, pike, zander, barbel
- Tickets from: Adult BMAA membership — £100
- Find it: Melbourne · DE73 8DN
Plan your session
Fishery map of Staunton Harold Reservoir
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Around the fishery
A look around the venue
Photos courtesy of Photo: Staunton Harold Reservoir (official website). Catch dates not confirmed.
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The full rundown on Staunton Harold Reservoir
Staunton Harold Reservoir is a proper bit of water on the Derbyshire–Leicestershire border, close to Melbourne. It covers roughly 209–210 acres and drops to around 80 feet in places, so this is no tiny puddle venue. There’s plenty of water to go at and around 2.2 km of bank fishing is listed.
The fishing is managed by Burton Mutual Angling Association, or BMAA. Membership gives access to Staunton Harold and the club’s other waters, while guests can fish with an existing member using a pre-booked guest ticket. The National Trust visitor site is on hand, but fishing access and tickets are dealt with by BMAA.
It’s described as mixed coarse fishing, with a cracking spread of species reported. Roach, common and silver bream, tench, rudd, perch, pike, zander and barbel are all listed. That gives anglers a fair bit to target, whether you fancy a quiet session after silver fish or want to keep an eye out for a proper predator.
This is a large reservoir, so swim choice and conditions will matter. The depth and scale mean it’s a venue for anglers who enjoy working out a big water rather than simply dropping into a small commercial-style lake. Bank fishing is available along the published fishing length, although the Staunton Harold Sailing Club frontage is excluded.
Up to three rods are allowed, subject to Environment Agency rules. Night fishing is available to BMAA members only, with separate access and parking arrangements. Day-ticket and guest anglers cannot fish through the night, so check the club rules before planning a late one.
There’s useful visitor-site support too, including a café, toilets, car parking and a children’s play area. The site is generally open daily apart from Christmas Day, although opening hours vary seasonally. Fishing itself remains subject to BMAA access arrangements and the published fishing season.
The season runs from 1 June to 14 March inclusive, with the close season from 15 March to 31 May. No peg reserving, live-baiting, boats, ballooning or bait boats are allowed. Add the required landing net and unhooking mat for specimen fishing, take all litter home and return every fish properly. Keep it tidy and the session should be bob on.
Straight from anglers online
Short, unedited extracts from public reviews, credited to the person who posted them. Not checked by us and not a Tackle Index view.
We haven’t found any public angler reviews of this venue yet. Fished it? Add yours below.
Staunton Harold Reservoir FAQs
Who manages the fishing?
Burton Mutual Angling Association manages the fishing and administers access and tickets.
Can I buy a guest ticket at the visitor centre?
No. Guest tickets must be bought in advance through the BMAA website by an existing BMAA member, who must be present.
Is there night parking?
There is no parking for night anglers in the visitor-centre car park. Members may use designated alternative parking areas, subject to the venue rules.
What species are reported?
Reported species include roach, common and silver bream, tench, rudd, perch, pike, zander and barbel.
Where's the nearest tackle shop?
We haven't found a tackle shop on site at Staunton Harold Reservoir. Sort your bait and end tackle before you travel, as there's no guarantee of anything close by near Melbourne.
Do I need to bring food?
There's café at the visitor site listed, but opening times vary, so pack snacks and plenty of water just in case — especially on a long session.
Are there toilets on site?
Yes — the fishery lists toilets.
Is there parking, and how close is it to the swims?
Yes — car parking. Walks to the further pegs can be a trek, so a barrow helps.
What's the postcode for the sat nav?
DE73 8DN.
How much is a ticket?
Adult BMAA membership: £100; OAP BMAA membership: £60; Junior BMAA membership under age 16: £20; New adult and OAP joining fee, where applicable: £20; Car-park key: £6; BMAA guest ticket: £5 per day. Prices last checked 2026-10-10 — they can change, so check before you go.
Can I just turn up, or do I need to book?
Some lakes need booking ahead. The fishery doesn't say on what we've checked, so give them a quick call before you set off.
What fish are in there?
Across the lakes you'll find roach, bream, tench, rudd, perch, pike, zander, barbel. See each lake tab for which fish live where.
How many lakes are there?
1 — Staunton Harold Reservoir (Approximately 209–210 acres).
Is night fishing allowed?
Yes, it's required — Night fishing is available to BMAA members only. It is not available to day-ticket or guest anglers.
Can I bring my dog?
Not covered in the rules we've checked. The fishery doesn't say on what we've checked, so give them a quick call before you set off.
Are bait boats allowed?
No — Boats, ballooning and bait boats are prohibited.
Do I need barbless hooks?
Yes, it's required — A suitable landing net and unhooking mat are required for specimen fishing.
Do I need my own unhooking mat or cradle?
Yes, it's required — A suitable landing net and unhooking mat are required for specimen fishing.
Is it suitable for disabled anglers?
We haven't seen disabled access listed. The fishery doesn't say on what we've checked, so give them a quick call before you set off.
Do I need a rod licence?
Yes — anyone 13 or over fishing in England and Wales needs an Environment Agency rod licence (or Natural Resources Wales in Wales), on top of your fishery ticket.
When's the best time of year to fish here?
Late spring through autumn is prime for most species. Check our live weather edge for this venue before you go — it updates daily.
Anglers' photos
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Pre-book only
Staunton Harold Reservoir: a big, deep mixed coarse reservoir with around 2.2 km of fishable bank.
- Size
- Approximately 209–210 acres acres
- Swims
- Not published
- Max anglers
- —
- Species
- roach, bream, tench, rudd, perch, pike, zander, barbel
Staunton Harold is a sizeable reservoir near Melbourne, with depths reaching approximately 80 feet and around 2.2 km of bank fishing available.
The water holds a broad mix of coarse species, including bream, tench, roach, perch, pike, zander and barbel. Access is managed by BMAA, with membership or a pre-booked guest ticket required.
Lake photographs
A look around Staunton Harold Reservoir
Staunton Harold Reservoir
Staunton Harold Reservoir
We’re checking the fishery’s Staunton Harold Reservoir pictures before displaying them here. You can still see the originals on the fishery’s website.
Suits
- Anglers who enjoy tackling a large reservoir and choosing from a mixed bag of coarse species.
- BMAA members wanting the option of night fishing, subject to the venue rules.
Maybe not for
- Day-ticket or guest anglers looking for night fishing, as night access is members-only.
Bait, rigs & seasons
How we'd fish Staunton Harold Reservoir
roach
Float maggot for roach
On a mixed lake a waggler and a pint of maggots is the easiest way to keep the float going under all day.
- Feed six to ten maggots every cast.
- Shallow up if bites come on the drop.
- Size 18 hook and light hooklength.
bream
Groundbait feeder at range for bream
Bream shoal up and graze over open, silty areas. A steady stream of groundbait in one spot keeps a shoal in front of you.
- Clip up and hit the same spot every cast.
- Start with 8–10 feeders quickly, then recast every 5 minutes.
- Worm, maggot or corn on a size 14–16.
tench
Method or maggot feeder for tench
Tench love margins and weedy patches. A feeder puts a small, tight patch of bait right by the hookbait.
- Fish 10–20 yards out, or tight to the cover where it's safe to land fish.
- Recast every 10–15 minutes early on to build the swim.
- Short hooklink with a dead red maggot, corn or a 8mm wafter.
rudd
Floating baits and shallow float for rudd
Rudd feed high in the water, often near reeds and lilies on warm days. Fish up in the water to them, not on the bottom.
- A light waggler set 1–2ft deep with a single maggot or caster on a size 18.
- Loose-feed little and often to bring them up.
- Floating bread flake works brilliantly in summer.
Staunton Harold Reservoir FAQs
How big is Staunton Harold Reservoir?
It covers approximately 209–210 acres and is up to around 80 feet deep.
Can guests fish the reservoir?
Yes, but the £5-per-day guest ticket must be bought in advance by an existing BMAA member, who must be present while the guest fishes.
What's the lake record on Staunton Harold Reservoir?
The fishery hasn't published a record for Staunton Harold Reservoir that we've found. The fishery doesn't say on what we've checked, so give them a quick call before you set off.
What fish are in Staunton Harold Reservoir?
roach, bream, tench, rudd, perch, pike, zander, barbel.
Which baits work well on Staunton Harold Reservoir?
We've put together a full bait, rigs and seasons plan for Staunton Harold Reservoir further up this page — it's built from the lake's features and the venue rules. As a rule, match your approach to the stock: a solid food-source boilie and a tidy presentation will catch anywhere on the complex.
When does Staunton Harold Reservoir get busy?
Weekends and bank holidays are busiest, especially spring through autumn. Booking ahead is the safe bet.
What weather suits bigger catches on Staunton Harold Reservoir?
A mild south-westerly with falling pressure is the classic carp trigger, and overcast days usually beat bright, still ones. Check our live weather edge for Staunton Harold Reservoir before you go — it ranks every lake here for the next 7 days.
Which pegs are best on Staunton Harold Reservoir?
Honestly, we don't rank pegs — the fish move with wind, pressure and pressure from other anglers. Have a walk and watch the water before you set up; the tips section above has what we've found so far.
Can I fish Staunton Harold Reservoir on a day ticket?
You'll need to book Staunton Harold Reservoir in advance rather than just turning up.
Is night fishing allowed on Staunton Harold Reservoir?
Yes, it's required — Night fishing is available to BMAA members only. It is not available to day-ticket or guest anglers.
Who does Staunton Harold Reservoir suit?
Good for: Anglers who enjoy tackling a large reservoir and choosing from a mixed bag of coarse species.; BMAA members wanting the option of night fishing, subject to the venue rules.. Less suited to: Day-ticket or guest anglers looking for night fishing, as night access is members-only..
Community reported
Recent angler updates
No angler updates yet — that's normal. Be the first to help the next angler.
How busy was it?
Nobody's said yet. It's part of the 20-second update below.
No live tracking — this is what anglers told us after their session, and it's never part of the venue score.
Water updates from anglers
No active water updates.
Help other anglers
Venue Rule Checker
- Seasonal
Is fishing available all year?
Fishing is permitted from 1 June to 14 March inclusive. The published close season is 15 March to 31 May inclusive.
- Must
Is night fishing allowed?
Night fishing is available to BMAA members only. It is not available to day-ticket or guest anglers.
- Yes
Can anglers use three rods?
Up to three rods are allowed, subject to Environment Agency rules.
- No
Can anglers reserve pegs?
No reserving of pegs is allowed.
- No
Are bait boats, boats or ballooning allowed?
Boats, ballooning and bait boats are prohibited.
- No
Is live-baiting allowed?
Live-baiting is prohibited.
- Must
Is a landing net and unhooking mat required?
A suitable landing net and unhooking mat are required for specimen fishing.
- Must
Do anglers need an Environment Agency rod licence?
All anglers need a current Environment Agency rod licence.
Taken from the fishery’s own pages, last checked 10 October 2026. Rules change — always check with the fishery before you go.
Rules and prices change through the season. Follow and we'll flag changes the fishery or other anglers report.
Tips & guides worth reading
How we'd fish each lake
Our own suggestions, worked out from each lake's features, its main fish and the venue rules. They're tried-and-tested methods, not reports from this venue, so watch the water and ask in the tackle shop on the day.
Staunton Harold Reservoir
roach
Float maggot for roach
On a mixed lake a waggler and a pint of maggots is the easiest way to keep the float going under all day.
- Feed six to ten maggots every cast.
- Shallow up if bites come on the drop.
- Size 18 hook and light hooklength.
bream
Groundbait feeder at range for bream
Bream shoal up and graze over open, silty areas. A steady stream of groundbait in one spot keeps a shoal in front of you.
- Clip up and hit the same spot every cast.
- Start with 8–10 feeders quickly, then recast every 5 minutes.
- Worm, maggot or corn on a size 14–16.
tench
Method or maggot feeder for tench
Tench love margins and weedy patches. A feeder puts a small, tight patch of bait right by the hookbait.
- Fish 10–20 yards out, or tight to the cover where it's safe to land fish.
- Recast every 10–15 minutes early on to build the swim.
- Short hooklink with a dead red maggot, corn or a 8mm wafter.
rudd
Floating baits and shallow float for rudd
Rudd feed high in the water, often near reeds and lilies on warm days. Fish up in the water to them, not on the bottom.
- A light waggler set 1–2ft deep with a single maggot or caster on a size 18.
- Loose-feed little and often to bring them up.
- Floating bread flake works brilliantly in summer.
Good background reading. Most of it is a few years old, so treat it as a starting point and ask on the day.
Videos linked by the fishery
What anglers reckon
7.6/10 from Tackle Index: A sizeable, deep reservoir with a strong mixed coarse species list and a decent length of fishable bank.
Straight from anglers online
Short, unedited extracts from public reviews, credited to the person who posted them. Not checked by us and not a Tackle Index view.
We haven’t found any public angler reviews of this venue yet. Fished it? Add yours below.
Our take on the feedback
Our read
Checked Sept '26 — “Staunton Harold Reservoir is a big, mixed coarse-fishing water near Melbourne, managed by Burton Mutual Angling Association. It offers around 2.2 km of bank fishing, with night fishing available to BMAA members.”
This is our own summary of recurring public feedback and the venue details we checked, not a copied customer review or a promise you’ll catch. Feedback changes, so we keep it separate from the Tackle Index score.
Angler score
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