Fishery guide · Norfolk
Blickling Lake
Blickling Lake is a cracking 20-acre coarse venue on the National Trust estate near Aylsham, with carp, bream, pike, roach, tench and perch on the card. It’s a controlled, daylight-only setup with fishing from the dam and designated platforms.
“7.3/10 — A useful mix of reported carp, bream, pike, roach, tench and perch, with carp reported to double figures.”
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The lowdown
Blickling Lake sits on the National Trust’s Blickling Estate near Aylsham, Norfolk. It’s a proper old-school coarse lake, formed way back in 1729 by damming a stream heading towards the River Bure. The wider lake is around 20 acres, with the widest stretch measuring roughly 2 kilometres.
- 1 lake: Blickling Lake
- Fish: bream, pike, carp, roach, tench, perch
- Tickets from: Adult day ticket — £7
- Find it: Aylsham · NR11 6NF
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Fishery map of Blickling Lake
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Around the fishery
A look around the venue
Photos courtesy of Photo: Blickling Lake (official website). Catch dates not confirmed.
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The full rundown on Blickling Lake
Blickling Lake sits on the National Trust’s Blickling Estate near Aylsham, Norfolk. It’s a proper old-school coarse lake, formed way back in 1729 by damming a stream heading towards the River Bure. The wider lake is around 20 acres, with the widest stretch measuring roughly 2 kilometres.
The lake is shallow and weedy towards the hall end, while depths near the dam wall are approximately 6 to 10 feet. That gives you a bit to think about. Expect the dam area to offer the more consistent depth, while the shallower, weedier end could be worth a look when conditions are right.
Reported species include carp, bream, pike, roach, tench and perch. The carp are reported to reach double figures, so there’s a cheeky chance of something with a bit of lump rather than just a day of silverfish. Bream and tench should also keep the float and feeder angler interested.
Access is tightly managed. You can only fish from the dam or the designated fishing platforms, with platforms on the east bank and near the dam end on the west bank. One angler gets one swim, so pick your peg carefully and make the most of the water in front of you.
The main fishing season runs from 16 June to 15 March, with pike fishing allowed from 1 October to 15 March. Fishing finishes at dusk or 9:30pm, whichever comes first, and night fishing is a no-go. That makes it a planned daylight session rather than an all-night campaign.
Tackle rules are sensible but strict. Two rods are allowed, rods must be attended, and only barbless hooks or micro-barbs can be used. Fish-safe rigs and landing nets are required, while bait boats, pre-baiting, live bait, excessive loose feed, keep nets and sacks are prohibited.
Day tickets are £7 for adults and £5 for concessions, with season tickets also available. The Fisherman’s car park opens at 7:00am, and tickets can be bought in advance or on the day from Visitor Welcome. With cafés, toilets, reception and parking within the estate, it’s a handy venue for a tidy, low-faff session — just keep an eye out for the National Trust’s blue-green algae warning and fish at your own risk.
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.
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Blickling Lake FAQs
How much is a day ticket at Blickling Lake?
Adult day tickets cost £7. Concession tickets cost £5 for under-16s, over-65s, Blue Badge holders and National Trust members.
Where do I buy a day ticket?
Day tickets can be bought in advance or on the day from Visitor Welcome in the main car park. Card and cash payments are accepted.
Is parking available?
Non-member parking is £5 per day, while National Trust members park free. The Fisherman’s car park opens at 7:00am.
What number should I use for fishing enquiries?
The fishing guide gives the contact telephone number the fishery.
Where's the nearest tackle shop?
We haven't found a tackle shop on site at Blickling Lake. Sort your bait and end tackle before you travel, as there's no guarantee of anything close by near Aylsham.
Do I need to bring food?
There's cafés 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 — fisherman’s car park. Walks to the further pegs can be a trek, so a barrow helps.
What's the postcode for the sat nav?
NR11 6NF.
How much is a ticket?
Adult day ticket: £7; Concession day ticket: £5; Adult season ticket: £95; Concession season ticket: £60; Non-member parking: £5 per day; National Trust member parking: Free. Prices last checked 2026-10-11 — they can change, so check before you go.
Can I just turn up, or do I need to book?
Day tickets are available on Blickling Lake. Busy weekends can fill up, so ring ahead if you've got your heart set on a swim.
What fish are in there?
Across the lakes you'll find bream, pike, carp, roach, tench, perch. See each lake tab for which fish live where.
How many lakes are there?
1 — Blickling Lake (Approximately 20 acres).
Is night fishing allowed?
No — Night fishing is prohibited. Fishing closes at dusk or 9:30pm, whichever is earlier.
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 — Bait boats, pre-baiting and live bait are prohibited.
Do I need barbless hooks?
No — Only barbless hooks or micro-barbs may be used.
Do I need my own unhooking mat or cradle?
Bring one either way — most fisheries expect it and the fish deserve it.
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.
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Day ticket · turn up
Blickling Lake: a sizeable, tightly managed estate lake with carp, bream and pike, plus a decent supporting cast of coarse fish.
- Size
- Approximately 20 acres acres
- Swims
- Not published
- Max anglers
- —
- Species
- bream, pike, carp, roach, tench, perch
Blickling Lake is approximately 20 acres and was formed in 1729 by damming a stream flowing towards the River Bure. It’s shallow and weedy near the hall end, with depths of roughly 6 to 10 feet around the dam wall.
Fishing is restricted to the dam and designated platforms on the east bank and near the dam end on the west bank. The lake has reported carp, bream, pike, roach, tench and perch, giving you a few different ways to nick a result.
Carp are reported to reach double figures.
Lake photographs
A look around Blickling Lake
Blickling Lake
Blickling Lake
We’re checking the fishery’s Blickling Lake pictures before displaying them here. You can still see the originals on the fishery’s website.
Suits
- Anglers after a managed daylight session with carp, bream, tench and silverfish options.
- Pike anglers fishing between 1 October and 15 March, or anyone happy working the dam and platforms rather than roaming the whole bank.
Maybe not for
- Night anglers, bait-boat users and anyone wanting to fish wherever they fancy, as night fishing and unrestricted bank access are not allowed.
Bait, rigs & seasons
How we'd fish Blickling Lake
carp
Solid PVA bag over the snaggy bits
With the features and a busy bottom, a solid bag keeps the hook point masked on the drop and sat neatly in a little pile of bait however rough the lakebed is.
- Tie a short, stiff hooklink (4–6in) so it packs into the bag without kinking.
- Fill the bag with a damp crumb mix and pack it tight — loose bags spill on the cast.
- Nick a wafter or small pop-up on the hair so it settles over the mix, not under it.
- Cast a few yards short of the feature, recast every couple of hours with a fresh bag.
carp
Chod or helicopter style over soft weed and silt
Where the bottom drops in and out of holes or there might be soft silt or weed, a pop-up that slides up the leader sits over the muck instead of disappearing into it — no need to find a perfectly clean spot.
- Single pop-up, 2–3in off the bottom.
- Fish it as a single hookbait or with a light scattering of freebies — a big bed defeats the point.
- Cast to likely holes and let the lead settle; don't drag it back.
bream
Waggler and groundbait for bream
If they're within waggler range, float fishing over balls of groundbait is a great way to pick off bream.
- Ball in groundbait with casters and chopped worm at the start.
- Set the float a touch over-depth and watch for slow lifts.
- Top up when bites slow.
pike
Static deadbaits for the pike
A smelly deadbait on the bottom near drop-offs or reed lines is the classic, reliable way to find a lake's pike, especially in the colder months.
- Sardine, smelt or mackerel on a wire trace with semi-barbless trebles.
- Strike early — never let a pike run off with the bait.
- Have a long forceps, unhooking mat and big net ready before you cast.
Blickling Lake FAQs
How deep is Blickling Lake?
Depths are approximately 6 to 10 feet near the dam wall; the lake is shallower and weedy near the hall end.
What fish are in Blickling Lake?
Reported species include carp, bream, pike, roach, tench and perch. Carp are reported to reach double figures.
What's the lake record on Blickling Lake?
Going by what the fishery says: Carp are reported to reach double figures. That's the owner's figure, not ours — take it as a guide.
How big is Blickling Lake and how many swims?
Around Approximately 20 acres acres. A sizeable, tightly managed estate lake with carp, bream and pike, plus a decent supporting cast of coarse fish..
Which baits work well on Blickling Lake?
We've put together a full bait, rigs and seasons plan for Blickling Lake 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: with the fish the fishery lists here, a solid food-source boilie and a tidy presentation will catch anywhere on the complex.
When does Blickling Lake get busy?
Weekends and bank holidays are busiest, especially spring through autumn. It's a day-ticket lake, so popular swims go early — arrive at first light or midweek if you can.
What weather suits bigger catches on Blickling Lake?
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 Blickling Lake before you go — it ranks every lake here for the next 7 days.
Which pegs are best on Blickling Lake?
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 Blickling Lake on a day ticket?
Yes — Blickling Lake is on the day ticket. Tickets: Adult day ticket £7; Concession day ticket £5; Adult season ticket £95; Concession season ticket £60; Non-member parking £5 per day; National Trust member parking Free (last checked 2026-10-11).
Is night fishing allowed on Blickling Lake?
No — Night fishing is prohibited. Fishing closes at dusk or 9:30pm, whichever is earlier.
Who does Blickling Lake suit?
Good for: Anglers after a managed daylight session with carp, bream, tench and silverfish options.; Pike anglers fishing between 1 October and 15 March, or anyone happy working the dam and platforms rather than roaming the whole bank.. Less suited to: Night anglers, bait-boat users and anyone wanting to fish wherever they fancy, as night fishing and unrestricted bank access are not allowed..
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
- No
Can I fish at night?
Night fishing is prohibited. Fishing closes at dusk or 9:30pm, whichever is earlier.
- No
Can I fish anywhere around the lake?
Fishing is permitted only from the dam or designated fishing platforms.
- Seasonal
Is pike fishing allowed all season?
Pike fishing is permitted from 1 October to 15 March.
- Yes
Can I use two rods?
A maximum of two rods per angler is allowed, and rods must be attended at all times.
- No
Are bait boats, pre-baiting and live bait allowed?
Bait boats, pre-baiting and live bait are prohibited.
- Must
Do I need an Environment Agency rod licence?
A valid Environment Agency rod licence is required.
- No
Can I use barbed hooks?
Only barbless hooks or micro-barbs may be used.
Taken from the fishery’s own pages, last checked 11 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.
Blickling Lake
carp
Solid PVA bag over the snaggy bits
With the features and a busy bottom, a solid bag keeps the hook point masked on the drop and sat neatly in a little pile of bait however rough the lakebed is.
- Tie a short, stiff hooklink (4–6in) so it packs into the bag without kinking.
- Fill the bag with a damp crumb mix and pack it tight — loose bags spill on the cast.
- Nick a wafter or small pop-up on the hair so it settles over the mix, not under it.
- Cast a few yards short of the feature, recast every couple of hours with a fresh bag.
carp
Chod or helicopter style over soft weed and silt
Where the bottom drops in and out of holes or there might be soft silt or weed, a pop-up that slides up the leader sits over the muck instead of disappearing into it — no need to find a perfectly clean spot.
- Single pop-up, 2–3in off the bottom.
- Fish it as a single hookbait or with a light scattering of freebies — a big bed defeats the point.
- Cast to likely holes and let the lead settle; don't drag it back.
bream
Waggler and groundbait for bream
If they're within waggler range, float fishing over balls of groundbait is a great way to pick off bream.
- Ball in groundbait with casters and chopped worm at the start.
- Set the float a touch over-depth and watch for slow lifts.
- Top up when bites slow.
pike
Static deadbaits for the pike
A smelly deadbait on the bottom near drop-offs or reed lines is the classic, reliable way to find a lake's pike, especially in the colder months.
- Sardine, smelt or mackerel on a wire trace with semi-barbless trebles.
- Strike early — never let a pike run off with the bait.
- Have a long forceps, unhooking mat and big net ready before you cast.
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
7.3/10 from Tackle Index: A useful mix of reported carp, bream, pike, roach, tench and perch, with carp reported to double figures.
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 — “Blickling Lake is a cracking 20-acre coarse venue on the National Trust estate near Aylsham, with carp, bream, pike, roach, tench and perch on the card. It’s a controlled, daylight-only setup with fishing from the dam and designated platforms.”
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
What our readers rate Blickling Lake
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