Durleigh Reservoir

Durleigh Reservoir sits just west of Bridgwater in Somerset and is operated by Wessex Water. It covers around 80 acres, so this is a sizeable bit of water rather than a tiny farm pond. Fishing is primarily from the bank, with anglers booking a swim and fishing within the advertised hours.

• 1 lake: Durleigh Reservoir
• Fish: carp, pike, bream, roach
• Tickets from: 2026 one-rod day ticket — £11.50
• Find it: Bridgwater · TA5 2AW

Based on how each lake is set up — not a ranking.

Durleigh Reservoir sits just west of Bridgwater in Somerset and is operated by Wessex Water. It covers around 80 acres, so this is a sizeable bit of water rather than a tiny farm pond. Fishing is primarily from the bank, with anglers booking a swim and fishing within the advertised hours.

The headline attraction is the carp. Both commons and mirrors are present, with some reportedly over 36lb and Wessex Water citing fish over 39lb. That gives the place proper lump potential. Carp anglers will need to bring the right unhooking kit, though, as an unhooking mat is compulsory and fish must be returned promptly and unharmed.

There is plenty for the coarse angler too. Bream are commonly around 2lb to 5lb, with larger 7lb and 8lb fish reported, while abundant skimmers add plenty of bites when they are on the munch. Large shoals of roach are also present. In suitable conditions, a 100lb-plus net is described as common, which is a cracking prospect for a busy feeder or float session.

Pike complete the main species list. The reservoir reaches depths of up to 26 feet, so there is a fair amount of water to work out. With no specific swim features published, the safest approach is to use the booked peg and fish methodically, keeping an eye on depth, conditions and what is happening in the water rather than assuming every area fishes the same.

The 2026 season runs from 5 January to 18 December. Fishing starts at 8am every day, with closing times changing through the year. Evening tickets are available, but they are not night tickets: you still need to be off the water by the advertised closing time. That makes the venue handy for a shorter after-work session in the lighter months.

Tickets start at £11.50 for one rod, while the two/three-rod day ticket is £15. Concession tickets, evening tickets and books of six are also available. Online, phone and in-person bookings are offered, but all anglers must report to the fishing lodge and complete the permit process before fishing. The ranger must be waited for before entering in the morning, so allow a little time and avoid a last-minute faff.

There is a solid set of site rules. Nets, tackle and weigh slings must be dipped in disinfectant before and after fishing, pre-baiting and live baiting are banned, and carp sacks are not allowed. Pike anglers need at least 10lb line, a wire trace and forceps. With toilets, wheelchair-accessible facilities, a lodge and car park on site, Durleigh looks like a well-organised option for a planned Somerset session.

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

• Our read

  Checked Sept '26 — “Durleigh Reservoir is a big, bank-fishing day-ticket water west of Bridgwater, with carp, bream, roach and pike in the mix. Proper useful opening hours, sensible ticket options and a chance of cracking fish, including carp reported over 36lb and bream to 7lb or 8lb.”

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.