Edgbaston Reservoir Angling

Edgbaston Reservoir is a proper big bit of water in Ladywood/Edgbaston, Birmingham. This is one large canal-feeder reservoir, not a tidy little commercial pool with every swim mapped out for you. The site covers roughly 70 acres, so there’s plenty to get your head around before you even think about clipping up. The address is 115 Reservoir Road, Birmingham, B16 9EE.

• 1 lake: Edgbaston Reservoir
• Fish: carp, roach, perch, pike, bream, tench
• Find it: Birmingham · B16 9EE

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

Edgbaston Reservoir is a proper big bit of water in Ladywood/Edgbaston, Birmingham. This is one large canal-feeder reservoir, not a tidy little commercial pool with every swim mapped out for you. The site covers roughly 70 acres, so there’s plenty to get your head around before you even think about clipping up. The address is 115 Reservoir Road, Birmingham, B16 9EE.

The reservoir has a walking circuit of about 2.8 km, or 1.75 miles, around the water. That gives you a handy way to look for likely areas before settling in. Have a wander, watch the water, check for signs of fish and take your time. On a venue this size, a bit of reconnaissance can save a fair old faff later. Just remember it’s also a public recreational site, so expect other users around the reservoir.

Reported species include carp, roach, perch and pike, with bream and tench also among the coarse fish. Carp over 25 lb have reportedly been caught, which gives the place some proper lump appeal. Still, don’t roll up expecting an instant PB. On a large reservoir, keep the first session simple, fish accurately and let the venue tell you what’s what. A sensible spread of tackle for the reported species is the way to go.

The annual closure runs from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. The normal fishing season is 16 June to 14 March, and angling is only allowed during the site’s opening hours. The reported opening time is 7:30 am, with fishing finishing at dusk. That makes this a daylight venue, so plan around the shorter winter hours and don’t leave packing away until the last minute.

Night fishing isn’t permitted, and the car park is reported to be locked at dusk. There’s no point bringing the bivvy for an overnighter here. Pack a practical day-session loadout instead: keep the kit manageable, bring enough bait for a proper search, and have a plan for moving if the first area stays quiet. Before setting off, check the current access arrangements and ask whoever issues the permission about any extra fishery instructions.

Third-party listings describe access as being through annual membership or an annual permit. No current numeric membership, permit or day-ticket price is published, and there’s no official online booking system for fishing. You’ll need the relevant fishery or club permission, plus an Environment Agency rod licence. It’s worth confirming the current permit route, where anglers can fish and any tackle or bait conditions before making the trip.

Facilities are fairly basic but useful. Parking is available via the Icknield Port Road entrance for the Midland Sailing Club area, subject to site controls. There’s also access to separate sailing and rowing activities, while Birmingham City Council states there are no public toilets on site. The reservoir was constructed in the 1820s by Thomas Telford and is now a Local Nature Reserve and Site of Nature Conservation Interest, so keep things tidy, respect other users and enjoy a proper day on a bit of historic Birmingham water.

We're not sure on ticket prices for this one — check with the club or local regulations before you leave.

Good background reading. Most of it is a few years old, so treat it as a starting point and ask on the day.

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• Our read

  Checked Sept '26 — “Edgbaston Reservoir is a big, proper urban reservoir venue in Birmingham, with carp, roach, perch, pike, bream and tench reported. Fishing runs seasonally on an annual-membership or annual-permit basis, with no night fishing and no current published price.”

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.