Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at Chew Valley lake
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing Chew Valley lake: what the data says
1,159-acre lake near Avon. The lake tops out around 33 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Chew Valley lake maps at 1,156 acres behind 8.5 miles of shoreline. A middling shoreline index (1.8) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. 61% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water.
Brown Trout fishing at Chew Valley lake
Spring puts brown trout in skinny water — 3 to 25 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 33 ft, wintering in 5 to 33 ft. Summer brown trout concentrate at Break off the point, a prime-rated drop-off around 15 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 10 to 33 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (15 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 33 ft | dawn | Break off the point (15 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
European Perch fishing at Chew Valley lake
Early season european perch use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 28 ft, then a winter hold in 12 to 33 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 4 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a drop-shot micro plastics or a small crankbait (perch pattern) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner #1-2 |
| Summer | 8 to 28 ft | dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small crankbait (perch pattern) |
| Fall | 10 to 33 ft | midday | Deep basin (28 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 12 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Tungsten jig + maggots, Small balance jig |
Northern Pike fishing at Chew Valley lake
Come spring, look for northern pike tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 15 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 4 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (15 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (15 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (4 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Arctic Char fishing at Chew Valley lake
The spring pattern is a shallow one: arctic char in 4 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 33 ft before dropping to 8 to 33 ft for winter. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 28 ft of water that rates prime for arctic char in summer. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a jigging spoon vertical or a tube jig (smelt) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (15 ft) | Small casting spoon (silver/orange), Jerkbait (small) |
| Summer | 10 to 33 ft | dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Jigging spoon vertical, Tube jig (smelt) |
| Fall | 8 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | Break off the point (15 ft) | Casting spoon (orange/gold), Beadhead streamer |
| Winter | 8 to 33 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (28 ft) | Jigging spoon (glow/silver), Tungsten jig + plastic |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 28 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 15 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 8 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 4 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 4 ft
Common questions
How deep is Chew Valley lake?
Chew Valley lake is about 33 ft (10 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Chew Valley lake?
Anglers target northern pike, european perch, brown trout, arctic char on Chew Valley lake. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Where is the best fishing spot on Chew Valley lake?
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for european perch in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
When is the best time to fish Chew Valley lake?
For brown trout, the summer bite is best in after dark and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Blagdon Lake 3 mi · Cheddar Reservoir 9 mi · Shear Water 21 mi · Fonthill Lake 29 mi · Cothelstone Park Lake 30 mi · Cotswold Water Park Lake 12 38 mi · Wimbleball Lake 41 mi · Llwyn-on Reservoir 48 mi · Blashford Lake 49 mi · Llyn Fach 49 mi · Llangorse Lake 49 mi · Kenfig Pool 50 mi
See how Chew Valley lake stacks up: best northern pike lakes in United Kingdom · best european perch lakes in United Kingdom · best brown trout lakes in United Kingdom · best arctic char lakes in United Kingdom
Browse all United Kingdom fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.