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Fishing Shear Water: what the data says
33-acre lake near Wiltshire. The lake tops out around 24 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
The drawn water covers 33 acres wrapped in 1.4 miles of bank. A middling shoreline index (1.7) gives it some bays to work without being a maze. Roughly 78% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives.
Brown Trout fishing at Shear Water
The spring pattern is a shallow one: brown trout in 3 to 24 ft. Summer fish stay in 7 to 24 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 24 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 11-ft range, prime in summer. Time it for after dark and early morning. Summer baits: a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 24 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (11 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 4 to 24 ft | dusk & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 24 ft | dawn | Break off the point (11 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
European Perch fishing at Shear Water
Come spring, look for european perch tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 7 to 24 ft, then a winter hold in 7 to 24 ft. Start at Shallow bay flat. It's a weed flat holding about 3 ft of water and rates prime come spring. Prime time lands in early morning. A drop-shot micro plastics or a small crankbait (perch pattern) is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner #1-2 |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft | dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small crankbait (perch pattern) |
| Fall | 7 to 24 ft | midday | Deep basin (20 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Drop-shot on deep flats |
| Winter | 7 to 24 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (20 ft) | Tungsten jig + maggots, Small balance jig |
Northern Pike fishing at Shear Water
Early season northern pike use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 15 ft. Put Shallow bay flat first on the milk run — a weed flat near 3 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a bucktail or a weedless spoon over cabbage and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | #5 inline spinner, Spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (11 ft) | Bucktail, Weedless spoon over cabbage |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (11 ft) | Big rubber (Bull Dawg style), Husky-style jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 15 ft | midday | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Tip-ups, Large jigging spoon |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 20 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 11 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
Common questions
How deep is Shear Water?
Shear Water is about 24 ft (7 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 Shear Water?
Anglers target northern pike, european perch, brown trout on Shear Water. 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 Shear Water?
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for european perch in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
When is the best time to fish Shear Water?
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
Fonthill Lake 9 mi · Chew Valley lake 21 mi · Blagdon Lake 23 mi · Cheddar Reservoir 26 mi · Blashford Lake 29 mi · Cotswold Water Park Lake 12 36 mi · Hatchet Pond 41 mi · Cothelstone Park Lake 42 mi · Sowley Pond 43 mi · Wimbleball Lake 55 mi · Farnham Flint or Englefield Lagoon 55 mi · Shortheath Common 57 mi
See how Shear Water stacks up: best northern pike lakes in United Kingdom · best european perch lakes in United Kingdom · best brown trout lakes in United Kingdom
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