The Mere, Ellesmere

The Mere sits in Ellesmere Country Park and is the biggest of the nine Shropshire meres. It covers roughly 46 hectares, so this is a proper lump of water rather than a little puddle where every swim is within casting distance of the next. There are waterside paths and viewpoints around the lake too, giving the place a lively country-park feel.

• 1 lake: The Mere
• Fish: roach, perch, bream, pike
• Find it: Ellesmere · SY12 0PA

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

The Mere sits in Ellesmere Country Park and is the biggest of the nine Shropshire meres. It covers roughly 46 hectares, so this is a proper lump of water rather than a little puddle where every swim is within casting distance of the next. There are waterside paths and viewpoints around the lake too, giving the place a lively country-park feel. Handy if you fancy a wander before choosing where to wet a line.

It’s a glacial lake formed as a kettle hole, with the deepest point around 19 metres. That’s a fair bit of water to get your head around, especially if you’re used to smaller club lakes. A sensible first move is to have a look at the pegs and platforms, watch what’s happening on the surface, and take a few minutes to work out wind direction, access and how other anglers are positioning themselves. No need to rush in and chuck straight out.

Fishing is restricted to designated fishing pegs and platforms. Permits are associated with Ellesmere Angling Club, and Mere day permits need at least 24 hours’ notice. Get the current permit conditions directly from the club before travelling, including how to arrange a day permit and exactly where you’re allowed to fish. There’s no confirmed fishery-specific season, closing time or night-fishing permission, so don’t assume that the country park’s 24-hour public access means fishing is automatically allowed all night.

The reported fish list includes roach, perch, bream and pike. That’s a cracking mix for a varied day, with plenty of scope to keep things simple and adapt as you go. Pack a sensible spread of kit rather than one ultra-specialist setup: a float rod, feeder gear and suitable pike tackle if that’s your target. Start by watching the water and asking the club about current methods, productive areas and any tackle requirements. The local knowledge could save a fair bit of faff.

It’s a busy public setting, with wintering wildfowl and other wildlife around the Mere. Boats and anglers need to give each other room, and fishing areas are protected from boating access. Boating users are told not to approach fishing pegs or use them to tie up or get onto the water. Keep lines, landing nets and other kit tidy, stay aware of what’s happening around the swim, and leave plenty of space if boats are moving nearby. Bob on etiquette matters here.

The practical stuff looks useful for a day out. There’s nearby pay-and-display parking, with Castlefields Car Park opposite the Boathouse and The Moors Car Park at the southern end of the site. Public toilets are available, and the Boathouse provides food and drink. The location is on or near the A528 Shrewsbury Road, with map reference SJ 406350. Bring the usual day-session bits, check the permit arrangements at least 24 hours ahead, and you’ll be much less likely to arrive with the rods ready but the paperwork still in the margins.

We're not sure on ticket prices here — we couldn't find reliable, up-to-date prices online, so give the fishery a ring or check their own site before you go.

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 — “The Mere at Ellesmere is a proper big-water venue in Shropshire, with fishing from designated pegs and permits linked to Ellesmere Angling Club. Day permits need at least 24 hours’ notice, so this one takes a bit of planning rather than a cheeky spur-of-the-moment drop-in.”

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.