Warwick and District Angling Association Lakes

Warwick and District Angling Association’s identified stillwater is Warwick Racecourse Reservoir, sitting beside Warwick Racecourse in St Mary’s Lands, Warwick. It’s a small venue with 16 fishing pegs, so expect a compact club-water feel rather than miles of bank and endless options. That can be bob on for a tidy session, but it also means picking your day and swim sensibly could matter.

• 1 lake: Warwick Racecourse Reservoir
• Fish: carp, tench, bream, perch, roach, rudd, chub, crucian
• Tickets from: Non-member day ticket (historic) — £5
• Find it: Warwick · CV34 6HN

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

Warwick and District Angling Association’s identified stillwater is Warwick Racecourse Reservoir, sitting beside Warwick Racecourse in St Mary’s Lands, Warwick. It’s a small venue with 16 fishing pegs, so expect a compact club-water feel rather than miles of bank and endless options. That can be bob on for a tidy session, but it also means picking your day and swim sensibly could matter.

The pegs have firm, secure boarded staging, which is a proper plus when you’re settling in for a few hours. High chain-link fencing surrounds the reservoir too, giving the place a clearly defined, secure feel. With only 16 pegs, it’s worth having a quick look around before unpacking, then getting your kit organised without creating a load of faff on the staging.

There’s a cracking mixed bag of species here. Common carp go to about 20 lb, tench to around 6 lb and perch have been recorded over 3 lb. Crucian carp, silver bream, roach and rudd add plenty of options for lighter tackle and busy float work. Gudgeon are also present, so there’s a bit of everything from small-fish action through to the chance of a proper lump.

The reservoir description says there are no pike. Rare chub have also been held, while four baby barbel were reportedly introduced but were not subsequently seen. Those are cheeky possibilities rather than anything to build your whole session around, mind. A sensible first trip would mean taking a mixed selection of gear, then adapting once you’ve had a look at the water and spoken to the bailiff.

Access needs a little planning. Parking is restricted to the nearby Budbrooke Road trading estate, and anglers then have to walk over the railway bridge to reach the reservoir. Driving across the racecourse to the water is prohibited, so pack light and keep the essentials easy to carry. A barrow may not be the ideal choice unless you’re happy with the walk and the route allows it; a manageable load could save a proper faff.

Race days are a no-go, with the fishery closed to anglers. On non-race days, the gates reportedly open at 7am and close at dusk. There’s no current opening-hours page beyond that published information, so checking with Warwick DAA before travelling is definitely the smart move. The listed association contact is Keith Jenner with the fishery, and there’s no current online booking system.

The published rules allow keepnets and groundbait in moderation, while barbless hooks are required. Historic ticket prices were £5 for non-members on a day ticket, £3 after 5pm, £3 for children and pensioners, and £2 for club members. Those prices need confirming before you set off. Take suitable barbless rigs, a modest amount of groundbait and a couple of approaches, then keep things tidy and let the water tell you what’s on the munch.

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 — “Warwick Racecourse Reservoir is a small, fenced Warwick DAA member water with 16 pegs, a mixed bag of coarse species and carp to about 20 lb. It’s a tidy-looking club lake, but race-day closures, restricted parking and historic ticket details mean a quick check before travelling is a must.”

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.