Fishing Hanningfield Reservoir
By Alex Clayton · Updated 23 October 2026
Hanningfield Reservoir fishing is suspended at the time of writing. The operator, Waterside Parks, has closed the fishery because of low reservoir water levels and says it will reopen for the 2027 season, with no date given yet.
When it is open, Hanningfield is a big stocked trout water: 870 acres in total, around 600 acres of it fishable, with at least 51,000 rainbow trout stocked a season. This guide covers the current status, permits and booking, the rules, fly and boat tactics, pike, and where to fish while it is shut.
Is Hanningfield Reservoir Open for Fishing?
The worst outcome here is a long drive to a locked gate. The short answer: no, not at the time of writing (October 2026).
Waterside Parks says Hanningfield Reservoir fishing is closed due to low reservoir water levels and will reopen for the 2027 season. No reopening date has been published. The operator also posted a news item on 26 August 2026 titled “Cafe Closure & Fishing Suspension”.
The 2026 season had been listed as 1 March to 30 November, but the closure overrides that. The 2027 season dates, prices and exact reopening day are not published yet.
Tourism listings such as Visit Essex still quote older, lower prices, so do not plan from them. Treat the Waterside Parks Hanningfield page and the Bookwhen booking page (bookwhen.com/hanningfield) as the authority. If in doubt, phone the fishery on 07966 879206 between 9am and 4pm.
Hanningfield at a Glance: Size, Depth and Stocking
Hanningfield holds about 26 billion litres of water and reaches 55 feet deep in places. Those two numbers explain why depth control and boats decide most days here.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Hanningfield Waterside Park, Giffords Lane, Chelmsford CM3 8HX |
| Owner | Essex and Suffolk Water; fishery run by Waterside Parks |
| Water area | 870 acres (about 352 ha), with about 600 acres fishable |
| Maximum depth | 55 ft |
| Built | 1951 to 1957 |
| Designation | SSSI, notified 1985, with nationally important numbers of gadwall |
| Stocking | At least 51,000 rainbow trout a season, plus about 1,000 homegrown fish |
| Boats (2024) | 36 Coulam motor boats plus two wheely boats |
The operator says fish to 10lb (4.5kg) and over are possible. A 2019 Northumbrian Water news release put the largest trout reported in 2018 at 11lb 5oz (5.1kg).
Most of that water sits well beyond casting range from the bank, which is why the boats matter so much. The SSSI status is also behind two of the rules covered below: the dog ban and the Check, Clean, Dry requirement.
Hanningfield Fishing Permits, Prices and Booking
Hanningfield prices conflict online. Plan from the operator’s own “2025 price list”, not tourism listings.
| Permit (operator’s 2025 list) | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Full day, 8 trout | £33 | Keep up to 8 fish |
| Catch and release (fly, spinning or predator) | £23 | Barbless hooks required |
| Boat hire, max 2 people | £34 | Must be pre-booked |
Checked in October 2026. The 2027 prices are not published yet, so check Bookwhen before you go. To fish lures or target predators without killing trout, buy the catch and release permit.
How to book
Book permits and boats through Bookwhen (bookwhen.com/hanningfield); boats must be booked in advance. You can also phone 07966 879206, 9am to 4pm. The 2024 guide said the on-site tackle shop sold permits too, so ask whether it still does.
Children
One child aged 8 to 16 fishes free with a paying parent or guardian on a standard day permit, and gets a free boat place. Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult.
Rod licence
You also need an Environment Agency rod licence. It is not sold on site, so buy it on GOV.UK. In October 2026 a trout and coarse licence (up to 2 rods) cost £7.30 for 1 day, £14.70 for 8 days and £36.80 for 12 months; juniors aged 13 to 16 get one free. Prices change each April, and our UK fishing licence guide explains which one you need.
Hanningfield Fishing Rules to Know Before You Go
Six rules cover most of what catches visitors out at Hanningfield.
- Methods vary by area. Trout fishing is by fly and bait, but the natural bank is fly only. The dam and the boats are where other methods apply. The method map is set each season, so confirm it when you book.
- Barbless hooks are required on the catch and release permit.
- Landing net and priest. The 2024 rules made both mandatory, so bring them.
- Lifejackets are provided and compulsory in the boats.
- No dogs on site, because the reservoir is an SSSI. Assistance dogs are welcome.
- Check, Clean, Dry your tackle, waders and nets. It stops invasive species and diseases travelling from one water to the next.
The rules are reissued each season, so read the current Hanningfield Reservoir fishing permit conditions on Bookwhen before you travel.
Fly Fishing Hanningfield: Bank and Boat Tactics
On 600 fishable acres, the commonest reason for a blank is fishing the wrong depth, not the wrong fly. The approach to Hanningfield fly fishing below is established practice on big stocked UK reservoirs, not a report of what is working this week. For the fundamentals, see our stillwater fly fishing guide.
From the bank
A 9 to 10ft rod for a 6 to 8 weight line copes with the wind and distance a big water demands, with fluorocarbon tippet of around 6 to 10lb.
Fresh stockies tend to respond to pulled lures and blobs on a floating or intermediate line. Resident fish are more likely to take buzzers and nymphs, and dries when they are moving on top.
From a boat
A boat reaches water bank anglers cannot. Drift broadside to the wind so you cover fresh water, casting ahead of the drift.
Use the count-down method with an intermediate or sinking line. Let the line sink for a set number of seconds before retrieving, vary the count until you get a take, then repeat that count. Anchor only where fish are clearly holding. Boats take a maximum of 2 anglers, and lifejackets are compulsory.
Bait and lures where allowed
Bait and spinning are permitted only where the fishery specifies, such as the dam, the boats, or spinning on the catch and release permit. On that ticket, use barbless hooks and keep each fish in the water while you unhook it.
The same drift-and-depth approach works on other big boat reservoirs, such as Rutland Water and Draycote Water.
Hanningfield Pike and Predator Fishing
Hanningfield pike fishing gets one line on the operator’s page: predators appear only under the catch and release permit (fly, spinning or predator), with barbless hooks required.
No separate pike rules are published. There is nothing on a pike season, traces, deadbaits or predator fishing from the boats, so ask the fishery about each before you book.
A 2019 Northumbrian Water news release said the largest pike reported in 2018 weighed 15lb (6.8kg). Treat that as history, not a current expectation.
Pike welfare is the same everywhere: a wire trace, an unhooking mat or wet landing area, long-nose pliers and a quick release. Our guide on how to unhook a pike covers the method, and fly fishing for pike or lure fishing suits the catch and release permit.
For a dedicated pike day, ring 07966 879206 first and ask what the predator permit covers. For other predator waters in the county, see our Essex fishing guide.
When to Fish Hanningfield Through the Season
Even without 2027 dates, a season on a big stocked reservoir follows a predictable shape.
| Period | What to expect | Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Fresh stockies, often near the margins and willing to chase | Lures and blobs from the bank |
| Summer | Fish go deeper, or feed at dawn and dusk as the water warms | Boats and sinking lines |
| Autumn to season end | Fish come shallower as the water cools; fry feeders and pike more active | Bank and boat both worth trying |
That is general reservoir behaviour, not Hanningfield catch data. Past seasons ran from February or March to 30 November; the 2027 dates have not been announced.
For a first visit, early season suits bank anglers best.
Planning a Visit, and Where to Fish While It Is Closed
When Hanningfield reopens, five steps get you on the water without a hitch:
- Check the Waterside Parks Hanningfield page for open status.
- Buy your Environment Agency rod licence on GOV.UK.
- Book your permit and any boat on Bookwhen.
- Check, Clean, Dry your kit before you arrive.
- Pack barbless hooks if you are on a catch and release ticket.
While it is shut, other big stocked trout reservoirs fish in a similar way. Try Pitsford Reservoir, Rutland Water, Draycote Water or Chew Valley Lake. For waters closer to home, see the Essex fishing guide, or browse every venue in our UK lakes and reservoirs guide.
Wherever you go, check with the fishery before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hanningfield Reservoir open for fishing?
No, not at the time of writing (October 2026). Waterside Parks suspended fishing because of low reservoir water levels and says it will reopen for the 2027 season, with no date given. Check the operator's Hanningfield page and Bookwhen before you plan a trip.
How much is a day ticket at Hanningfield?
The operator's 2025 list shows £33 for a full day with 8 trout, £23 for catch and release and £34 for a boat. The 2027 prices are not yet published and other sites show older figures, so check Bookwhen.
Can you fish for pike at Hanningfield?
Predator fishing is listed under the catch and release permit, with barbless hooks required. No separate pike rules are published, so confirm traces, baits and boat rules with the fishery on 07966 879206 first. The pike section of this guide covers the basic welfare kit.
Do I need a rod licence to fish Hanningfield?
Yes. You need an Environment Agency rod licence, bought online from GOV.UK, because it is not sold on site. Juniors aged 13 to 16 need one too, but theirs is free. Prices change each April, so check GOV.UK before you buy.