Freshwater fishing
East of England
The Anglian region is home to some of the finest coarse fishing in the country, along with some of England’s most famous reservoir trout fisheries. All rivers in this region are classified as lowland fisheries, therefore roach, bream and pike are the dominant species in flowing waters. Having said this, you’re likely to bag up on chub, dace and barbel in the upper reaches of the major rivers.
Many of the chalk-fed rivers feeding into Breckland, the Great River Ouse and some Norfolk rivers support natural brown trout populations. The region's stillwaters also offer you a rich area of fishing for trout as well as specimen carp, bream and tench.
England’s Northwest
Home to the Lake District, the North West is a region offering trout fishing in abundance. You can also catch very large pike and many other coarse fishing species against the backdrop of some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.
North East England
Over the last thirty years or so there has been a growing interest in coarse fishing in North East England and the rivers have developed accordingly. Specimen barbel as well as sea trout quietly haunt the River Wear and chub share the River Tyne with salmon. Both rivers regularly produce monster dace that rattle the British Record and the River Tees holds the National Chub record.
South East England
Hampshire has some of the most famous chalk stream trout fisheries in the world and many are now open to day ticket fishing! These include both stocked stillwaters and selected beats of the Rivers Test and Itchen. A few sections are also opening up for winter coarse and grayling fishing.
Sussex offers some of the most diverse angling in the region. It is blessed with a number of short rivers that often have large tidally influenced zones that enhance the angling.
In Kent, the Great Stour and Eastern Rother experience small runs of migratory fish, notably sea trout, which are usually caught between June and the end of October. There are also a number of lakes and gravel pits offering quality stillwater fishing throughout the region.
More on fishing in South East England
South West
Most species can be found in England’s south west, plus some unusual ones: tench (green & golden), carp (crucian, mirror, leather, common, grass, koi), orfe (golden & blue), bream, roach, rudd (including golden), dace, bleak, gudgeon, barbel, chub, perch, pike, sturgeon and Wels Catfish. You can get a wide range of day permits from hotels, associations and fishery owners, at an equally wide range of prices.
More on fishing in the South West
The River Thames
The Thames Region covers the River Thames from its source in the Cotswolds to its confluence with the North Sea to the east of London. The Thames and all its tributaries, as well as the surrounding lakes, canals and gravel pits provide great opportunities to catch a variety of species.
There are game fishing opportunities for trout in the westerly chalk streams, recreational and match fishing on the Thames and many of its tributaries, as well as sea fishing opportunities in the estuary! There are also a number of excellent stillwater commercial fisheries in the region.
More on the River Thames
Content adapted from the Environment Agency
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