Fishing in the UK
The UK has one of the world's richest angling traditions — from classic coarse fishing for pike, carp and roach on canals and stillwaters, to premier trout reservoirs like Rutland Water and Grafham Water, to salmon and sea trout on Scottish rivers and lochs. Here's an overview to get started, plus where to find gear.
Well-known UK fisheries
A starting point, not a complete directory — FishMap doesn't yet have live UK lake data the way it does for Sweden, Norway and the US.
- Loch LomondScotlandPike, Perch, Atlantic salmon, Sea trout, Powan
- Loch NessScotlandBrown trout, Arctic char, Atlantic salmon, Eel
- WindermereEngland — Lake DistrictPike, Perch, Arctic char, Brown trout
- Rutland WaterEngland — RutlandRainbow trout, Brown trout, Pike, Carp
- Grafham WaterEngland — CambridgeshireRainbow trout, Brown trout
- Bewl WaterEngland — Kent/Sussex borderRainbow trout, Roach, Bream, Pike
- Chew Valley LakeEngland — SomersetRainbow trout, Brown trout, Pike
- Loch AweScotlandPike, Brown trout, Atlantic salmon, Arctic char
Popular target species
Find gear for these species at Sportfish →Licences & rules
England and Wales require an Environment Agency rod fishing licence for freshwater fishing (free for under-13s, no licence needed for sea fishing). Scotland generally has no national freshwater licence, but permission from the local rights holder is needed. Northern Ireland uses DAERA rod licences. Salmon and sea trout require a separate permit everywhere.
Full international rules overview →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a fishing licence to fish in the UK?
In England and Wales you need an Environment Agency rod fishing licence for freshwater fishing (free for under-13s). In Scotland, freshwater fishing generally doesn't require a national licence, but you do need permission from the landowner or rights holder. Salmon and sea trout require a separate permit throughout the UK.
What are the most popular fish species in the UK?
Pike, perch, carp, roach and bream are the classic 'coarse fishing' species. Trout and rainbow trout dominate stillwater fisheries like Rutland Water and Grafham Water, while salmon and sea trout are fished in rivers across the country.
What is 'coarse fishing'?
Coarse fishing is the British term for freshwater fishing for any species except salmon, trout and rainbow trout (classed as 'game fishing'). Pike, carp, roach, bream, ide and rudd are typical coarse species, usually fished with float or leger tackle.
Where can I buy gear for fishing in the UK?
Sportfish is one of the UK's leading fishing tackle retailers, with a wide range of rods, reels, lures and fly-tying gear suited to British fishing — see our gear page for the link.