Best Fishing Spots in the UK by Region

A Comprehensive Guide by Sailvvay UK


Fishing in the UK offers a wide range of experiences, from the peaceful lochs of Scotland to the winding rivers of southern England. Whether you’re an experienced angler seeking salmon or a beginner casting your first line, the UK’s diverse landscapes provide the perfect backdrop for all types of fishing. Our guide highlights the best fishing spots across the UK, detailing what makes each location special, the species you can expect to catch, and tips to enhance your fishing adventure.

1. England


North

Lake District (Cumbria)

  • Type of Fishing: Coarse Fishing (Pike, Perch, Roach), Trout
  • Details: The Lake District offers stunning scenery and some of the UK’s best coarse and game fishing. Windermere is known for its pike and perch, while Ullswater is famous for wild brown trout.
  • Best Time to Fish: Pike fishing is best in winter and early spring; trout fishing peaks in late spring and summer.
  • Tip: Trolling large lures near weed beds in Windermere is highly effective for pike.

River Tyne (Northumberland)

  • Type of Fishing: Salmon, Sea Trout, Brown Trout
  • Details: The River Tyne is regarded as one of England’s best salmon rivers, with both the North and South Tyne offering excellent fishing for salmon and sea trout.
  • Best Time to Fish: February to October, with peak salmon runs in June and July.
  • Tip: The stretch near Hexham is particularly productive for salmon, especially after rain when the river rises.

River Ribble (Lancashire)

  • Type of Fishing: Salmon, Sea Trout, Brown Trout, Coarse Fishing (Barbel)
  • Details: The River Ribble flows through the Ribble Valley, offering great fishing for salmon, sea trout, and brown trout. The lower stretches are known for barbel.
  • Best Time to Fish: June to October for salmon and sea trout; barbel fishing peaks in summer.
  • Tip: Fly fishing is most effective in the upper stretches for trout, while spinning is popular for salmon in deeper pools.


Midlands

River Severn (Shropshire/Worcestershire)

  • Type of Fishing: Coarse Fishing (Barbel, Chub, Roach), Salmon
  • Details: The River Severn is the UK’s longest river and one of its most important fisheries, especially for barbel and chub.
  • Best Time to Fish: Summer for barbel; May to October for salmon.
  • Tip: Ledgering with pellets or boilies is a popular method for barbel, especially in deeper runs.

Rutland Water (Leicestershire)

  • Type of Fishing: Trout (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
  • Details: Rutland Water, one of Europe’s largest man-made lakes, is renowned for its trout fishing. The open waters are ideal for boat fishing.
  • Best Time to Fish: March to December, with the best catches in spring and autumn.
  • Tip: Drifting with nymphs like the Diawl Bach or buzzers is effective in mid-summer when fish are feeding on hatching insects.

River Trent (Nottinghamshire)

  • Type of Fishing: Coarse Fishing (Barbel, Chub, Carp, Bream)
  • Details: The River Trent is famous for its large barbel and chub, offering challenging and rewarding fishing.
  • Best Time to Fish: Summer for barbel and chub; late spring and early autumn for bream and carp.
  • Tip: Feeder fishing with ground bait and pellets is effective for targeting bream and chub in slower sections of the river.


South

River Test (Hampshire)

  • Type of Fishing: Trout (Brown Trout), Grayling
  • Details: The River Test is the world’s most famous chalk stream, known for its clear waters and abundant trout. Fly fishing, particularly dry fly fishing, is the preferred method.
  • Best Time to Fish: April to September for trout; autumn and winter for grayling.
  • Tip: Dry fly fishing with patterns like the Mayfly or Adams is particularly effective during hatches in late spring and early summer.

Chew Valley Lake (Somerset)

  • Type of Fishing: Trout (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout), Pike
  • Details: Chew Valley Lake is known for its excellent trout fishing and offers great pike fishing, especially in winter.
  • Best Time to Fish: March to October for trout; pike fishing peaks in winter.
  • Tip: For trout, try fishing near the dam wall with sinking lines and lures like the Damsel Fly. For pike, use large dead baits or jerk baits in the shallows.

River Thames (Various Locations)

  • Type of Fishing: Coarse Fishing (Bream, Roach, Perch, Pike)
  • Details: The River Thames offers a variety of fishing opportunities. The middle and lower reaches, especially around Oxford and Reading, are known for coarse fishing.
  • Best Time to Fish: Summer for coarse fishing; autumn and winter for pike.
  • Tip: Float fishing with maggots or worms is effective for roach and perch while ledgering with ground bait works well for bream in deeper sections.


East

Norfolk Broads

  • Type of Fishing: Coarse Fishing (Pike, Bream, Roach, Perch)
  • Details: The Norfolk Broads, a network of rivers and lakes, is one of the best places in the UK for coarse fishing, particularly for pike.
  • Best Time to Fish: Winter for pike; summer for coarse fishing.
  • Tip: Lure fishing for pike is effective around weed beds and in deeper channels. For bream, try fishing with ground bait in the evenings.

Grafham Water (Cambridgeshire)

  • Type of Fishing: Trout (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
  • Details: Grafham Water is a large reservoir known for excellent trout fishing. It’s regularly stocked with rainbow trout and has a good brown trout population.
  • Best Time to Fish: March to December, with the best catches in spring and autumn.
  • Tip: Boat fishing is recommended, with drifting techniques using small nymphs and buzzers being particularly effective in deeper areas.

River Nene (Northamptonshire)

  • Type of Fishing: Coarse Fishing (Barbel, Pike, Chub, Bream)
  • Details: The River Nene offers excellent coarse fishing, especially for barbel and pike.
  • Best Time to Fish: Summer for barbel and chub; autumn and winter for pike.
  • Tip: Ledgering with boilies or pellets is effective for barbel while spinning with large lures works well for pike.


West

River Exe (Devon)

  • Type of Fishing: Salmon, Sea Trout, Brown Trout
  • Details: The River Exe offers excellent fishing for salmon and sea trout, with its lower reaches providing good opportunities for sea trout. At the same time, the upper stretches are ideal for brown trout.
  • Best Time to Fish: March to September for salmon; May to August for sea trout.
  • Tip: Early morning or late evening fishing is often most productive for sea trout, especially in low water conditions.

River Tamar (Cornwall)

  • Type of Fishing: Salmon, Sea Trout, Brown Trout
  • Details: The River Tamar, forming the border between Devon and Cornwall, is one of the region’s premier salmon rivers, offering excellent conditions for salmon and sea trout fishing.
  • Best Time to Fish: June to October for salmon and sea trout; spring for brown trout.
  • Tip: Fly fishing is the preferred method for salmon and sea trout, with spinning also popular during higher water conditions.

Blagdon Lake (Somerset)

  • Type of Fishing: Trout (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
  • Details: Blagdon Lake is a historic reservoir known for its superb trout fishing, particularly during the evening rise when trout feed on hatching insects.
  • Best Time to Fish: March to October, with the best fishing in late spring and early summer.
  • Tip: Use small dry flies or emergers in the evening for the best chance of catching rising trout during the evening rise.

2. Scotland

Loch Leven (Perth and Kinross)

  • Type of Fishing: Brown Trout
  • Details: Loch Leven is a renowned trout fishery famous for its wild brown trout. The loch covers over 13 square kilometres and is home to a unique, fast-growing strain of trout. Traditional fly fishing is popular here, with favoured flies like the Loch Leven Spider and Claret Bumble.
  • Best Time to Fish: Late spring to autumn, especially in the evenings when trout are surface-feeding.
  • Tip: Boat fishing is the best way to reach deeper areas where larger trout are found.

River Tay (Perthshire)

  • Type of Fishing: Salmon, Trout
  • Details: The River Tay is one of the most productive salmon rivers in Scotland, known for its large salmon, with record catches of over 40 lbs. Fly fishing is the main method, although spinning is common in higher water conditions.
  • Best Time to Fish: Spring and autumn for salmon; summer months are good for trout.
  • Tip: The middle and lower stretches, particularly around Dunkeld and Stanley, are famous for their salmon runs.

River Spey (Moray)

  • Type of Fishing: Salmon, Sea Trout
  • Details: The River Spey is the birthplace of Spey casting, a fly fishing technique developed on this fast-flowing river. It’s ideal for salmon and sea trout fishing, offering a challenging yet rewarding experience.
  • Best Time to Fish: February to September, with the best salmon fishing from April to June.
  • Tip: Hiring a local guide (ghillie) is recommended to navigate the river and improve your chances of success.

3. Northern Ireland

Lough Neagh

  • Type of Fishing: Coarse Fishing (Bream, Roach, Pike)
  • Details: Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles, is famous for its coarse fishing, particularly for bream, roach, and pike. Its vast size offers plenty of secluded fishing spots.
  • Best Time to Fish: Spring and summer for coarse fish; pike fishing is best in autumn and winter.
  • Tip: Shore fishing near Toome and Antrim offers better access to deeper waters and larger fish.

River Bann

  • Type of Fishing: Salmon, Brown Trout, Sea Trout
  • Details: The River Bann is Northern Ireland’s longest river, divided into Upper and Lower Bann. The Lower Bann is known for salmon fishing, while the Upper Bann is better for brown trout.
  • Best Time to Fish: Salmon season runs from March to October, with peak catches from May to September.
  • Tip: The stretch near Coleraine is highly recommended for salmon, especially during the autumn run.

Lough Erne (County Fermanagh)

  • Type of Fishing: Coarse Fishing (Pike, Perch, Roach), Game Fishing (Trout)
  • Details: Lough Erne, with its interconnected lakes, offers varied fishing. The Upper Lough is shallow and ideal for pike and perch, while the deeper Lower Lough is better for trout.
  • Best Time to Fish: Pike fishing is best in spring and autumn; trout fishing peaks in early summer.
  • Tip: The islands in the Upper Lough are great for pike, especially around weed beds where they hunt.

4. Wales

River Wye (Monmouthshire)

  • Type of Fishing: Salmon, Trout, Coarse Fishing (Barbel, Chub)
  • Details: The River Wye is a well-known river for wild salmon and trout. The upper reaches are excellent for trout, while the lower stretches, particularly near Ross-on-Wye, are great for salmon and coarse fishing.
  • Best Time to Fish: Salmon from February to October; trout from March to September; coarse fishing peaks in summer.
  • Tip: Barbel fishing is particularly good around Monmouth, where the river deepens and slows.

Llyn Brenig (Denbighshire)

  • Type of Fishing: Trout (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
  • Details: Llyn Brenig is a man-made reservoir, now one of Wales’ top trout fisheries. It’s regularly stocked with rainbow trout, and its natural brown trout population is thriving.
  • Best Time to Fish: March to October, with the best fishing in early summer.
  • Tip: Drift fishing with lures like the Cat’s Whisker or the Black Buzzer works well in deeper waters.

Llyn Trawsfynydd (Gwynedd)

  • Type of Fishing: Trout (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout), Pike
  • Details: Llyn Trawsfynydd is a large lake in Snowdonia, known for its wild brown trout and stocked rainbow trout. Pike fishing is also popular, especially during colder months.
  • Best Time to Fish: April to October for trout; pike fishing peaks in late autumn and winter.
  • Tip: Fly fishing near the dam wall is effective for rainbow trout, while dead bait works well for pike in deeper areas.

5. Channel Islands

St. Peter Port, Guernsey

  • Type of Fishing: Sea Fishing (Bass, Mackerel, Flatfish)
  • Details: St. Peter Port in Guernsey is known for excellent shore fishing. The rocky coastline is ideal for bass and mackerel, while sandy areas are good for flatfish like flounder and plaice.
  • Best Time to Fish: Summer and autumn for bass; late summer for mackerel.
  • Tip: Use lures around rocky outcrops or live bait near harbour walls for bass.

St. Aubin’s Bay, Jersey

  • Type of Fishing: Sea Fishing (Bass, Mullet, Flounder)
  • Details: St. Aubin’s Bay in Jersey is a popular spot for shore fishing, with good numbers of bass, mullet, and flounder. The bay’s sandy bottom and gentle tides make it ideal for flatfish.
  • Best Time to Fish: Summer for bass and mullet; autumn and winter for flounder.
  • Tip: Float fishing with ragworm or peeler crab works well for bass, especially near the breakwaters and piers.

6. Isle of Man

Ballaugh Curraghs

  • Type of Fishing: Coarse Fishing (Pike, Roach, Perch)
  • Details: Ballaugh Curraghs is a tranquil wetland area offering great coarse fishing. The reed-lined waters are home to large pike, as well as good populations of roach and perch.
  • Best Time to Fish: Autumn and winter for pike; summer for coarse fishing.
  • Tip: Use large spinners or dead baits for pike, especially in deeper channels among the reeds.

Sulby Reservoir

  • Type of Fishing: Trout (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
  • Details: Sulby Reservoir is the Isle of Man’s largest freshwater body, known for its excellent trout fishing. It is regularly stocked with rainbow trout, and there’s also a good population of wild brown trout.
  • Best Time to Fish: March to October, with the best catches in spring and early summer.
  • Tip: Fly fishing with nymphs and wet flies is effective, especially during the summer months when hatches are frequent.

The UK’s fishing spots are as diverse as its landscapes, offering something for every angler. From Scotland’s wild rivers and Wales’ peaceful lakes to England’s vast reservoirs and Northern Ireland’s hidden gems, each region provides a unique experience. Whether you’re fly fishing for trout, spinning for salmon, or setting up for a day of coarse fishing, the UK’s waters promise both challenge and reward. Remember to respect local regulations and the natural environment, ensuring these incredible fishing spots remain vibrant and productive for years.