Yes, you can fish on most canals in England and Wales all year round, as they are exempt from the annual coarse fishing close season (15 March to 15 June) that applies to rivers. While most canals remain open, anglers must always hold a valid Environment Agency rod licence and obtain the necessary permit or club membership.
Most of our canals are, therefore, open for fishing all year round. However, the close season still applies to rivers. The Environment Agency is responsible for enforcing the close season regulations.
When does the fishing season in the UK start? Most stillwaters and canals are open year-round, but rivers have a closed season from 15 March to 15 June to protect spawning fish. Sea fishing is generally open all year, though some species are seasonal.
You can fish for coarse fish, eels, rainbow trout and brown trout on most enclosed stillwaters and canals all year. Read the local byelaws to check your area.
Some people think that carp fishing can only be successful at certain times of the year. However, if you've got luck on your side, the best weather conditions for carp fishing can happen all year round! Below, we've got some tips and tricks to help you have the best fishing experience in every season.
During the winter and early spring periods the water temperatures in most venues will be very cold indeed, quite often hovering around the 4-5 degrees mark. When the water is as cold as this; carp will often become very dormant and sit motionless for hours upon end.
No, you generally cannot fish canals for free in England and Wales; fishing rights are privately owned, requiring either a local club membership/day ticket or a Waterway Wanderers permit from the Canal & River Trust, plus an Environment Agency rod license, though exceptions exist for specific events like "Let's Fish!" sessions, or for young children on some waterways.
Many die-hard catfish bait makers have their own special recipes they swear catch big whisker fish. Here's one that includes WD-40 as one of the main ingredients.
On rivers, the traditional close season for coarse fishing runs from 15 March through to 15 June. This applies to all rivers, including the ones where we control the fishing rights.
To help protect our precious fish populations, from 15 March to 15 June inclusive, the annual close season for coarse fishing (on rivers and steams) reduces disturbances to coarse fish and protects vulnerable stocks during their peak spawning period.
Fishing from a moving boat is not allowed on canals. It's illegal to take fish away from the canal under both Environment Agency by-laws and the 1968 Theft Act.
On most of our canals and rivers, local angling clubs rent the fishing rights from us, so you'll need to get your fishing permit directly from them. See our fisheries list to find the club nearest the area where you want to fish.
So, you can definitely fish the canals all year round, and like any fishing environment – some days you'll get lucky, and other days willbe less productive. Some anglers prefer to fish at dawn and dusk, and they can certainly be highly productive times to fish.
A fish's ability to detect the wrong or unnatural taste and smell can affect your ability to catch fish. If your bait has traces of human scent, gasoline, oil, sun block, insect repellent, rust, mold, or even your after shave and cigarettes on it, a fish might avoid it.
Fishing without a license or quota for certain species. Failing to report catches or making false reports. Keeping undersized fish or fish that are otherwise protected by regulations. Fishing in closed areas or during closed seasons, and using prohibited fishing gear.
No single bait catches the most fish universally, as effectiveness depends on species, location, and season, but live worms, shrimp, and corn are consistently top choices for freshwater, while shrimp, cut bait (oily fish), and prawns excel in saltwater; artificial lures like grubs and spoons also catch nearly everything, making them versatile for all species.
The bait can either be held in place with weight or used similarly to a lure whereby the bait is cast out and retrieved. Zander cannot be returned alive to our waterways.
Many canals are not suitable for swimming due to water quality issues and generally swimming is not formally permitted. Note that many larger navigable rivers may look like canals in places, but are managed rivers with weirs, locks and parallel 'cuts' to shortcut meaders, called river 'navigations'.
No matter the time of year, it's always worth having high-quality boilies in your mix. As soon as the winter temperatures come in, I like to switch from a fishmeal boilie to a nut based bait such as the OG Fruit & Nut. The OG Fruit & Nut is a low-oil carp bait that's high in protein.
Much to the opposite of what people believe, carp in winter will often flock to shallower areas of the lake, especially if the conditions are warm and bright.
