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When to fish

Spring

Spring fishing has to be amongst the most anticipated fishing of all. The salmon fishing season begins in January and, although not spring in many peoples eyes, it is for the die hard salmon angler. Just as trout fishing begins in earnest on rivers in mid-March, the coarse fishing season traditionally draws to and end for three months or so, though some fisheries will remain open.

Fishing at this time of year can often be had at very modest cost, even for salmon fishing.

Summer

With the coming of summer, some truly spectacular sport can be found. Whether it is on stocked reservoirs, lakes or rivers. As the water begins to warm up the fish begin to feed with increasing voracity and the sport can be fast and furious. Coarse fisheries which may have closed will now be reopening for business and will be inundated with anglers keen to get back to the bankside.

This is when the salmon fishing seasons open in Iceland, Norway and Russia and those intrepid anglers who make their way to these destinations are often greeted by much cooler weather, but also with rivers packed full of grilse and salmon

This is also the time when the much desired mayfly hatches occur on England's beloved chalkstreams and there is many an angler out fishing dry flies trying to outwit trout in their gin clear waters. In other rivers runs of sea trout begin to start in earnest.

Autumn

The very short seasons in Iceland, Norway and Russia will be coming to a close as well as a host of other salmon rivers closing in the period end September to mid-October. Trout fishing on most rivers ceases in early October, though many rivers impose a 30 September end of season date.

The back end runs of salmon and grilse will now be in full swing and there will be red letter days for many a salmon angler, and even at this time of the year there is still some very reasonable, quality fishing to be found.

This is also the start of the grayling season with many trout anglers now moving on to fish for the Lady of the stream during the trout close season

Winter

As the days shorten and the temperature starts to drop, many would assume that the fishing season had come to an end, but not so.

There will still be many many anglers out on the water chasing winter coarse fish, pike and grayling.

This fishing, whilst challenging, given the prevailing weather conditions can be immensely satisfying and there is definitely something nice about coming home to a warm fire and a hot drink at the end of another successful, yet cold, day on the riverbank.