Species guide
Recommended baits, feeding methods and bite times for UK freshwater fish.
Dusk into dark, dawn in summer
Barbel
Barbus barbus
Groundbait feeder, Rolling leger, Pre-baiting a swim
Dusk into dark, dawn in summer
Bream
Abramis brama
Groundbait cage feeder, Method feeder
Dawn and dusk
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
Fly fishing, Spinning, Bait fishing
Dawn and dusk, especially in coloured water
Chub
Squalius cephalus
Trotting bread, Legering in winter, Lure fishing
Dusk through the night to dawn, especially June-August
Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
Bottom feeding, Surface feeding in warm weather, Pre-baiting a swim
Hair rig, Blowback rig
Late morning and early evening, warm overcast days
Crucian Carp
Carassius carassius
Lift-method float, Light bottom rig
Midday in winter, evening in summer
Dace
Leuciscus leuciscus
Float fishing, Stick float, Trotting
After dark
Eel
Anguilla anguilla
Bottom fishing at night, Legering
Dawn and dusk, feeding through the day in warm weather
F1 Hybrid
Cyprinus carpio x Carassius carassius
Method feeder, Pole fishing, PVA bag
Midday in winter
Grayling
Thymallus thymallus
Trotting, Fly fishing, Legering
Dusk to dawn, peaking in warm summer nights
Mirror Carp
Cyprinus carpio
Bottom feeding, Spod mix prebait
Dawn and dusk, overcast days year-round
Perch
Perca fluviatilis
Float-fished worm, Drop-shotting, Lure fishing
Mid-morning to midday in winter; dawn/dusk in summer
Pike
Esox lucius
Deadbait legering, Float-paternoster, Lure fishing
Morning and evening
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Fly fishing, Bait fishing
Dawn and dusk, with a secondary feed through the day in winter
Roach
Rutilus rutilus
Groundbait swim, Loosefeed over depth, Slow-sinking casters
Midday in warm weather
Rudd
Scardinius erythrophthalmus
Float fishing on the surface, Pole fishing
Dusk and after dark, very active in cold water
Ruffe
Gymnocephalus cernua
Groundbait feeder, Float fished close to the deck
Night and early morning
Sturgeon
Acipenser baerii
Bottom feeder, Legering, Static bait
Dawn and early morning, dusk in high summer
Tench
Tinca tinca
Margin float, Light legering over groundbait
Dusk and after dark, favouring low light
Zander
Sander lucioperca
Deadbait ledgering, Lure fishing, Drop-shotting