Guide to Float Fishing and Ledgering on UK Rivers
Rivers in the UK
Did you know that there are approximately 1500 rivers in the UK?
The UK’s longest river is the River Severn, which is 220 miles long. Other of the UK’s longest rivers include the River Thames, which is 215 miles long, and the River Trent, which is 185 miles long.
Why go river fishing?
The Unexpected: There is something special about Fishing on a river. You never know what you might catch. Fish travel up and down the watercourse and you never know how many fish or what species of fish might be in front of you.
Constant Change: A river feels alive. It is constatntly moving and frequently changing. The habitat and characteristics of the river change from year to year, especially on spate rivers, which can be affected by floods.
Great Fishing: Rivers can offer wonderful fishing and a wide range of species. Specimen-sized fish and large nets of fish are frequently caught.
Variety: The different river zones are home to different species and you can find great variety depending on which river zone that you choose to fish.
Seasonal Variations: There are often seasonal variations in where you will locate fish. Early in the season, shortly after spawning, fish can often be located in the streamier sections. In winter, many fish move into deeper water. In winter, river stretches in the middle of towns and boatyard area can hold huge shoals of fish, who have relocated in order to avoid predation.
Tranquility: you can often find solitude on river banks. There are hundreds of miles of riverbank and many rivers are not heaviliy fished. Peace and tranquility can often be found a short walk away.
Free river fishing near me?
Free Fishing: Although many stretches of river are operated by fishing clubs or sydicates, there is free fishing on some stretches of river. Talk to your local fishing tackle shop as they are often the best source of this information.
River fishing season in England and Wales
The fishing Closed Season applies to coarse fishing on rivers in England and Wales.
You cannot target coarse fish between March 15th and June 15th inclusive).
The river fishing season opens for coarse fishing on June 16th.
Categorising rivers
Spate Rivers
A spate river is a river that is primarily fed by rainfall and characterised by a rapid flow. These particular rivers exhibit both rapid ascent and descent in water levels. Spate rivers typically originate from elevated regions, such as mountains or hills, which contributes to their rapid flow.
Chalkstreams
Chalk streams are rivers that originate from springs in chalk-dominated landscapes. Since chalk is permeable, water readily percolates through the ground to the water table, and chalk streams receive little runoff from the surface. Consequently, the water in the streams is generally very pure and contains little organic matter and sediment. Only 220 rivers in the UK are classified as chalk streams.
Tidal Rivers
Tidal and Non-Tidal Rivers: Tidal rivers are influenced by the sea’s tides, while non-tidal rivers are not.
Names used to describe running water in the UK
Rivers: These are usually larger rivers and streams.
Streams: The distinction between a river and a stream can vary depending on regional or local usage, and there is no strict boundary between the two terms.
Brooks: A brook is defined as a small, natural stream of fresh water. It’s a term often used to describe smaller watercourses, comparable to other terms like stream or rivulet.
Burns: In Scotland, a burn is a term for a stream or small river.
Becks: This term is used in northern England, particularly in Yorkshire and Cumbria, to refer to a stream or small river.
Ghauts: In the Isle of Man, a ghaut is a term for a stream.
Afon: In Wales, “afon” is Welsh for river. For example, the River Severn is called “Afon Hafren” in Welsh.
River habitat zones
Trout Zone:
Trout Zone: This zone has a characteristic steep gradient, fast-flowing water, and cool temperature. The fast flow rate causes turbulence which keeps the water well oxygenated.
Fish species found in this zone include Brown trout (Salmo trutta), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), Bullhead (Cottus gobio), and Loach (Barbatula barbatula).
Grayling Zone:
Grayling Zone: Similar in physical characteristics to the Trout zone, although the temperature is usually slightly higher.
Fish species include all of the above species, with the addition of Grayling (Thymallus thymallus), Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus), Chub (Leuciscus cephalus), and Dace (Leuciscus leuciscus).
Barbel Zone:
Barbel Zone: This zone is principally lowland in nature but retains some characteristics of upland rivers. It has a gentle gradient with a moderate water flow and temperature. It also has a good oxygen content and a mixed substrate of silt and gravel in which plants can take root.
Fish species include all of the species from the previous zones with addition of Barbel (Barbus barbus), Roach (Rutilus rutilus), Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus), Perch (Perca fluviatilis), Pike (Esox lucius), and Eel (Anguilla anguilla).
Bream Zone:
Bream Zone: The true lowland zone, which has a very gentle gradient and slow-flowing water, there is usually good oxygen content but the temperature is much more variable than in the other zones. This zone has a silty substrate and is often turbid.
Fish species include a few species from the Barbel zone (Roach, Rudd, Perch, and Pike), with the addition of Bream (Abramis brama), Tench (Tinca tinca), and Carp (Cyprinus carpio).
Where to fish on rivers
Crease
The crease is an area located just off the main flow in slightly slower water. This is usually a good place to find fish, which are waiting for food particles that are travelling downstream in the current. Sitting just off the main flow, allows them to conserve some energy and enables them to dart into the main flow to feed on passing food, and then return into the slower water to wait for the next food particle.
Slacks
Slacks are good areas to locate roach, bream, chub, pike and perch. In flood conditions, fish will pack into slack areas to get some respite from the flow and conserve energy.
Main Flow
Trout are often found in the more oxygenated stretches. Barbel can also easily sit in the main flow by using their streamlined body shapes and their large, wing-like pectoral fins.
Overhanging Trees
Overhanging trees often provide cover for many species of fish including chub and barbel. Tree cover protects them from aerial attack from predatory bird. Insects also fall from trees, so they are a good source of food. The area underneath trees is often cooler and can be more humid, which is a good habitat for flying insects.
Bends
The outside of bends are typically deeper that the inside and are a good holding area for fish. Sometimes banks can be undercut, and can be a good hideout for fish.
Snags
Snags also offer cover from predators and barbel and chub are found in these areas. Pike and perch use these areas to ambush their prey.
How to check river levels
Before going fishing on rivers it is useful to check the river levels (especially for spate rivers).
Hundreds of river gauges throughout the UK, track river levels and this information is available online. It enables you to check river conditions from the comfort of your own home.
If you regularly look at this data for your local rivers you will become familiar with when river conditions are suitable for fishing and how fast a flooded river is likely to fall.
You can find a list of river level gauges here: https://riverlevels.uk/levels
River fishing safety
Moving water can be dangerous. Take sensible precautions before you start fishing, such as choosing a safe riverbank area to set up (riverbanks can be steep and slippery).
If you are wading, be especially careful of deep areas. Ideally, get to know the section of river in low, summer conditions, in order to understand the river bed and identify possible wading hazards.
Float Fishing on Rivers
One of the most enjoyable ways to fish a river is by float fishing. Watching a brightly-coloured float-tip drift downstream, and hoping for it to disappear out of sight is an absorbing experience, filled with hope and anticipation.
Float-fishing on rivers is also a highly effective way to catch fish. Fish are less cautious about taking bait, which is travelling naturally with the current. Fish have less time to inspect (and reject) baits that are moving, too.
Float-fishing enables you to explore large stretches of the river. Much more than when you are ledgering.
Types of float fishing on rivers
Broadly speaking, floats used for river fishing can be divided into two categories: floats which are connected to the mainline at both the top of the float and the bottom of the float – such as stick floats and loafers; and floats that are connected to the mainline at the bottom, known as ‘wagglers’.
When you first start river fishing, float choice can be a bit of a mine field. Float choice depends on many factors but in order to keep things simple, here are lots of tips and three float choices to get you started:
Where will you be fishing?
Type of swim: In pacey more turbulent swims, buoyant floats such as loafers are used to prevent the float from being dragged under by the current.
For more sedate swims, a waggler is usually the easiest float to use as a beginner.
Stick floats are effectively fished on smooth glides.
Float types and casting
Float types: Wagglers being attached to the line at the bottom of the float are easier to cast than floats, which are attached top and bottom.
Stick floats and other floats that are attached top and bottom take a bit of practice in order to cast them without getting tangled. Wagglers are also easier to fish with in windy conditions and can be fished further out.
Until you get proficient at casting wagglers, don’t put too much shot down the line. Make sure the majority of split shot are around the float attachment. This helps prevent tangles and helps you catch fish ‘on the drop’ as bait falls through the water.
Seeing your float
Thicker float tips are easier to see on rivers, as they travel downstream in different light levels.
Buy duplicate floats with different tip colours that can be seen in different light conditions.
Red/orange and yellow floats tips are good options, plus black tips (when the river surface has a white/silvery sheen).
Attaching wagglers to your mainline
Float attachments: Attach wagglers using float attachments, which enable you to swap floats when conditions change, for example light levels, or weather conditions change.
Float sizes for river fishing
Float size: Heavy floats are easier to control on rivers. Use floats that carry plenty of shot.
