Reference · Seasons

The Fishing Year

The fishing year has its own rhythm. Here is what each season brings — the species in form, the hatches worth watching, and the windows worth planning around.

7 min readUpd 8 Apr 2026Reference← Learn
Quick ref — peak windows
Trout
Apr–Jun
Rivers; May–Sep on stillwaters
Salmon
Spring, grilse, autumn
Feb–May, Jun–Aug grilse, Sep–Nov
Sea trout
Jun–Sep
Best on a spate, at night
Grayling
Oct–Feb
Cold, clear water
At a glance

The year on one chart

Peak windows — through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Brown trout (rivers)Season
1
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
Brown trout (stillwater)Season
1
1
2
3
3
3
2
2
3
2
1
1
Salmon (spring & autumn)Run
1
2
3
2
1
2
3
3
1
Salmon (grilse)Run
1
3
3
2
1
Sea troutRun
1
3
3
3
2
1
GraylingSeason
3
3
1
1
1
1
2
3
3
3
Mayfly (Green Drake)Hatch
1
3
3
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

  • Salmon main run

    Peak runs September–November — the best chance of the year. Cover water methodically with intermediate lines.



  • Daddy longlegs

    Peak crane fly fishing. Blown onto loughs and rivers on the wind. Foam daddy, dapped or drifted — fish go crazy for them.

    Diptera guide →


  • Autumn olive returns

    The LDO's second generation — darker than spring. Midday hatches on cooling water. On many rivers, October produces the best olive fishing of the year.

    Hatch calendar →


  • Trout gorging on fry

    Big fish before spawning. Strip streamers on reservoirs for aggressive fry feeders. They are heavy and reckless now.



  • Grayling season opens

    October onwards. Czech nymphing comes into its own — heavy nymphs, fished deep through fast runs. They feed willingly in cold water.

    Grayling guide →


  • October caddis

    Last big sedge hatches of the year. Large elk-hair caddis on mountain rivers — the big profile triggers confident takes.

    Caddis guide →
Watch for:

Leave spawning trout alone from mid-October. Target grayling and salmon instead. Check local conservation rules on salmon rivers.

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