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 · June 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.

  • Mayfly spinner falls

    June evenings on loughs and chalk streams. Spinners fall spent on the surface, wings outstretched. Fish a Spent Gnat dead-drift.

    Irish loughs guide


  • The evening rise — BWO

    THE evening event. Blue-Winged Olives hatch from 5pm, then the Sherry Spinner fall at dusk. The finest dry-fly fishing of the year.

    Mayfly guide


  • Sedge hatches at dusk

    Tent-winged caddis fluttering at last light. Splashy, aggressive rises. Elk-hair caddis or a pulled sedge draws explosive takes.

    Caddis guide


  • Sea trout running

    Runs start June on spate. Fish at first and last light — in British rivers, they move at dusk. Low, clear water demands fine tippets.



  • Grilse run

    One-sea-winter salmon arrive from late June and surge through July. Smaller and freer-taking than spring fish — a fresh lift of water moves them; fish small flies on a floating line.

    Salmon guide


  • Terrestrial falls

    Beetles, ants, caterpillars blown from bankside vegetation in warm weather. Cast tight under branches. Flying ant falls can be extraordinary.



  • Caenis on limestone waters

    The "angler's curse" — tiny white mayflies in enormous numbers. Fish a slightly larger pattern and hope, or wait for the sedge.



  • Damselflies on stillwaters

    Nymphs migrate to shore with a distinctive wiggle. Fish a damsel nymph on a slow retrieve along weed beds on reservoirs.

    Dragonflies & damsels
Watch for:

High water temperatures stress fish. Wet your hands before handling. Fish early and late — rest during midday heat.

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