Getting Started
Fishing knowledge, from your first setup to the finer details. Practical guides for carp, match, predator and sea anglers.
Guides
Beginner · carp
Carp Fishing in the UK: A Practical Beginner's Guide
Carp fishing rewards anglers who observe carefully, prepare their tackle properly and change their approach when the conditions demand it. You do not need an enormous collection of gear to start. You need a suitable venue, equipment you can use safely, a reliable presentation and enough patience to learn what the fish are doing. This guide brings those foundations together before you move on to individual knots, rigs and baits.
Beginner · carp
Planning a Carp Session: From Arrival to Pack-Down
A little planning saves time, helps protect fish and makes your session more enjoyable. The best plan leaves room to adapt when the lake tells you something new.
Beginner · carp / match / predator
Rod Fishing Licence UK: Prices, Types, Rod Limits and How to Buy (2026)
If you're 13 or over and fishing for salmon, trout, coarse fish, smelt or eel with a rod and line in England or Wales, you need a rod fishing licence from the Environment Agency. That applies on private lakes and club waters too. This guide covers who needs one, which licence to buy, how many rods each allows, current prices and how to get one.
Beginner · carp / match / predator
UK Freshwater Fishing Laws and Byelaws: The Complete Guide (England & Wales)
Every angler fishing freshwater with a rod and line in England and Wales must follow national rules and local byelaws set by the Environment Agency (and Natural Resources Wales). They exist to protect fish stocks and keep fisheries sustainable. This guide brings the national rules together in one place, covering licences, close seasons, what you can keep, and the tackle you're allowed to use.