Fly Fishing in England by Species
Different rivers suit different fish. Wild brown trout are the mainstay of most chalk stream beats, grayling take over once the trout season closes, and a handful of rivers still see a run of sea trout. Pick a species below to see which rivers and beats hold it.
Brown Trout
Brown trout are what most people mean when they talk about chalk stream fly fishing in England.
Grayling
Grayling are the reason a chalk stream angler's year does not have to stop when the trout season ends.
Rainbow Trout
Rainbow trout are not native to England, but they have been part of chalk stream and river fishing here for well over a century, and on plenty of beats they are the main event rather than an afterthought.
Salmon
Salmon fishing on the River Test, Itchen, and Frome is a different kind of fishing to the trout and grayling these same rivers are best known for, and it is worth being straightforward about that before you book a beat.
Sea Trout
Sea trout are the same species as the brown trout you find holding in a chalk stream all year, *Salmo trutta*, but with a very different life story.
Not sure where to start?
Explore every beat on the interactive map, or browse the rivers directly.
