Fishing Calendar for April 2026
April is one of the most exciting months in the British angling calendar. The water is warming, coarse fish are feeding hard ahead of the close season, and on commercial fisheries carp and F1s start coming alive in the margins. Whether you fish rivers, stillwaters or commercial lakes, April offers superb sport across England, Scotland and Wales.
What fish bite best in April in the UK?
As water temperatures climb through 8-12 degrees Celsius, most species become increasingly active. Here are the key targets for British anglers this month:
- Carp and F1s - commercial fisheries come alive; fish move into shallower, warmer bays and start feeding confidently;
- Roach - pre-spawn feeding intensifies on rivers and canals; big shoals congregate on ledges;
- Bream - moves onto warmer shelves and responds well to groundbait;
- Tench - begins feeding on estate lakes and gravel pits, especially early mornings;
- Perch - still active on lures and worms before spawning;
- Chub - feeds well on rivers, particularly on Bolognese and waggler rigs;
- Pike - post-spawn activity in the second half of the month; fish recovering on stillwaters;
- Trout - river trout season is open; early hatches of large dark olives and March browns offer dry-fly opportunities.
Baits for April fishing in the UK
Carp and F1s: Maggots, pellets (F1 sweet pellets, 4-6 mm), sweetcorn, small PVA bags. On commercial fisheries, maggot or pellet on the waggler is deadly.
Roach: Maggots, casters, hemp, bread punch. A "sandwich" of maggot and caster on the hook works brilliantly. Loose-feed hemp and casters to build a swim.
Bream: Worm, sweetcorn, maggot cocktails. Heavy groundbaiting with a dark mix and chopped worm draws bream onto the feed.
Tench: Sweetcorn, maggots, small boilies (10-12 mm), bread. Fish over a bed of hemp and corn at dawn for best results.
Perch: Lobworm, small spinners, dropshot rigs with soft plastics. Target features such as snags, reed lines and overhanging trees.
Chub: Maggots, bread, cheese paste. Bolognese or trotting a stick float down a river run is classic spring chub fishing.
Trout: Dry flies (large dark olive, March brown imitations), nymphs (hare's ear, pheasant tail), emerger patterns. Match the hatch and prioritise presentation.
Best fishing days in April 2026
- Best days: 7, 8, 9, 10, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
- Good days: 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 26, 27, 28
- Unfavourable days: 1, 2, 3, 4, 19, 29, 30
- Zero activity: 18
Tip: The most productive sessions are likely to be 7-10 and 21-25 April. Plan your trips around these windows for the best sport.
Important: UK close season reminder
The coarse fishing close season on rivers in England and Wales runs from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. This means you cannot fish for coarse fish on rivers, streams and drains during April. However, most stillwaters, commercial fisheries and canals remain open year-round. Always check the specific rules for your venue. You must hold a valid Environment Agency rod licence to fish in England and Wales. In Scotland, regulations differ - check with the relevant fisheries trust.
Trout fishing on rivers is open from 1 April in most regions - check your local byelaws.
Expert tips: Spring carp on commercial fisheries
Angling Direct TV - Waggler fishing for carp and F1s
A light 13 ft waggler rod paired with a 3,000-4,000 size fixed-spool reel keeps casting comfortable all day. Use a thin mainline and set your clutch permanently for predictable strike control.
- Run the float directly on the mainline with the main weight fixed so you can swap floats quickly without retying
- Rig shotting: one No.8 above the float, two No.8 below, and three No.8s spaced evenly on a short hooklink with a size 16 hook for a slow, natural fall
- Cast to a clip, push the rod tip under, three turns and a flick to sink the line - this locks your distance
- Feed positively with a catapult: regular feeds of maggots and F1 sweet pellets create a slow-fall column that draws fish in
- Keep the overall setup light to avoid pulling hooks and reduce fatigue on long sessions
Ian Russell (OMC Fishing TV) - Spring carp tactics
In spring, shift from deep winter lies into slightly shallower shelves. If carp were at 25-26 ft in winter, try 10-16 ft contours in April - fish move to warm-up banks during daylight.
- The early morning window (roughly 04:00-08:30) typically produces the bulk of spring bites
- On pressured day-ticket waters, prioritise finding an empty peg with a lineless approach rather than competing in crowded spots
- Start with small, low-profile presentations or zigs to locate carp before committing bait
- Book pegs with known spring-holding features: gravel bars, shelves adjacent to deep trenches
- Be prepared for muddy conditions after winter floods - expect altered lakebed topography
Expert tips: Float fishing for roach, bream and chub
Robinson Europe - Spring groundbaiting
In early spring, a heavy pre-bait strategy works well: a darker groundbait mixed with clay creates both an immediate attractor and a longer-lasting feeding spot.
- Darken the mix when predators are present to lower visibility of the feeding patch
- Use a 2:1 ratio of binding to dispersing components as a starting point; add bentonite to firm balls for long-range work
- Split high-attraction additives: put half (hemp, casters, chopped worms) into the initial mix, hold back the rest for top-ups
- Practice ball-forming and accuracy at 25-35 metres for consistent feeding
- Watch the float closely for very light contacts - spring bites can be subtle
Winning Ways Basics - Bolognese float on rivers
The Bolognese rig excels on big, deep or fast-flowing rivers where a pole cannot reach. A long telescopic bolo rod with a close-face reel gives superb line control at range.
- Use slim stick-style bolo floats in the 3-6 g range; heavier for strong flow, lighter for slow runs
- Build a forward bulk with an Olivette and STS stops instead of distributed split shots
- Keep the hooklength around 12 inches with the bulk and hook within 20-24 inches to minimise tangles
- Feed a concentrated patch of hemp and casters on short casts (20-25 m) rather than light loose feeding
- Present 2-3 bronze maggots on a size 14 hook for F1s and chub
Expert tips: Spring fly fishing for trout and salmon
Hooked on Fly with Tam - Spring salmon on big rivers
On big, high-gradient rivers use long, fast sink-tip lines (around 10 ft, roughly 7 in/sec) paired with large, weighted streamers to get flies into the fish zone quickly.
- Target seams, boils and tails of pools - these hold kelts and migrating springers after water levels drop
- When the river is dropping after heavy rain is a prime time for salmon movement
- In high wind, shorten casts and use sidearm or roll casts
- Handle kelts quickly and gently for release; their presence often signals fresh fish nearby
Spencer Durant (Ventures Fly Co.) - Spring dry-fly fishing for trout
Success in spring dry-fly fishing hinges on carrying flies that represent every life-cycle stage: nymph, emerger, dun, cripple and spinner. Emerger and cripple patterns are often the most productive during early spring hatches.
- Prioritise a drag-free, delicate drift with long leaders (9-12 ft) and light tippets (4X-6X) before changing patterns
- In low, clear spring water, use stealthy approaches and choose low-light windows (overcast, early morning, late evening)
- During spinner falls, switch immediately to spent-wing patterns fished dead-drift on the surface
- Organise fly boxes by life-stage rather than species for quick on-water decisions
- Bring a range of sizes (e.g. sizes 14-18 for olives) to adjust quickly
Expert tips: PVA bag fishing for carp
Mainline Baits Carp Fishing TV - Solid PVA bags
PVA bags are ideal for spring carp sessions on stillwaters when fish are just waking up. A neat, compact bag placed in the right spot can be more effective than heavy spodding.
- Use slow-melt PVA for depths greater than 12-13 ft; normal melt is fine in shallower water
- Mix liquids (salmon oil then a smart liquid such as chilli) into the groundbait and let it rest 30 minutes before adding pellets
- Aim for roughly 80-90% pellets to groundbait by volume with mixed pellet sizes (2-6 mm)
- Keep hookbaits small (10-12 mm), low buoyancy, and match colour to the surrounding bait
- When bites are sporadic, fish single solid bags repeatedly over the spot instead of spodding
5 tips for April fishing in Britain
- Check the close season - coarse fishing on rivers in England and Wales is closed 15 March to 15 June. Stick to stillwaters, commercial fisheries and canals, or fish for trout on open rivers.
- Fish the margins - shallow water warms quickest, and carp, tench and F1s will move into the edges to feed, especially on sunny afternoons.
- Early mornings pay off - April dawn sessions (from first light to around 09:00) are often the most productive on both stillwaters and rivers.
- Keep feeding little and often - fish are not yet feeding with summer intensity. Small, regular feeds with a catapult or cupping kit will build a swim without overfeeding.
- Renew your rod licence - the EA rod licence in England and Wales expires on 31 March each year. Make sure you purchase your new licence before your first April session.
Use this calendar as a guide, but always factor in local weather conditions and venue rules. April is a brilliant month for British anglers - the season is building, the fish are waking up, and the long summer evenings are just around the corner. Tight lines!
