Fishing is a great outdoor sport that anyone can do whatever their age, gender or physical ability. Think angling heaven, think River Thames – a haven for some of the best coarse fishing in the country.
Whether you’re a serious match angler, a specimen hunter or simply a pleasure angler, the River Thames has it all from roach and perch to barbel and chub with pike and carp too!  There really is something for everyone with this River Thames fishing guide.

Guide To Fishing On The Thames

You must follow national and local rules (byelaws) when freshwater fishing with a rod and line in England and Wales. These rules are aimed at protecting fish stocks and making fisheries sustainable. Freshwater fish include salmon, trout, coarse fish and eels.

Buy a rod fishing licence

You will need a rod fishing licence to fish for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel with a rod and line on the River Thames and England in fact. Make sure you buy a rod fishing licence beforehand, if you haven't got one already and you must always carry your rod fishing licence when you’re fishing, or you could be prosecuted. You can get a fine of up to £2,500 if you’re fishing along the Thames and cannot show a valid rod fishing licence when asked. Once you have your rod licence you can either join an angling club or take advantage of one of the many free fishing sites along the River Thames.

When and where you can fish

‘Close seasons’ are seasons when you can’t fish for some types of fish on certain types of water. For example, you can’t fish for coarse fish on any river in England and Wales from 15 March to 15 June. You need to read the local byelaws for close seasons for salmon, brown trout and rainbow trout on rivers. Privately owned bodies of water can also have their own close seasons.

Game fishing during the coarse fish close season

You can fish for salmon, trout and other game fish during the coarse fish close season. You have to use certain types of lures and baits in some areas however. 
South-east of England. You can only use artificial fly. In the Thames area, you can apply for permission from the Environment Agency to also use minnow caught in a minnow trap if used on the same waters.

You also need to be aware of the following:

• Fish size and catch limits

• Tackle you can use

• Crayfish removal or trapping

For Anglers With Disabilities.

The British Disabled Angling Association provodes a directory of fisheries offers access and facilities for disabled people.

Lock and weir fishing on the River Thames

The Environment Agency lock and weir fishing permit allows you to fish between the 16 June and the 14 March inclusive to align with the coarse fish river fishing season.No fishing at any of the lock and weir permit fishing sites will be permitted between the 15 March and the 15 June inclusive to align with the river closed season for coarse fish.

Fishing at one of the 18 River Thames lock and weir sites gives fast-flowing water for an exciting fishing experience. The fishing sites include: • Buscot • Grafton • Rushey • Shifford • Pinkhill • Eynsham • Sandford • Abingdon • Culham • Clifton • Day’s • Benson • Goring • Shiplake • Hurley • Bell Weir • Penton Hook • Molesey

Please note that many lock and weir fishing sites are only available for fishing outside of the boating season. Please check the site guides carefully to find out when the site is available for fishing.

To find out more about lock and weir fishing on the River Thames, go to Environment Agency’s Lock and Weir fishing.

Where to fish

There are lots of places on the River Thames where fishing is cheap or even free. Download the Environment Agency's Where to Fish guide or see our list of free fishing sites.