Float & Fly

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SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH

Fishing is about more than catching fish. It gives you a reason to step away from the noise of everyday life, spend time outdoors and simply breathe. Being beside the water, surrounded by nature, can help clear your head and give you space to slow down and reset.

For some people, fishing provides something just as important: time to think without pressure. Whether you’re fishing alone or sharing the bank with friends, it can create an opportunity to talk, listen and connect without judgement.

You don’t need to have all the answers, and you don’t even need to catch a fish. Sometimes, sitting beside the water with a rod in your hand is enough to make a difficult day feel a little easier.

Float & Fly — more than fishing. A community where we can talk, listen and support each other.

What size landing net should you buy for carp fishing?

For most UK carp anglers, 42 inches is the best all-round choice.

You only really need to move towards a 46 or 50-inch net if you’re regularly targeting much larger specimen fish or have a particular reason for needing the additional net width.

Don’t simply buy the biggest net you can find.

Buy the size that suits the fishing you actually do.

Float & Fly tip

Your landing net is the final part of the fight. Don’t let the last few seconds ruin a good session.

September Is Here: What Changes for UK Anglers?

September marks a big change in the fishing calendar. As summer begins to fade and cooler conditions arrive, anglers across the UK start looking towards some of the most anticipated fishing of the year.

For predator anglers, 1 September is particularly significant, with pike fishing reopening at some fisheries following their seasonal closures. However, rules vary between fisheries and regions, so anglers should always check the regulations for their chosen venue before heading out.  

🎣 Pike season begins

The arrival of September gets plenty of predator anglers reaching for their pike tackle.

Cooler water and changing conditions can create new opportunities, but responsible fishing remains essential. Check your venue’s rules, make sure you’re equipped with appropriate tackle and handle fish carefully.

🌊 Don’t ignore water conditions

September doesn’t automatically mean perfect conditions everywhere.

Some fisheries are still dealing with low water levels, while others are beginning to benefit from cooler temperatures and changing weather. Recent fishery updates show just how different conditions can be between individual venues.  

🐟 What should anglers be thinking about?

September is a good time to:

• Check your tackle before the autumn season gets properly underway
• Restock flies, lures and terminal tackle
• Check local fishery rules
• Keep an eye on water levels and weather
• Start preparing for autumn predator fishing
• Make the most of the changing conditions

The Float & Fly verdict

September is when the fishing year starts to feel different.

The evenings get shorter, temperatures begin to fall and the opportunities change.

For us anglers, that’s not the end of summer.

It’s the beginning of another season.

Tight lines.

BRITAIN’S HEATWAVE: ARE OUR FISH PAYING THE PRICE?

For us anglers, hot weather can mean longer evenings, better conditions for some types of fishing and plenty of time beside the water.

But while we’re enjoying the sunshine, our fish can be dealing with a very different situation.

Across parts of the UK, high water temperatures and extremely low river levels are putting freshwater fish under serious pressure.

Wales has been particularly badly affected. Natural Resources Wales says the country remains in drought, with many rivers running exceptionally low for this time of year. July was also Wales’s driest July since records began around 190 years ago. (Natural Resources Wales⁠)

And it’s not just the lack of water that’s worrying.

🌡️ WHEN DOES WATER GET TOO HOT?

Fish rely on the water around them to regulate their body temperature, and warmer water also holds less oxygen.

That means a fish which looks perfectly healthy when you release it can still struggle afterwards if conditions are poor.

The Angling Trust recommends checking water temperatures before fishing during hot weather. As a general guide, anglers are advised to consider avoiding salmon, trout and grayling when river temperatures rise above 19°C, while large chub, barbel and pike can also become vulnerable above 21°C. (Angling Trust⁠)

In Wales, Natural Resources Wales advises that salmon and sea-trout fishing should stop when river temperatures reach 20°C, because the risk of fish dying after release becomes much greater. (Nation.Cymru⁠)

🐟 SALMON ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE

Salmon need cold, clean, well-oxygenated water.

This summer has created a nasty combination of low flows and high temperatures, reducing the amount of suitable habitat available to them.

The lower River Wye reached a staggering 27.7°C during the June heatwave.

According to Natural Resources Wales, temperatures around 27–29°C can become lethal for adult salmon. (Nation.Cymru⁠)

The concern isn’t just about fish being caught by anglers.

Low river levels can reduce the amount of habitat available to returning salmon, while warmer conditions can also affect the survival of young fish and even salmon eggs later in the year.

🎣 SO WHAT SHOULD ANGLERS DO?

This doesn’t mean you have to put the fishing gear away every time the sun comes out.

It means knowing when conditions have become unsuitable for the fish you’re targeting.

Before heading out, check:

🌡️ Water temperature
💧 River levels and flow
☀️ Weather conditions
🐟 The species you’re targeting

If temperatures are too high, consider switching to a cooler venue, targeting species that are less vulnerable to the conditions or simply giving the fish a break.

And if you do fish in warm conditions, handle your catch carefully, keep it in the water as much as possible and get it released quickly.

🌳 THERE ARE SOME REASONS FOR HOPE

It’s not all bad news.

Natural Resources Wales says projects such as restoring peatlands and planting trees alongside rivers can help retain water, improve water quality and provide shade.

That could help make rivers more resilient when the next spell of extreme weather arrives. (Nation.Cymru⁠)

But with hot and dry conditions becoming an increasingly familiar part of summer fishing, understanding the effect on our fish is becoming just as important as knowing where to cast.

🤔 WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Have you noticed a difference in your local rivers this summer?

Are your usual waters running lower than normal?

And would you stop fishing if the water temperature reached a level that could put the fish at risk?