River Wye cheat sheet
Every fish, the two-part licence and the rules, the rigs and the box of tackle. One page to take to the water.
River Wye
Coarse season 16 June to 14 March (closed 15 March to 15 June). Barbel best summer into autumn; chub, pike and grayling carry the winter. Trout and salmon follow the game season.
Licence
Two parts. A UK rod licence from the Environment Agency, covering England and Wales (12-month coarse, two rods, £36.80 for 2026; 1-day £7.30, 8-day £14.70; under-16s free), bought on GOV.UK or at a Post Office. Plus a day on a beat, booked on the Fishing Passport (per beat, per day; Wye and Usk Foundation, 01874 712074).
The rules
Coarse season 16 June to 14 March, closed 15 March to 15 June. All salmon catch and release by law (2022 byelaws, to 2029). Salmon season 3 March to 17 October, spinning to 31 August. Use a trace for pike. Check NRW sizes for grayling and trout. Read the beat's own rules.
Release / handle with care
Return barbel and chub; unhook barbel in the water or a wet sling and let them recover upright in the flow. Return all salmon by law. Pike go back too. Wet hands, big soft net, quick release; clean and dry kit between waters.
Bank vs boat · season · time → rig
| Fish | Where on the river | Best season / time | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbel | Gravel runs, glides and creases, Hereford down | Summer to autumn, mild winter; dawn, dusk and into dark, after rain | Feeder / ledger for barbel (see methods) |
| Chub | Under cover, glide heads and tails, all the river | All season, strong in winter and coloured water | Feeder / ledger (lighter) or link-ledger (see methods) |
| Pike | The slacks, slower pools and weir tails | Autumn and winter as the water cools; low light | Pike rig (deadbait or lure on a trace) |
| Grayling | Faster gravel runs, upper and middle river | Autumn and winter; through the day | Nymph rig, or dry fly on a rise |
| Wild brown trout | Riffles and pocket water, game beats | Trout season, spring to autumn | Dry fly to risers, nymph rig when down |
| Salmon (release only) | The salmon beats and pools | Salmon season (check dates) | Salmon fly tackle, booked game beat |
A summer or autumn trip is a barbel-and-chub feeder trip on the middle and lower river, with the pike rig for the slacks. Winter leans on chub, pike and grayling on the fly.
The rigs
Main line → swivel → wire or heavy fluoro trace → deadbait under a float or ledgered, or a lure. The trace is non-negotiable
PalomarFly line → tapered leader → 3X–5X tippet → a weighted nymph (or two) trotted or tight-lined through the run
Leader / tippet knots on the rig pageFly line → tapered leader → fine tippet → a dry fly to a rising grayling or trout on a mild day
Leader / tippet knots on the rig pageWhat you need
One feeder outfit and bait cover barbel and chub. Add a wire trace and deadbaits for pike, and a light fly outfit and a few nymphs for grayling.
The knots
| Knot | Ties | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| Palomar | The workhorse, every feeder and pike rig. | Feeder and pike rigs |
| Dropper loop | A standing loop in the line for a hook branch. | The feeder paternoster |
Learn the Palomar first. Wet every knot before you pull it tight. The fly rigs use their own leader and tippet knots, given on each fly rig page.
This one page is the printable I take to the water.
Give me an email and I will show it to you, ready to print. A one-page reference: what's on by month, the licence and rules, a rig for every fish, the shared tackle box and the knots.
I'll send you the cheat sheet, and email you when I add a new place to fish. Nothing else.