North Yorkshire offers 157 mapped fishing waters on PiscaMaps, including 155 rivers, 2 stillwaters. Species found across North Yorkshire's waters include Trout, Eel, Roach, Perch, Dace, Pike, Chub, Grayling.
The Yorkshire EA region covers all rivers draining to the Humber estuary. The Swale, Ure, Nidd, Wharfe, Aire, Calder, Derwent and Don are outstanding game and coarse fisheries. Yorkshire rivers are famed for barbel, grayling, wild brown trout and increasingly for chub and bream in the lower reaches.
A valid Environment Agency (EA) rod licence is required to fish all rivers, canals and most stillwaters in North Yorkshire. Licences are available from gov.uk. Club membership or a day ticket is required on most waters in addition to the rod licence.
Click a river for species information, close season dates, access notes and a location map.
50 species recorded across North Yorkshire's rivers, lakes:
| Trout | 88 waters |
| Eel | 66 waters |
| Roach | 60 waters |
| Perch | 50 waters |
| Dace | 49 waters |
| Pike | 46 waters |
| Chub | 40 waters |
| Grayling | 37 waters |
| Bream | 37 waters |
| Rudd | 33 waters |
| Salmon | 32 waters |
| Gudgeon | 31 waters |
Carp are a popular target across North Yorkshire's waters — always use a landing net and unhooking mat and return fish promptly.
Barbel fishing is well regarded in North Yorkshire's rivers, particularly through summer and autumn when water temperatures are higher.
Brown trout are present in North Yorkshire's rivers — many are catch-and-release only and may be subject to game fishing close seasons (typically 1 October to 14 March).
Salmon are present in some of North Yorkshire's rivers. A migratory salmonid licence is required in addition to the standard rod licence.
View all rivers, stillwaters and canals across North Yorkshire on the interactive map. Filter by species, water type and access.