Fishing in April
April is the month the shallows fill up. Water near the margin warms quickly, weed is starting, and a great many species push into shallow water to feed and to breed. On a warm, still day the fish you could not find in March are visible - and that changes how you have to approach them.
Last reviewed 26 September 2026 · Editorial policy
What the water is doing
Fish follow the warmest habitable water, and in April that is the margin. Feeding picks up sharply, insect activity begins in earnest, and for a growing number of species this is the breeding season rather than the feeding season - two things that look similar from the bank and are nothing of the kind.
On the bank, look for
- Shallow, sheltered, sun-facing ground holds fish now - bays, the inside of a bend, the edge of a rebed. Work the top few feet of water.
- Insect activity starts properly. Where you see small insects over the surface or fish rising, match what you are doing to what is actually happening.
- Spawning behaviour is easy to mistake for feeding. A fish nosing the bottom of a shallow bay may be digging a nest, not eating.
What to change this month
Go lighter
Fish are in shallow, clear, often still water where a heavy rig and thick line show. Light line and a small, delicate presentation catch more fish than power does.
Fish the top of the water
Warming shallows put fish within a few feet of the surface for the first time since autumn. Surface and near-surface presentations begin to work, and they are the most enjoyable fishing of the year.
Cover water carefully
Fish are in places you can see them, which means they can see you. Move slowly, keep your shadow off the water, and cast at fish you have spotted rather than hunting for them.
Fish worth chasing in april
Photos from Wikimedia Commons under free licences - credits on each species page.
Techniques that suit this month
Conditions that decide the day
Where this shows up
Guides worth reading first
Watch out for
- Many waters are closed to certain species while fish breed, and even where fishing is allowed, handling a spawning fish can kill it. When in doubt, leave the water and come back later.
- Spring banks are soft and slippery with new growth. Wading cold, deep water in early spring is a particular risk because the air feels warm and the water does not.
- A fish taken from shallow, warm water in the sun is easily stressed. Keep it in the water, keep it cool, and release it quickly.
Questions about fishing in april
Is April a good month to fish?
For many species it is one of the best. Fish are shallow, hungry and starting to feed hard again. The trade-off is that a lot of what you can see is fish about to breed, and those fish should be left alone.
What depth should I fish in April?
As shallow as the water is habitable. Most of the action is in the top few feet over warming ground. Deep water is still slower and still holds fewer fish.
Why are fish in such shallow water?
Because it warms first, and warmth drives both feeding and breeding. Fish follow the warmest water they can live in, and in April that is the margin, the bays and the shallow weed edges.