Fishing in February
February is the month the light changes first and the water follows weeks later. Fish are still holding deep and still feeding occasionally rather than continuously - but by the last week there are fish in the shallows for the first time since autumn.
Last reviewed 26 September 2026 · Editorial policy
What the water is doing
The sun is noticeably higher by the end of February, yet water temperature is still close to its low point, because deep water loses heat slowly and gains it more slowly still. Fish are behaving as they were in January. What has changed is the length of the session you can fit into a day, and the number of mild spells.
On the bank, look for
- South-facing, shallow, sheltered ground warms first. Where a bay takes the afternoon sun, that water sits above the middle of the lake and fish will find it.
- Fishing pressure is at its lowest of the year, which flatters the fish rather than the angler - a winter fish still has to be found and persuaded.
- Weather swings are the story of the month. A mild, wet spell can put roach and pike on the feed for days; a hard snap back reverses it completely.
What to change this month
Keep the winter presentation
The scaled-down approach from January still works through February. The fish have not sped up yet, and neither should your retrieve.
Fish shallower as the month goes on
By the last week of February, sun-warmed marginal water is worth a look, particularly on a still, sunny afternoon when the shallow ground has had hours to warm.
Sort out the coming season now
Many species move into shallow water to breed within weeks. Check the rules of your water now, and get a licence sorted, rather than doing it in the week the fishing turns.
Fish worth chasing in february
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
- Stillwaters can carry a skin of ice well into February even after mild days. Test the margin before you commit to a swim.
- High, coloured water from winter rain can make a river dangerous and fishable on the same day. Never wade water you would not swim.
- Some trout waters are closed or restricted while fish are spawning. The dates are published and differ by country, so check before you travel.
Questions about fishing in february
Is February better than January?
Marginal, and mostly for the light rather than the water. Fish behaviour is nearly identical, but the extra daylight and the first mild spells make fishing more pleasant and occasionally better.
What is worth targeting in February?
Pike and perch in stillwaters, roach and other coarse fish in rivers and canals, grayling in cold, clear water, and cold-water sea species. Warm-water fish such as catfish are still largely off the feed.
Why is the water still cold when the days are longer?
Water loses heat slowly and gains it more slowly still. A lake that took months to cool will not warm in weeks, which is why spring fishing follows the water temperature rather than the calendar.