Do I need a rod licence?
You need one. It is separate from anything else on this site.
Checked against the source on 4 October 2026.
A rod licence is a legal requirement, and it is not the same thing as permission to fish a particular water. You usually need both.
You need a rod licence from the age of 13
To fish with a rod and line for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel in England and Wales you need an Environment Agency rod licence.
Children under 13 do not need one. A licence for a 13 to 16-year-old is free, and still has to be got before they fish.
Fishing without a licence you need is an offence, and you can be fined up to £2,500 if you cannot show one when you are asked.
It is separate from permission
A rod licence permits you to fish. It does not tell you where you can fish.
You still need the permission of whoever controls the specific water, which is what the rest of this site is about. Having a licence and no permission is trespass. Having permission and no licence is an offence. You generally need both.
You need one even where fishing is free
“Free” on this site means no ticket or membership is reported to be required. It never means no rod licence is required.
GOV.UK is explicit about this: the licence is needed on private land too, including angling club waters and private fishing lakes — which is most of what this site lists.
Where to get one
You can buy a rod licence from GOV.UK.