There are always exceptions to the rule and some species can be found in the most surprising waters where they are not normally found. The various water types are countless and to be able to decide what species you will find can only realistically be from local knowledge, however, broad principles of water types and their inhabitants are provided as follows.

It goes without saying that the type of waters that you decide to fish will determine the variety of species that are likely to use as their habitat.

In these large still waters the shallower waters are warmer, rich in dissolved sails and an alkaline pH which sustains a variety of plant and fish species. During the winter the fish can find protection from the cold in the deeper areas. These waters include gravel pits, reservoirs, locks etc.

These waters are often very deep the waters have a neutral to alkaline pH with sufficient dissolved salts for plant and fish life. The bottoms are mainly stones/shingle with some silt areas.

Species: Bullhead, Chub, Eel

Species: All species except; Bullhead, Burbot, Minnow, Mullet

Species: Barbel, Bleak, Bullhead, Chub, Dace, Gudgeon, Minnow, Roach

Slowing down the waters become warmer and infused by minerals and salts sustaining more aquatic plant and animal life. The bottom, in places, having sand or silt areas with a few isolated mud patches.

Almost stationery plan and animal life are abundant. The waters are constantly supplied with minerals and salts from the rain water run-offs draining into river. Most species of fish favour this type of habitat.

Varying from small natural village ponds to large man made waters of over an acre in size abundant variety of aquatic plants give cover to numerous species.

Species: Barbel, Bleak, Bream, Bullhead, Chub, Dace, Gudgeon, Minnow, Perch, Pike, Roach

Species: Bullhead, Eel, Minnow, Roach, Stickleback, Wels

Species: Numerous. Nearly all species

Varying in depth and strength of flow the waters provide varied aquatic plants more prominently situated on the river banks. Bottom silts in the eddies harbour invertebrates which attract fish the main channels usually shingle bottoms with weed covering.

Species: All species except; Burbot, Mullet

Species: Carp-Grass, Chub, Eel, Perch, Pike, Roach, Rudd, Ruffe, Tench, Zander

As a river reaches the sea in natural conditions it widens to form deltas that are washed by salt and fresh waters. Only fish and plants that can sustain life in both environments are present or migratory.

Man-made dam to regulate flow of rivers which provides well oxygenated fast flowing deep waters usually in lowland areas. Plants that like these conditions, such as silkweed, are abundant attracting various species of fish to this area.

Designed to take away excess rain water from land to nearby river or canal the man-made drain a regular influx of minerals and salts encouraging growth of aquatic plants and curtain species of fish.

Species: Bream, Pike, Roach Tench, Wels

Species: Barbel, Bream, Chub, Dace, Eel, Minnow, Perch, Pike, Roach

Species: Burbot, Eel, Mullet, Stickleback

The flow of water. Except near locks, is usually slow or still. Uniformly in-depth canals provide a stable environment for plants and fish not requiring high oxygenated waters.

The start of a river is named a headstream where the water is rich in oxygen from the rapid turbulent progress cascading over rocks but low in minerals and salts as not having enough dissolved sediments from the barren land. The low water temperature and minimal aquatic plant growth tends to limit fish varieties.