Anyone over the age of 12 who fishes for salmon, trout or freshwater fish and eels in England and Wales must, by law, have an Environment Agency rod licence.
A rod licence entitles you to use a rod and line to catch fish. You can get a rod licence from any post office, or you can buy one online from the Environment Agency website using the web link on the right.
In addition to a rod licence, you will also need to get a permit or 'day ticket' from the local landowner or angling club that has fishing rights over the particular stretch of water you want to fish on. The Environment Agency angling website has details of local angling clubs in Leeds, as well as fishing events happening in your local area.
You can also join the British Waterways 'Waterway Wanderers' scheme for a small daily or annual fee, which allows you to fish on 45 miles of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, as well as 200 miles of other waterways in the North of England. Visit the British Waterways 'Waterscape' website for details.