Fishermen of all persuasions would automatically link Norfolk with the Broads and large pike and bream. However, just like Ireland, Norfolk can boast of very pleasant trout fishing as well as big pike. Norfolk is mainly chalk so it thus will have its own chalk streams which contain trout –but mostly alongside considerable numbers of roach, chub, perch and dace with a few grayling and barbel for good measure-and of course pike and bream!
There are two main drainage systems, the Great Ouse which is fed by the streams flowing westward and the Yare system which is fed by streams flowing in western and southerly directions. All these systems end up as deep sluggish rivers so it’s the higher reaches that contain the trout. The Nar and Wissey flow into the Great Ouse and both have a good head of trout in their upper reaches and look like miniature River Tests with clear water, gravel beds and lots of water crowfoot swaying in the current. The Nar , above Narborough, is particularly pretty and contains a good head of trout-not very big but the odd 3 pounder does turn up from time to time. The Nar is mainly private but fishing can be found and there are some trout lakes fed by the Nar at Narborough .The Wissey is a bigger stream and lower down around Hilgay the odd 6 pounder has been taken-alas not on the fly but by coarse fishermen fishing for pike since these big trout feast on the shoals of small coarse fish. the upper reaches of all Norfolk chalk streams is not easy-lots of weeds in and alongside the stream itself plus lots of willows and alders to contend with-no manicured banks here!
The two main trout stretches of the streams flowing into the Yare system are parts of the Bure and Wensum. The Bure feeds the main Broads and by the time it gets to Wroxham is a mass of boatyards and holiday makers. But up at Itteringham and Blickling it is a very pretty trout stream and fishing is available.
The Wensum is a fine stream with a good flow in the spring and at Lyng and Lenwade looks just like the Itchen. The fishing here is very good but privately owned. . Further up at Bintree there is a very streamy stretch which can be fished-the mill owner told me that his father had a 9 pound trout out of the mill pond over 20 years ago. There are still big trout in the mill pools all the way down to Norwich where the Wensum becomes tidal and below Foundry Bridge by the Railway Station the river has been dredged to allow large boats to bring timber and coal up to Norwich in past times. Now it’s a river for pleasure boats only. However it was in this dredged stretch-not far from Carrow Road, the home of Norwich City FC, that only two years ago a pike fisherman hooked and landed a 23 lb sea trout. You can see from the picture that it is a whopper!
This proves that there are a few sea trout that visit both the Great Ouse and Yare systems. Sea trout are taken in the sea off Norfolk beaches and by the local fisherman. Most of these are thought to be heading north to the north eastern and Scottish rivers but some may run up two tiny trout streams in northeast Norfolk, the Glaven and the Stiffkey .Since both these streams rise in the highest part of Norfolk-a staggering 300 ft-and flow a few miles to the sea-the Glaven at Cley and the Stiffkey at Stiffkey-they have a good flow and are big enough to support a head of small trout. They are rarely fished and both streams run through private land.
So, if you are prepared to investigate there is some difficult, but rewarding, to be had in Norfolk in its own chalk streams. You will catch plenty of chub and dace and perhaps a trout or two! 
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