A Westcountry system that changes character — and changes controller — as it runs off Exmoor through Tiverton to the sea at Exeter. The headwaters on Exmoor (Upper Exe, Little Exe, Barle and Haddeo) are classic small-river wild brown trout water with grayling and occasional migratory fish, controlled in large part by Dulverton Angling Association. The middle river is the Fish The Exe water — a collaboration between RETA (the River Exe and Tributaries Association), the Environment Agency and DAA that opens selected fly beats to salmon, trout and grayling. The lower river around Exeter is held by Exeter & District AA, with the tidal Countess Wear stretch firmly a tidal coarse fishery (bream, dace, roach, chub, mullet) rather than fly-game water. Salmon should be treated as conservation-sensitive throughout: the Exe sits in the EA's at-risk cohort, and Fish The Exe operates 100% catch-and-release with no trebles. Atlantic salmon are assessed by the Environment Agency against each river's Conservation Limit — many principal rivers are classed 'at risk' with mandatory catch-and-release byelaws; check current rules before fishing.

• Mixed