North Wales
The Welsh Dee is the anchor of North Wales fishing — around 70 miles long, rated among the finest grayling rivers in Europe (it's hosted the World Championships and hosts the annual Hanak Grayling Festival), with salmon, sea trout and wild brown trout throughout. The record for the largest salmon ever caught on the river, 61lb, came from Drum Pool near Llangollen, still the heart of the river's fishing.
Away from the Dee, North Wales offers real variety in a small area: the Conwy and Clwyd for sea trout ("sewin" in Welsh) and brown trout, a genuinely large number of upland lakes from small dry-fly waters to the 920-acre Llyn Brenig, and the Anglesey coastline for sea trout, bass and mackerel on the fly.
Rivers
River Dee (Afon Dyfrdwy)
Rises in Snowdonia, flows through Bala, Llangollen and Chester towards the Dee Estuary. One of the best grayling rivers in Europe by reputation, plus salmon, sea trout and wild brown trout. Trout season 3 March–30 September; grayling season 16 June–14 March.
Grayling · Salmon · TroutRiver Conwy
Runs from Snowdonia to the sea at Conwy — well known for sea trout ("sewin"), though its rapidly changing water levels make it a genuinely tricky river to read. Brown trout fishing is good when conditions align.
Sea trout · TroutRiver Clwyd & River Elwy
The Clwyd, near Ruthin, is rated among the best brown trout rivers in Wales, with its tributary the Elwy also holding sea trout and salmon in its quieter lower stretches.
Brown troutLakes & reservoirs
Llyn Brenig
At 920 acres with 14 miles of shoreline, widely considered one of the best top-of-the-water fly fisheries in the whole of the UK. Mainly rainbow trout, with brown and tiger trout too, and boats available.
Rainbow troutLlyn Tegid (Bala Lake)
Wales's largest natural lake, offering genuine wild coarse fishing alongside its game fishing reputation — a rare combination for North Wales.
Coarse · TroutAlwen Reservoir
A 368-acre stocked rainbow trout water with a good head of perch too, fished from wooded, sheltered banks.
Rainbow trout · PerchLlyn Crafnant & Llyn Geirionydd
Twin lakes in the Gwydir Forest above Llanrwst — rainbow and wild brown trout in scenic, sheltered surroundings, popular with dry-fly anglers.
TroutCoast
Anglesey (Ynys Môn)
North Wales's best sea fishing coastline — sea trout, bass and mackerel all catchable on the fly, with an intricate coastline of caves, coves and beaches, plus kayak fishing for pollock.
General guide only — always confirm current club membership, day-ticket availability, season dates and any local byelaws directly with the relevant angling club or Natural Resources Wales before fishing.
Check today's conditions for North Wales →