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RiverDay ticket

Bala Beat, River Dee

Bala Beat is one of Bala and District Angling Association’s two River Dee beats, with day tickets available. It’s a proper upper-Dee job, especially noted for grayling, with brown trout, salmon and sea trout in the mix.

Run by Bala and District Angling Association · checked 11 Oct 2026 · boundaries only partly described by the club

River level

River level integration coming for this stretch.

The lowdown

  • This is the Bala beat, not the association’s Llandderfel water. Nice and clear on that one.
  • The upper Dee is especially renowned for grayling fishing. Around 0.3 m on the gauge is described as a normal summer level and can fish well for them.
  • Once the river pushes above 0.6 m, things get difficult. At 1.0 m or more, conditions may be unsuitable and dangerous, so check the NRW gauges before setting off.
  • Brown trout are in season from March 3 to September 30. Salmon run from March 3 to October 17, while coarse fish and grayling are in season from June 16 to March 14.
  • During the salmon season, Bala is fly-only. Wet fly, dry fly, nymphs and bugs are all permitted, giving you plenty of ways to cover the water.
  • Trotting with worm is allowed from October 18 to March 2. Spinning is banned on the Bala beat at all times, so leave the lures at home.
  • There are brown trout, grayling, migrating salmon and sea trout, plus minnows, bullhead and loaches. Pike, perch and roach also turn up in smaller numbers, mainly on this Bala stretch.
  • Access comes from the road to the sewage works by the Tryweryn bridge, with room for a few cars. Don’t block the sewage-works access — obvious really, but worth flagging.
  • You can also use the A494 lay-by near the Llandderfel turning, about three-quarters of a mile from Bala towards Corwen. Steps lead down to the river.
  • Aerfen Farm is another option. Go through the gate opposite the farm entrance, turn left along the rough track, and keep it clear — only a couple of cars fit at the end and the track is constantly used.

Methods: Fly fishing is the main game, with wet fly, dry fly, nymphs and bugs permitted during the salmon season. Outside that period, trotting with worm is allowed from October 18 to March 2; spinning, maggots and ground baiting are not permitted.

Access & tickets

Standard day ticket

Association waters

£17.50 (as listed 11 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Junior day ticket

Association waters

£2.50 (as listed 11 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Weekly ticket

Seven consecutive days

£50 (as listed 11 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Day tickets are available from Bala and District Angling Association. Check the association’s arrangements before travelling, and check NRW river gauges too.

Fish the club names

trout, barbel, pike, perch, roach, rudd, chub

Key rules

  • NRW rod licences are required.
  • Bala is fly-only during the salmon season.
  • Spinning is prohibited at all times on the Bala beat.
  • Trotting with worm is permitted from October 18 to March 2.
  • Maggots and ground baiting are prohibited under NRW byelaws.
  • The daily limit is two trout.
  • Brown trout retained must be at least 23 cm.
  • The daily grayling limit is two fish measuring 30–38 cm.
  • Salmon must be released.

Coarse fishing on English rivers is closed from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. That's the law for coarse fish on rivers — it's not a club rule, and game-fishing seasons work differently.

GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fish

Where it is

Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.

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