Golf Course Beat, River Dee

River level

The lowdown

• Access is from the A5 entrance to Vale of Llangollen Golf Course. Follow the road right down to the bottom overflow car park.
• Don’t cut across the golf course or greens. Park sensibly, keep gates and access clear, and shut gates behind you. Be courteous to the golfers — bob on.
• The Sun Pool is the headline swim: a deep, fast far-bank run sliding into a shallower gravel bottom. A classic salmon pool.
• There’s another deep holding pool that lends itself to spinning and fly fishing, plus the Big Stone and Little Stone — both noted salmon-holding water.
• Below the stones, the character changes. It’s mainly trout and grayling fishing, with varied runs and gravel-bottomed sections to work.
• The long meadow comes into its own for salmon when the river is carrying more water. Its tail is good fly water, while the run into Abercregan is described as excellent salmon fly water.
• Abercregan Pool is a deep run where fish can rest after pushing through the strong current. Worth a proper look when the river has a bit of colour and pace.
• The beat is fishable by all methods in general, but the Golf Course section is fly only under the rules. No bait fishing on the Abercregan section from Sun Pool to Abercregan House Pool.
• Spinning for trout and grayling is banned at all times. No night fishing either, except for sea trout. Salmon must be returned as quickly as possible under NRW byelaws.
• It’s a varied Dee beat rather than one single sort of swim: fast water, deep pools, gravel, salmon lies, trout and grayling. Plenty to keep you busy on the day.

Methods: Fly fishing is the key approach on the Golf Course section, with salmon fly water in the meadow tail and the run into Abercregan. The beat is described as fishable by all methods, but check the local restrictions carefully: no bait on the Abercregan section, and no spinning for trout or grayling.

Access & tickets

Day tickets can be bought online or from Watkin & Williams in Llangollen, Foxons Mile End Mill and Corwen Manor Fishing. Annual and intermediate memberships are also available through Llangollen Maelor Angling.

Fish the club names

trout, pike, chub

Key rules

• An NRW/EA rod licence is required.
• Carry your day ticket and show it to an authorised bailiff if asked.
• The Golf Course section is fly only.
• Bait fishing is prohibited on the Abercregan section from the Sun Pool to Abercregan House Pool.
• Spinning for trout and grayling is prohibited at all times.
• Salmon must be returned as quickly as possible under NRW byelaws.
• Dogs are not allowed on the association’s waters.
• Camping, fires, canoeing and launching boats require permission.
• Do not walk across the golf course or greens. Be courteous to golfers.

Where it is