River guide
River Wear in County Durham
12 checked stretches so far — day tickets, club waters and guest tickets, each checked against the club's own pages.
The lowdown
This River Wear water is in County Durham, near Durham City, with Finchale Abbey providing fishing permits for its own stretch. The fishing runs for approximately two miles along the Abbey bank.
The river here is described as a mix of long streamy runs, glides and deep holes. Named fish include salmon, sea trout, brown trout, barbel, chub, dace, grayling, gudgeon and eels.
Close season reminder
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 fishStretches
12 of 12 checked stretches. No rankings — we don't know which is "best" on your day, and neither does anyone else.
Finchale Abbey River Wear fishing stretch
River Wear · Day ticket
A cracking two-mile River Wear stretch near Durham City, with a mile of fishing either side of Finchale Abbey. It’s Abbey-bank only, with day tickets available and a proper mix of streamy runs, glides and deeper holes.
Checked 10 Oct 2026
Chester-le-Street Park stretch, River Wear
River Wear · Day ticket or club members
A handy urban River Wear day-ticket stretch through Chester-le-Street Riverside Park, run by Chester-le-Street & District Angling Club. It fishes from the Cong Burn upstream to Crichton Avenue, with access on the Park side only.
Species not listed by the club.
Checked 10 Oct 2026
Bishop Auckland Town Water, River Wear
River Wear · Day ticket or members
Bishop Auckland Town Water is BADAC’s urban River Wear stretch, running along the north bank from the Dam Head and rugby-club area under Newton Cap towards Dial Stob Hill and Auckland Palace. A handy town-side bit of Wear with access around Dam Head, Newton Cap Bank and Dial Stob Hill.
Checked 10 Oct 2026
Willington River Wear stretch
River Wear · Members only
Willington & District Angling Club controls around 5.5 miles of River Wear water near Willington and Newfield. It’s primarily game fishing, with brown trout, grayling, salmon and sea trout on the club’s menu.
Checked 11 Oct 2026
Hunwick & Newfield, River Wear
River Wear · Members only
A mixed game-and-coarse River Wear fishery between Hunwick and Newfield, run by Ferryhill & District Angling Club. There’s roughly 950m at Newfield and another 180m at Hunwick — a proper chunk of club water.
Checked 11 Oct 2026
Witton-le-Wear to Croxdale River Wear beats
River Wear · Club members or visitors where available
A proper long run of managed game water, stretching from just below Witton-le-Wear down to Croxdale outside Durham City. It sits within Bishop Auckland District Angling Club’s wider River Wear beat system, with named pools and rural Wear scenery along the way.
Checked 11 Oct 2026
Chester-le-Street & District Angling Club lower River Wear beats
River Wear · Day ticket or members
The lower River Wear beats around Chester-le-Street are the club’s first accessible non-tidal water, with pools, runs and gravelly bits aimed at migratory and resident game fish. It’s urban in places, but still a proper bit of Wear with salmon and sea-trout water in the mix.
Checked 11 Oct 2026
Prebends & Cathedral Waters, River Wear
River Wear · Members only
Prebends & Cathedral Waters is a cracking central-Durham stretch, wrapped around the peninsula beneath Durham Castle and Cathedral. It’s deep, slow and properly picturesque, with steep wooded valley sides and a cracking World Heritage Site backdrop.
Checked 11 Oct 2026
Stanhope Gauging Station to Rookhope Burn, Eastgate
River Wear · Day ticket
A cracking upland stretch of the River Wear, running from Stanhope Gauging Station upstream to Rookhope Burn at Eastgate. It’s day-ticket game water for wild brown trout, with sea trout and salmon also on the list.
Checked 11 Oct 2026
Maiden Castle River Wear
River Wear · Members only
Maiden Castle is a proper double-bank River Wear stretch near Shincliffe and Durham, run by Durham City Angling Club. It’s club-members-only, with brown trout, chub, roach, dace and an improving barbel presence.
Checked 11 Oct 2026
Valley Burn to Nicky Nack Beck, River Wear
River Wear · Members only
A proper club stretch on the Wear, running from Valley Burn to Nicky Nack Beck. It’s mixed water, with game and coarse fishing, but this is members-only rather than a day-ticket doddle.
Checked 11 Oct 2026
Shincliffe Village and Shincliffe Hall Water
River Wear · Members only
A cracking bit of Wear water at Shincliffe, split into the shallow, fast upper section and the deeper, wooded lower Hall-to-Rose Tree stretch. It’s club water with brown trout, grayling and a few proper cheeky surprises when conditions line up.
Checked 11 Oct 2026
Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.
Access & tickets
2025 adult day ticket
Finchale Abbey
Includes car parking.
£15 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: Finchale Abbey River Wear fishing stretch
2025 child day ticket
Finchale Abbey
For children aged 14 and under.
£8 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: Finchale Abbey River Wear fishing stretch
Season ticket
Finchale Abbey
Available for adults or children. Season-ticket holders pay £2 for car parking per visit.
£110 per year (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: Finchale Abbey River Wear fishing stretch
Park day ticket
Chester-le-Street & District Angling Club
Advance purchase required through Riverside Leisure Complex or Chester-le-Street Leisure Centre.
£3.65 per day (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: Chester-le-Street Park stretch, River Wear
2026 Park Membership
Chester-le-Street & District Angling Club
Park Membership has no stated limit. A dedicated Park Membership Rule Book is provided by the club.
£40 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: Chester-le-Street Park stretch, River Wear
Salmon and sea-trout day ticket
Bishop Auckland & District Angling Club
BADAC published ticket table
£35 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: Bishop Auckland Town Water, River Wear
Brown-trout day ticket
Bishop Auckland & District Angling Club
BADAC published ticket table
£10 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: Bishop Auckland Town Water, River Wear
Grayling day ticket
Bishop Auckland & District Angling Club
BADAC published ticket table
£10 (as listed 10/10/2026)
Covers: Bishop Auckland Town Water, River Wear
Club membership
Willington & District Angling Club
The water is principally membership-based; public day tickets are not advertised in the checked information.
Covers: Willington River Wear stretch
2026 senior FDAC membership
Ferryhill & District Angling Club
Ordinary club-water fishing membership
£60 (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Hunwick & Newfield, River Wear
2026 intermediate FDAC membership
Ferryhill & District Angling Club
FDAC membership
£25 (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Hunwick & Newfield, River Wear
2026 junior FDAC membership
Ferryhill & District Angling Club
FDAC membership
£10 (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Hunwick & Newfield, River Wear
2026 full adult membership
Bishop Auckland District Angling Club
Fishing on club waters for salmon, sea trout, brown trout and grayling. Valid 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026.
£190 (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Witton-le-Wear to Croxdale River Wear beats
Junior membership
Bishop Auckland District Angling Club
Junior options are available, with conditions set out on the club’s booking system.
Covers: Witton-le-Wear to Croxdale River Wear beats
Visitor access
Bishop Auckland District Angling Club
Third-party listings indicate visitor day-ticket availability, but no current day-ticket price for this exact beat is published on the rights holder’s accessible pages.
Covers: Witton-le-Wear to Croxdale River Wear beats
Day permit
Chester-le-Street & District Angling Club
Day permits are referenced by the club through its fishing maps and day-permit information. Check current availability and access arrangements directly with the club.
Covers: Chester-le-Street & District Angling Club lower River Wear beats
Full club membership
Chester-le-Street & District Angling Club
The club publishes a full-membership rule book. Membership access is controlled by club rules.
Covers: Chester-le-Street & District Angling Club lower River Wear beats
Senior membership
Durham City Angling Club
Durham City Angling Club membership
£75 senior (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Prebends & Cathedral Waters, River Wear
Retired membership
Durham City Angling Club
Durham City Angling Club membership
£50 retired (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Prebends & Cathedral Waters, River Wear
Intermediate membership
Durham City Angling Club
Durham City Angling Club membership
£30 intermediate (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Prebends & Cathedral Waters, River Wear
Three-year membership
Durham City Angling Club
Durham City Angling Club membership
£200 three-year (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Prebends & Cathedral Waters, River Wear
Five-year membership
Durham City Angling Club
Durham City Angling Club membership
£330 five-year (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Prebends & Cathedral Waters, River Wear
Day permit
Weardale Fly Fishers Club
Available to non-members from Stanhope Newsagents, Front Street, Stanhope.
Covers: Stanhope Gauging Station to Rookhope Burn, Eastgate
Environment Agency rod licence
Weardale Fly Fishers Club
A current licence is required in addition to the fishery permit.
Covers: Stanhope Gauging Station to Rookhope Burn, Eastgate
2026 senior membership
Durham City Angling Club
Durham City Angling Club membership
£75 (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Maiden Castle River Wear
2026 retired membership
Durham City Angling Club
For anglers aged over 65
£50 (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Maiden Castle River Wear
2026 intermediate membership
Durham City Angling Club
For ages 17 to 21
£30 (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Maiden Castle River Wear
Three-year membership
Durham City Angling Club
Durham City Angling Club membership
£200 (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Maiden Castle River Wear
Five-year membership
Durham City Angling Club
Durham City Angling Club membership
£330 (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Maiden Castle River Wear
Junior membership
Durham City Angling Club
Free up to the 17th birthday
free (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Maiden Castle River Wear
2026 senior membership
Ferryhill & District Angling Club
Ferryhill & District Angling Club membership
£60 (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Valley Burn to Nicky Nack Beck, River Wear
2026 OAP membership
Ferryhill & District Angling Club
Ferryhill & District Angling Club membership
£35 (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Valley Burn to Nicky Nack Beck, River Wear
2026 disabled membership
Ferryhill & District Angling Club
Ferryhill & District Angling Club membership
£40 (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Valley Burn to Nicky Nack Beck, River Wear
2026 intermediate membership
Ferryhill & District Angling Club
Ferryhill & District Angling Club membership
£25 (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Valley Burn to Nicky Nack Beck, River Wear
2026 junior membership
Ferryhill & District Angling Club
Ferryhill & District Angling Club membership
£10 (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Valley Burn to Nicky Nack Beck, River Wear
2026 associate membership
Ferryhill & District Angling Club
Ferryhill & District Angling Club membership
£5 (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Valley Burn to Nicky Nack Beck, River Wear
2026 senior membership
Durham City Angling Club
Durham City Angling Club membership; memberships currently suspended according to the club’s 2026 website notice.
£75 (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Shincliffe Village and Shincliffe Hall Water
2026 retired membership
Durham City Angling Club
Durham City Angling Club membership; memberships currently suspended according to the club’s 2026 website notice.
£50 (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Shincliffe Village and Shincliffe Hall Water
2026 intermediate, junior and guest permits
Durham City Angling Club
Intermediate membership is available for £30, junior membership is free subject to the club’s conditions, and guest permits need authorisation through the online system or Membership Secretary. Each member may have up to two guest permits per day and three per membership year.
£30; free junior membership; guest permit price not stated (as listed 11/10/2026)
Covers: Shincliffe Village and Shincliffe Hall Water
Species
We only tag a stretch with a fish when the club names it. Some clubs name fish across all their water rather than stretch by stretch — those are flagged on the card.
| Stretch | Carp | Tench | Bream | Roach | Pike | Perch | Barbel | Catfish | Trout | Rudd | Chub | Crucian carp | Eel | Zander |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finchale Abbey River Wear fishing stretch | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Chester-le-Street Park stretch, River Wear | ||||||||||||||
| Bishop Auckland Town Water, River Wear | ●* | |||||||||||||
| Willington River Wear stretch | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* | ●* |
| Hunwick & Newfield, River Wear | ● | |||||||||||||
| Witton-le-Wear to Croxdale River Wear beats | ●* | ●* | ●* | |||||||||||
| Chester-le-Street & District Angling Club lower River Wear beats | ●* | |||||||||||||
| Prebends & Cathedral Waters, River Wear | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||||
| Stanhope Gauging Station to Rookhope Burn, Eastgate | ● | |||||||||||||
| Maiden Castle River Wear | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Valley Burn to Nicky Nack Beck, River Wear | ● | |||||||||||||
| Shincliffe Village and Shincliffe Hall Water | ● | ● | ● | ● |
● named by the club for this stretch · ●* named across the club's waters · blank = not named (not "absent").
Rules — who runs what
Finchale Abbey
Permits are provided by Finchale Abbey for its River Wear water. A valid Environment Agency rod licence must be produced before a permit is issued.
Chester-le-Street & District Angling Club
Day tickets are available for the Park stretch and cost £3.65 per day according to the club’s 2026 information. Buy in advance through Riverside Leisure Complex or Chester-le-Street Leisure Centre; 2026 Park Membership is £40.
Club pageBishop Auckland & District Angling Club
Visitors can fish BADAC waters by buying a day ticket through the club’s online booking system. The nearest postcode supplied on the Town Water map is DL14 7PA; an Environment Agency rod licence is also required.
Club pageWillington & District Angling Club
The water is principally membership-based, and the club does not advertise public day tickets in the checked information. Contact Willington & District Angling Club for current membership arrangements.
Club pageFerryhill & District Angling Club
FDAC membership is required for ordinary club-water fishing. The club’s 2026 membership prices are £60 senior, £25 intermediate, £10 junior, £35 OAP and £40 disabled. The club defines a temporary member as someone who has purchased a day ticket, but it does not publish a day-ticket price for Hunwick & Newfield.
Club pageBishop Auckland District Angling Club
The 2026 full adult membership costs £190 and runs from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026. Membership and the club rules and beat maps are handled through BADAC’s online booking system; current visitor access should be checked there too.
Club pageThere are no day tickets. Access is membership-based through Durham City Angling Club, which was formed in 1962.
Club pageDay permits for non-members are available from Stanhope Newsagents on Front Street, Stanhope. Ticket prices were not published, so check locally before setting off.
Club pageFished the river recently?
Pick the stretch you fished and add a 20-second update there — one stretch at a time keeps it useful.
Each stretch page lists its own key rules. You'll need an Environment Agency rod licence on all of them.
River levels
Measured readings straight from the Environment Agency. These are the nearest gauges we've matched — not readings from the stretches themselves.
Measured — Environment Agency
Chester-Le-Street gauge
Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.
Loading latest reading…
We don't publish an "ideal level" — nobody can promise one. Flood water is dangerous: if it's up and coloured, stay well back from the edge. Open River Ready
Measured — Environment Agency
Witton Park gauge
Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.
Loading latest reading…
We don't publish an "ideal level" — nobody can promise one. Flood water is dangerous: if it's up and coloured, stay well back from the edge. Open River Ready
Measured — Environment Agency
Durham New Elvet Bridge gauge
Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.
Loading latest reading…
We don't publish an "ideal level" — nobody can promise one. Flood water is dangerous: if it's up and coloured, stay well back from the edge. Open River Ready
Tips & reports
Our take (editorial, not club advice): on any decent-sized river, a lead that holds bottom without dragging is half the battle — go up in weight before you go up in bait. A bit of extra colour after rain often brings barbel and bream closer in, but a fast-rising, debris-filled river is dangerous; if in doubt, don't. Weather tools built for still lakes don't translate neatly to rivers, so we haven't bolted a lake-style weather score on here.
No angler reports on these stretches yet — we'll only show real ones once our moderated river reports are live.
Where this comes from · checked 10 Oct 2026
- GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fish
- Finchale Abbey — fishing (finchaleabbey.co.uk)
- Chester-le-Street & District Angling Club — home (chesterlestreetangling.org.uk)
- Bishop Auckland & District Angling Club — home (bishopaucklandanglingclub.com)
- Willington & District Angling Club — home (willingtondistrictanglingclub.com)
- Ferryhill & District Angling Club — home (ferryhillanddistrictanglingclub.com)
- Bishop Auckland District Angling Club — home (bishopaucklandanglingclub.com)
- Durham City Angling Club — home (durhamanglers.co.uk)
- explorenorthpennines.org.uk (explorenorthpennines.org.uk)
Rules, prices and ticket availability change — the rights holder's own page always wins.