River Wye – Belmont – Tennis Courts

The lowdown

• The top end starts immediately below the Old Wye Bridge in Hereford. There’s a deep hole below the bridge, so this isn’t one uniform run of water from the off.
• Follow the long bend and the inside gradually shallows. That change from the bridge hole to shallower water is the key bit of character here — worth keeping in mind when choosing your swim.
• The opposite north bank carries the deeper water and the main push of flow. Don’t picture the inside bend as the main channel: the two sides have quite different jobs.
• When the river is high, the inside bend gives fish shelter from the stronger water. That’s a proper useful feature to understand, rather than simply looking for the deepest bit.
• Summer brings chub, barbel and carp into the picture as the association’s named targets. There’s a decent choice there, with the bridge hole and changing bend giving the stretch its shape.
• Come autumn and winter, the named line-up shifts to roach, perch, bleak, chub and dace. Large pike are present too, so the colder-month interest certainly isn’t all about the smaller fish.
• Below Victoria footbridge, a shallow riffle leads to a swim accessible by wheelchair or mobility scooter. That’s a specific accessible swim, rather than a promise about access along the whole stretch.
• For the car, Wye Street offers pay-and-display parking with a short riverside walk. St Martin’s is the association’s alternative pay-and-display option. Get your ticket sorted beforehand — there’s no buying one on the bank.

Methods: Make swim choice the starting point: the deep bridge hole, shallowing inside bend and stronger opposite-bank flow are the main features. Match your target to the season, with chub, barbel and carp named for summer and a different mix coming into autumn and winter.

Access & tickets

Get your ticket before heading onto a peg — there are no bank sales. Outlets include Woody’s Angling Centre and Rock’s Angling in Hereford, plus Docklow Tackle and Alan’s Fishing Tackle.

Fish the club names

chub, barbel, carp, roach, perch, pike

Key rules

• Buy your ticket before fishing; none are sold on the bank.
• Day-ticket fishing is sunrise until sunset only; night fishing is restricted to adult association members.
• A maximum of two rods is permitted, and rods must never be left unattended.
• The published coarse season is June 16–March 14 inclusive.
• Return all fish: the association operates a zero-kill policy.
• Braided hook links are prohibited.
• Do not fish from bridges or their piers.
• No fires, and take all litter home.

River level

Where it is