Brompton-on-Swale beat, River Swale

The lowdown

• A cracking 1.12 km (0.7-mile) stretch, covering the official pegs 28–35. Plenty of water to explore without it feeling like a tiny little postage stamp.
• The north bank runs downstream from Bailey Bridge to Skeeby Beck. The south bank heads downstream from Bailey Bridge to Brompton Scar, so there’s a fair bit of river to get your head around.
• This is proper lively Swale water. It’s fast-flowing and flood-prone, so keep an eye on conditions and treat the flow with respect. A bit of colour could make things interesting.
• It’s listed as fly and coarse fishing. Below Lowenthwaite Bridge, any legal method is allowed under the rules, giving you scope for both fly work and coarse approaches.
• The society names wild brown trout, grayling, chub, dace, barbel and pike among its River Swale species. A cracking mix, from streamy trout and grayling water to bigger coarse fish possibilities.
• There’s free parking in the Brompton-on-Swale lay-by. You can also use the grass verge by the gate at Bailey Bridge Lane. For the south bank, access is via St Giles Farm off the A6136 Catterick Garrison road.
• At St Giles Farm, park by the fence as signed. Simple enough, but don’t faff about with gates — they must be closed after access. Dogs, fires, barbecues, littering and discarded tackle are all banned.
• The booked-day window is 6:00am to 10:00pm, and night fishing isn’t permitted under the day-ticket terms. Each angler needs their own permit, with no day-ticket concessions.
• Keep it tidy and fish-friendly: all fish go back alive, no keep nets, and only single-pointed barbless or nipped barbed hooks. Double and treble hooks are prohibited. Bring a disgorger and an EA-compliant knotless landing net.

Methods: It’s fly and coarse fishing water, with any legal method allowed below Lowenthwaite Bridge under the rules. The fast flow and flood-prone nature of the Swale are the big things to bear in mind.

Access & tickets

RADAS day permits are available to visiting anglers at £12.50 per angler. Each angler must purchase an individual permit; there are no day-ticket concessions.

Fish the club names

trout, barbel, chub, pike, perch

Named by Richmond & District Angling Society (RADAS) across its waters, not for this stretch on its own.

Key rules

• A valid Environment Agency rod licence is required.
• A catch return is required after every day-ticket session, including nil returns.
• All fish must be handled carefully and returned alive. No fish may be killed or removed.
• Trout season is 25 March to 30 September inclusive. Coarse fish and grayling season is 16 June to 14 March inclusive. The river is closed to all fishing from 15 March to 24 March.
• No more than two rods may be used at one time.
• Only single-pointed barbless or nipped barbed hooks are allowed. Double and treble hooks are prohibited.
• Keep nets are not allowed. Knotless, Environment Agency-compliant landing nets are required, and anglers must carry a disgorger.
• Dogs, fires, barbecues, littering and discarded tackle are prohibited. Gates must be closed after access. Pike anglers must use wire traces, an unhooking mat and long-handled forceps.

River level

Where it is