River guide
River Wharfe in West Yorkshire
12 checked stretches so far — day tickets, club waters and guest tickets, each checked against the club's own pages.
The lowdown
The River Wharfe here is a scenic Wharfedale fishery near Addingham, Farfield Hall and the Dales Way. This AAA water is known for brown trout and grayling, with fly and bait fishing available under the club’s rules.
The Addingham Angling Association has managed the stretch since local anglers established the club in 1983. With riverside footpaths, signed bank limits and livestock in the surrounding fields, it’s a proper countryside bit of the Wharfe to explore.
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.
River Wharfe at Addingham
River Wharfe · Day ticket or members
A cracking Wharfedale trout-and-grayling stretch near Addingham, with the main fishery running from above the Bolton Road pumping station down to Olicana Caravan Park. Much of it is double bank, and day tickets are available online — but numbers are tight, so don’t leave it until the last minute.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
River Wharfe at Ilkley
River Wharfe · Day ticket
A cracking, scenic mile of the River Wharfe at Ilkley, running from the old packhorse bridge downstream to the noticeboard below Ben Rhydding stepping stones. It’s characterful water with pools, glides and rapids, and fishing on both banks for most or all of the stretch.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
Bolton Abbey Estate Fishery, River Wharfe
River Wharfe · Day ticket or members
A cracking five-mile estate stretch of the River Wharfe, running from Barden Bridge to Kex Beck. Bolton Abbey Estate offers varied fishing across six beats, with proper spate-river character, wild and stocked brown trout, and grayling in the mix.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
River Wharfe at Burnsall, Appletreewick and Barden
River Wharfe · Members or guests
A cracking six-plus-mile run of the Wharfe, stretching from near Linton stepping stones down to Barden Bridge. ABBAC’s water is mainly double bank, with proper upland fly water, limestone scenery and a lovely mix of pools, glides, riffles and pocket water.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
River Wharfe at Pool
River Wharfe · Day ticket
A cracking four-mile run of the River Wharfe around Pool-in-Wharfedale, run by Leeds & District ASA. It’s a mixed coarse and trout venue, with the left bank fishing from the Washburn down to the bottom-limit car park.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
River Wharfe at Linton
River Wharfe · Club members
A cracking half-mile of River Wharfe at Linton, run outright by Leeds and District Angling Society. It’s a year-book-holders-only venue, with coarse and trout fishing beside the village edge.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
River Wharfe at Easedike
River Wharfe · Club members
Easedike is a rural River Wharfe fishery above Tadcaster, run by Leeds & District ASA. It’s a left-bank stretch for year-book holders only, with access via Easedike Farm.
Species not listed by the club.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
Wharfe Bank Fishing, Ulleskelf
River Wharfe · Guided sessions by booking
Wharfe Bank Fishing offers guided barbel sessions on a private, mature stretch of the River Wharfe at Ulleskelf near Tadcaster. There are two private pegs, with winter pike sessions also available — proper handy if you fancy a relaxed day with the river to yourself.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
River Wharfe at Wray Wood, Boston Spa
River Wharfe · Members only
Wray Wood is a proper 1,200-yard coarse-fishing stretch on the River Wharfe near Boston Spa, run by Bingley Angling Club. It’s a members’ water with a cracking head of barbel, plus big chub and perch to keep things interesting.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
Kilnsey Angling Club — River Wharfe beats at Kilnsey and Upper Wharfedale
River Wharfe · Day ticket or members
A cracking chunk of Upper Wharfedale water, with Kilnsey Angling Club beats around Kilnsey, Kettlewell, Starbotton, Hubberholme and Beckermonds. Expect proper upland scenery, streamy runs, deep pools and slow glides, with wild trout above Kettlewell Bridge and annually stocked water below it.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
River Wharfe at Kearby
River Wharfe · Members only
Kearby is a cracking, rural stretch of the River Wharfe run by Leeds & District ASA. It’s around 800 metres of left-bank fishing, with the water described as suitable for both coarse and trout fishing.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
River Wharfe at Otley
River Wharfe · Members only
A proper club-controlled stretch of the Wharfe through Otley, running from above Otley Bridge down to Caley Lodge on Pool Road. It’s varied flowing water with trout and grayling the main targets, plus a few other Wharfe favourites in the mix.
Checked 9 Oct 2026
Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.
Access & tickets
Day ticket
Addingham Angling Association
Available to non-members online in advance. Maximum normally two per day; three additional tickets may be available for Addingham parish residents under the club constitution.
£15 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: River Wharfe at Addingham
Members and guests
Addingham Angling Association
Members may fish, and night fishing is permitted for members and their guests only.
Covers: River Wharfe at Addingham
Adult day permit
Ilkley Angling Association
Day ticket for visitors and Ilkley residents
£11 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: River Wharfe at Ilkley
Junior under-16 and invalidity day permit
Ilkley Angling Association
Day ticket
£5.50 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: River Wharfe at Ilkley
Senior-citizen day permit
Ilkley Angling Association
Day ticket
£7.15 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: River Wharfe at Ilkley
Adult week permit
Ilkley Angling Association
Week permit
£50 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: River Wharfe at Ilkley
Senior-citizen week permit
Ilkley Angling Association
Week permit
£33 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: River Wharfe at Ilkley
Day ticket
Bolton Abbey Estate
Available to non-members from 1 June to 14 March. Up to six available per day; full estate water included.
£80 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: Bolton Abbey Estate Fishery, River Wharfe
Membership
Bolton Abbey Estate
Bolton Abbey Estate fishery membership.
£500 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: Bolton Abbey Estate Fishery, River Wharfe
Club membership
Appletreewick, Barden and Burnsall Angling Club (ABBAC)
Membership is limited to 120 ordinary members and gives access throughout the trout and grayling season.
Covers: River Wharfe at Burnsall, Appletreewick and Barden
Guest ticket
Appletreewick, Barden and Burnsall Angling Club (ABBAC)
Members can purchase a limited number of guest tickets, subject to club arrangements. No current public guest-ticket price is published.
Covers: River Wharfe at Burnsall, Appletreewick and Barden
Day-member tariff
Leeds and District Amalgamated Society of Anglers
Leeds & District ASA day-member tariff
£7 per day (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: River Wharfe at Pool
Non-member day ticket
Leeds and District Amalgamated Society of Anglers
Available from the Pool petrol station or Angling & Country Sport in Otley
Covers: River Wharfe at Pool
Annual year-book
Leeds and District Angling Society (Leeds & District ASA)
Required for fishing this stretch; year-book holders only.
Covers: River Wharfe at Linton
Environment Agency rod licence
Leeds and District Angling Society (Leeds & District ASA)
Additionally required in England.
Covers: River Wharfe at Linton
ASA year book
Leeds and District Amalgamated Society of Anglers
Year-book holders only; anglers only are permitted.
Covers: River Wharfe at Easedike
Four-hour guided session
Wharfe Bank Fishing
Guided fishing session for up to two anglers. Book through the online availability calendar.
Covers: Wharfe Bank Fishing, Ulleskelf
Eight-hour guided session
Wharfe Bank Fishing
Longer guided fishing session for up to two anglers. Book through the online availability calendar.
Covers: Wharfe Bank Fishing, Ulleskelf
Adult Bingley Angling Club membership
Bingley Angling Club
Full club membership and yearbook required; current adult membership is £38 plus a £5 entry fee for new members.
£38, plus £5 entry fee for new members (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: River Wharfe at Wray Wood, Boston Spa
Senior Bingley Angling Club membership
Bingley Angling Club
Full club membership and yearbook required; senior membership is for the stated senior category.
£25, plus £5 entry fee where applicable (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: River Wharfe at Wray Wood, Boston Spa
Junior or guest access
Bingley Angling Club
Junior membership under age 16 is £12 plus the £5 entry fee where applicable. Guest tickets are £10, require an accompanying club member and are limited to two visits per calendar year.
Junior: £12, plus £5 entry fee where applicable; guest: £10 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: River Wharfe at Wray Wood, Boston Spa
Adult day ticket
Kilnsey Angling Club
For anglers aged 36 and over. Available in advance through the club website or in person each morning at Café by the Lake.
£40 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: Kilnsey Angling Club — River Wharfe beats at Kilnsey and Upper Wharfedale
Intermediate day ticket
Kilnsey Angling Club
For anglers aged 18 to 35. Intermediate tickets can only be bought on the day.
£20 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: Kilnsey Angling Club — River Wharfe beats at Kilnsey and Upper Wharfedale
2026 adult ASA yearbook
Leeds and District Amalgamated Society of Anglers
Leeds & District ASA yearbook holder access
£70 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: River Wharfe at Kearby
2026 senior ASA yearbook
Leeds and District Amalgamated Society of Anglers
Leeds & District ASA yearbook holder access
£42 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: River Wharfe at Kearby
2026 disabled ASA yearbook
Leeds and District Amalgamated Society of Anglers
Leeds & District ASA yearbook holder access
£41 (as listed 09/10/2026)
Covers: River Wharfe at Kearby
Otley Angling Club membership
Otley Angling Club
Required for this membership-only River Wharfe stretch. No public day tickets are issued.
Covers: River Wharfe at Otley
Environment Agency rod licence
Otley Angling Club
Required in addition to club permission.
Covers: River Wharfe at Otley
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.
● named by the club for this stretch · ●* named across the club's waters · blank = not named (not "absent").
Rules — who runs what
Day tickets are available to non-members through the Addingham Angling Association website and must be purchased in advance online. The day-ticket price is £15; the club normally issues a maximum of two per day, with three additional tickets potentially available for Addingham parish residents under the club constitution.
Club pageDay tickets are available to visitors and Ilkley residents. Buy online through the Ilkley Angling Association website, or from the Riverside Hotel and bar, Ilkley Town Hall visitor information office or Otley Angling Centre.
Club pageBolton Abbey Estate
Day tickets are available to non-members, with up to six available per day. The estate’s current official day-ticket price is £80; membership is £500.
Appletreewick, Barden and Burnsall Angling Club (ABBAC)
The water is run by Appletreewick, Barden and Burnsall Angling Club (ABBAC). There are no day or weekly tickets; access is through club membership, a member’s guest ticket, or an authorised pupil or guide arrangement.
Club pageLeeds and District Amalgamated Society of Anglers
Get a yearbook through the society’s membership arrangements; membership runs from January 1 to December 31, with no joining fee and postage and packing included in published yearbook prices. Fishing can begin immediately after payment, using your PayPal receipt as membership evidence.
Club pageLeeds and District Angling Society (Leeds & District ASA)
Fishing is through the Leeds and District Angling Society annual year-book system. No official ticket price is published; contact Leeds and District Angling Society for current year-book arrangements.
Club pageWharfe Bank Fishing
Bookings are made through Wharfe Bank Fishing’s online availability calendar. The cottage provides exclusive access to the two private pegs for guests, with four-hour and eight-hour sessions available.
Tickets can be bought through Bingley Angling Club’s online shop, from listed tackle shops or from Crossflatts newsagents. Buy one before fishing starts and keep the receipt with you.
Club pageDay tickets are available in advance through the Kilnsey Angling Club website, or in person each morning at Café by the Lake within Kilnsey Park Estate, Kilnsey, Skipton BD23 5PS. Visitor numbers are limited at the club representative’s discretion, and beats are normally allocated between 09:00 and 10:00.
Club pageOtley Angling Club controls the stretch and its waters are membership-only. Check otleyanglingclub.co.uk or contact the club before travelling to confirm membership, access and current rules.
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
Addingham 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
Ilkley 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
Netherside Hall 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 9 Oct 2026
- GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fish
- Addingham Angling Association — home (addinghamfishing.org)
- Ilkley Angling Association — river wharfe at ilkley game (ilkleyanglingassociation.co.uk)
- Bolton Abbey Estate — home (boltonabbey.com)
- Appletreewick, Barden and Burnsall Angling Club (ABBAC) — home (abbac.co.uk)
- Leeds and District Amalgamated Society of Anglers — home (leedsdasa.co.uk)
- Leeds and District Angling Society (Leeds & District ASA) — home (leedsdasa.co.uk)
- Wharfe Bank Fishing — home (wharfebankfishing.com)
- Bingley Angling Club — river aire bingley (bingleyanglingclub.co.uk)
- Kilnsey Angling Club — home (kilnseyanglingclub.co.uk)
- Otley Angling Club — home (otleyanglingclub.co.uk)
Rules, prices and ticket availability change — the rights holder's own page always wins.