Cymdeithas Genweirio Y Bala a’r Cylch

Bala and District Angling Association

 

Bala forecast

River levels

© Bala and District Angling Association 2022

River Dee.

 

The Dee is renowned for its grayling fishing especially in the upper reaches. Day tickets are available, BDAA has two beats, one at Bala and one on club owned water at Llandderfel.

 

•   Species present are brown trout, grayling, migrating salmon and sea trout along with minnows, bullhead and loaches. Pike, perch and roach are here in much lesser numbers, mainly at the Bala stretch.

 

•  Llandderfel rules are:  fly ( including nymphs//bugs), worm or spinner/lures permitted. No maggots or ground baiting – NRW byelaw.

 

•   Bala beat rules:During the salmon season fishing is with fly only (wet, dry, nymphs/bugs). Trotting with worm permitted from October 18th until March 2nd. No spinning at any time. No maggots or ground baiting – NRW byelaw.

 

•  Access to Llandderfel beat is convenient from the parking area by the road bridge at Llandderfel.

 

•   Bala beat access is from the road leading to the sewerage at Bala (track by the Tryweryn bridge). Space here for a few cars. Do not block access to sewerage works. Access from the lay by on the A494 near the turning for Llandderfel , approx ¾ mile from Bala in the Corwen direction. Steps give access to the river. Further access is from Aerfen farm where parking is permitted. Enter through the gate opposite the farm entrance and turn left along the rough track. Space for a couple of cars at the end of the track. Do not block the track as it is in constant use. Aerfen is approximately 400yds along the B4401 after the junction with the A494.

 

•   River levels can be checked by referring to NRW gauges here.   PDF file giving instructions here.

 

•   As a rough guide, levels of 0.3M are normal summer levels and fishing for grayling should be best at or around this level. The river is getting fresh at 0.45M and above 0.6M conditions become difficult. Salmon fishermen may favour higher than normal levels. At 1.0M and over the river is unsuitable and may be dangerous. These figures are guides only and NOT recommendations. They are for you to check river conditions before travelling.