If you are a keen angler, there is nowhere better to go fly fishing than North Wales. Many of the region's lakes, rivers & coastal destinations are teeming with trout, salmon, carp, grayling & bass, ensuring that you are almost certain to go home with a prized catch at any time of the year.

Irrespective of whether you are a beginner or an experienced angler, you are sure to find a destination that is perfect for you to enjoy a spot of fly fishing in North Wales amidst beautiful natural surroundings. 

With many of the holiday home owners at Bryn Defaid being keen anglers, we thought we’d put together a guide to fly fishing in North Wales so that you know where to go, what to take & at what time of year you are best to do it. 

Best Destinations for Fly Fishing in North Wales

There are plenty of great destinations for fly fishing in North Wales made up of rivers, lakes and coastal hotspots. 

When it comes to rivers, the River Dee is probably your best bet if you are looking to catch trout, grayling or salmon. The Llangollen Maelor Angling Club controls roughly 10 miles of the river near the picturesque town of Llangollen in a location which has been classified as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With tariffs starting from £24 per day, it isn’t the cheapest fly fishing spot in North Wales but there is a significantly higher chance of making a prized catch here when compared to other fishing spots along the river. 

If you would prefer a lakeside fishing spot, then you may want to consider Bala Lake which is also fed by the River Dee. This 3.7 mile long and 0.5 mile wide body of water is the largest natural lake in North Wales and an idyllic spot for a day of angling. As it is fed by the River Dee, you can expect to find plenty of brown trout and pike here. You are most likely to have a successful day here if you go fishing in spring and early summer. These are also the points in the year when the river is at its most spectacular in terms of surroundings. 

Moving away from the River Dee and towards the Irish Sea, any anglers who prefer a coastal destination may want to choose a spot on the Llŷn Peninsula. Gimblet Rock is one of the most popular fishing locations here with there being plenty of different species inhabiting the clean waters here. Rays, bream, bass, mackerel, huss and dogfish are just a few of the species you are likely to catch here, with the nearby town of Pwllheli offering anglers plenty of welcome facilities made up of cafes, restaurants and even angling shops where you can source any supplies. 

This is of course home to our sister resort, Gimblet Rock Holiday Park. Feel free to pay our team a visit here and take a look around while you are in the area. 

Best Time to Go Fly Fishing in North Wales

The best time of year to go fly fishing in North Wales is largely dependent on the species you are looking to catch.

Spring tends to be a good time of year to catch trout, as the waters warm up and fly hatches increase. Dry flies and nymphs tend to be the most effective bait to consider during this period.

As you head into the summer months it is sea trout who become one of the most populous species. At this point of the year it tends to be late evening which is the optimum time to go fly fishing in North Wales, with wet flies and streamers tending to be the best bait to utilise. 

If you are specifically aiming to catch salmon, then it is Autumn which is the best time of year to go fly fishing in North Wales, as they move upstream in the rivers around the region to spawn. Heavy nymphs or streamer patterns tend to be the most effective bait to consider if you are looking for a prized catch. 

Heading into the less hospitable winter months, those of you who are brave enough to take on the cooler conditions will find that grayling are the most common species during this time of year, particularly in rivers such as the aforementioned Dee. Nymphing techniques tend to be the best option for catching such species.

Have We Missed Something?

If you are an experienced angler who has been fly fishing in North Wales and feels that we are missing something, then please let us know. We aim to bring our holiday home owners the best advice so that they can make the most of their passions.