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 bye-law.
- Bala beat rules: fly ( including nymphs/bugs) only during salmon season. Trotting
with worm permitted from October 18th until March 2nd. No spinning at any time. No
maggots or ground baiting – NRW bye-law.
- 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.