Fishing Seasons and Permitted Methods
This is a guide only.
Full details of national byelaws are to be found on the Environment Agency website, including what methods are legal or not; click here
Please note that all salmon caught before June 15th must be released.
You are always encouraged to release all fish and to use barbless hooks.
The size limit for salmon is 30cm, bag limit two.
The size limit for sea and brown trout is 23cm; (21cm in Gwynedd area)
Seasons on the River Dee and its tributaries
| Salmon | Method | Sea Trout | Method |
| Mar 3rd to May 31st | Fly only | Mar 20th to May 31st | Fly only |
| Jun 1st to Jun 15th | Fly and spin | Jun 1st to Jun 15th | Any legal method |
| Jun 16th to Sep 30th | Any legal method | Jun 16th to Sep 30th | Any legal method |
| Oct 1st to Oct 17th | Fly and spin | Oct 1st to Oct 17th | Fly and spin |
Seasons on the Rivers Clwyd, Elwy and tributaries
| Salmon | Method | Sea Trout | Method |
| Mar 20th to Jun 15th | Fly and spin | Mar 20th to May 31st | Fly and spin |
| Jun 16th to Sep 30th | Any legal method | Jun 1st to Sep 30th | Any legal method |
| Oct 1st to Oct 17th | Fly only | Oct 1st to Oct 17th | Fly only |
Seasons on the Rivers Wnion, Mawddach and tributaries
| Salmon | Method | Sea Trout | Method |
| Mar 20th to Jun 15th | Fly and spin | Mar 20th to Apr 14th | Fly and spin |
| Jun 16th to Oct 7th | Any legal method | Apr 15th to Oct 7th | Any legal method |
| Oct 8th to Oct 17th | Fly and spin | Oct 8th to Oct 17th | Fly and spin |
Ken Hopkin's 15lb sea-trout.
Season on Rivers for Brown trout
John Odell's 2lb 1oz brown trout.On all rivers the open season runs between March 3rd and September 30th. The exceptions are on the Mawddach below Llanelltyd Bridge and on the Wnion below Dr William's School footbridge when the start is delayed until May 31st. Any legal method is allowed but some clubs impose their own local restrictions.
Season for Grayling and Coarse fish
The Dee is one of the best rivers in the country for grayling and it is the only river available in our area for fishing these queens of the stream. Grayling and coarse fish may be fished throughout the winter. The close season is between March 15th and June 15th. Any legal method is allowed.A recent national byelaw aimed at conserving stocks restricts bags to two grayling on any given day and these must be between 30cm and 38cm measured from snout to fork of tail.
