TackleIndex
RiverDay ticketClub water · Members

Blackwell Waters – River Tees between Blackwell Road Bridge and Blackwell Pumping Station

Blackwell Waters is Darlington Anglers Club’s most popular River Tees stretch, running for roughly 1.5 miles along the County Durham bank. It’s a cracking mix of gravelly river features, flowing water and deeper holding areas, with plenty of rural scenery around Blackwell Holm and Stapleton Corner.

Run by Darlington Anglers Club · checked 8 Oct 2026

River level

Measured — Environment Agency

Broken Scar 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

The lowdown

  • This is the left, or County Durham, bank of the Tees, between Blackwell Road Bridge and Blackwell Pumping Station.
  • The stretch is about 1.5 miles long, so there’s a fair bit of water to explore rather than one tight little section.
  • Blackwell Holm and Stapleton Corner are key bits of the fishery, with bankside footpaths helping you get along the water.
  • The riverbed is gravelly and varied. Expect a proper mix of flowing water and deeper holding areas across the club’s Tees waters.
  • The bankside path runs around Blackwell Holm and continues past High Linhams House towards the pumping station.
  • It’s a mixed fishery, with wild brown trout, grayling, dace, chub, barbel, pike, salmon and sea-trout named for this stretch.
  • Barbel stocks are improving, which is a nice bit of promise for anyone who enjoys targeting powerful fish in the flow.
  • The club mentions occasional salmon and sea-trout here, alongside the established trout, grayling and coarse-fish interest.
  • The setting is rural but handy for Blackwell, Stapleton and Darlington. A proper countryside feel without being miles from everything.
  • Access is from the A66 via the dedicated Blackwell Allotments car park. You’ll need a key, and the club says parking is at the owner’s risk. Club parking permits must be displayed.
  • We're not sure on ticket prices for this one — check with the club or local regulations before you leave.

Methods: The mix of flowing water and deeper holding areas gives you scope to fish the crease, glides and steadier water. Trotting or feeder work should suit the varied river character, while the named trout, grayling and coarse fish offer plenty of different angles.

Access & tickets

Day ticket

Available from Darlington Anglers Club’s honorary secretary. Online day-ticket booking is also provided on the official club website.

Weekly ticket

Available from the club’s honorary secretary.

Salmon special permit

Required for salmon fishing and available from the honorary secretary.

Day and weekly tickets are available from Darlington Anglers Club’s honorary secretary. The official club website also provides a day-ticket booking link for River Tees fishing.

Fish the club names

trout, chub, barbel, pike, chub, trout

Key rules

  • Salmon fishing requires a special permit from the honorary secretary.
  • All fishing must comply with applicable Environment Agency regulations.
  • Fishing is not allowed until the relevant subscription or permit has been paid.
  • Club parking permits must be displayed when using club waters.
  • Parking on all club waters is at the owner’s risk.

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 fish

Where it is

Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.

Community reported

Recent angler updates

No angler updates yet — that's normal. Be the first to help the next angler.

How busy was it?

Nobody's said yet. It's part of the 20-second update below.

No live tracking — this is what anglers told us after their session, and it's never part of the venue score.

Water updates from anglers

No active water updates.

Help other anglers