TackleIndex
RiverDay ticket

Finchale Abbey River Wear fishing stretch

A cracking two-mile River Wear stretch near Durham City, with a mile of fishing either side of Finchale Abbey. It’s Abbey-bank only, with day tickets available and a proper mix of streamy runs, glides and deeper holes.

Run by Finchale Abbey · checked 10 Oct 2026

River level

Measured — Environment Agency

Chester-Le-Street 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

  • The water runs for approximately two miles in total, stretching roughly one mile upstream and one mile downstream of Finchale Abbey.
  • Fishing is restricted to the Abbey bank, so access is nicely clear-cut. The exact bank direction isn’t stated.
  • Expect long streamy runs, smooth glides and deeper holes. Plenty there to keep a roving angler busy.
  • The stretch is suitable for fly, spinner and worm fishing. From June 16 to March 15, any legal method is allowed.
  • From March 16 to June 15, fishing is limited to fly, spinner or worm. Maggots are prohibited during the close-season period from March 15 to June 15 inclusive.
  • There’s a proper spread of named fish: salmon, sea trout, brown trout, barbel, chub, dace, grayling, gudgeon and eels.
  • Coarse fish must all go back. Two fish in season may be retained, with brown trout subject to the fishery’s stated 10-inch minimum.
  • The fishery advises wearing a lifejacket and recommends carrying a wading stick. Sensible kit for a stretch with deeper holes and running water.
  • There’s a working bailiff on the water, and car parking is included with the 2025 adult day ticket. Season-ticket holders pay a reduced £2 car-park rate per visit.

Methods: Fly, spinner and worm are specifically allowed, with any legal method permitted from June 16 to March 15. The long runs, glides and deep holes give you plenty to explore rather than just sitting on one swim.

Access & tickets

2025 adult day ticket

Includes car parking.

£15 (as listed 10 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

2025 child day ticket

For children aged 14 and under.

£8 (as listed 10 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Season ticket

Available for adults or children. Season-ticket holders pay £2 for car parking per visit.

£110 per year (as listed 10 Oct 2026 — check before you go)

Permits are provided by Finchale Abbey for its River Wear water. A valid Environment Agency rod licence must be produced before a permit is issued.

Fish the club names

carp, barbel, chub, trout, eel

Key rules

  • A valid Environment Agency rod licence must be produced before a permit is issued.
  • Tickets and licences cannot be transferred.
  • Only one rod may be used at any one time.
  • Fyke nets and traps are prohibited.
  • All coarse fish must be returned.
  • Keepnets must be at least eight feet long, at least 15 inches in diameter and made from knotless material; fish may be retained for no more than five hours. Trout must not be kept in keepnets.
  • No fires are allowed.

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