Valley Burn to Nicky Nack Beck, River Wear

River level

The lowdown

• The official stretch runs from Valley Burn to Nicky Nack Beck. Worth noting, the club no longer has access from Page Bank Bridge downstream to Valley Burn, so don’t wander beyond the current water.
• This is River Wear water with salmon, sea trout, trout and coarse fish listed. A cracking mixed fishery, then, with options depending on conditions and what’s moving.
• The fishery page doesn’t publish a stretch length or peg count. So expect a bit of exploring rather than a numbered-peg conveyor belt.
• For game anglers, the Wear’s migratory fish are the big draw. Night fishing is allowed on club River Wear waters, but it is fly-only — no sneaky late-night feeder faff.
• Coarse fishing is part of the club’s offering too. Keep things mobile, look for steadier water and crease lines, and make the most of any colour after a bit of rain.
• Parking is only allowed in designated and specified places. The club lists Page Bank parking at DL16 7RG and Croxdale parking at DH6 5JL.
• It’s one rod only, and all rods must be fished from the same peg. Keep your kit tidy and don’t spread out across the bank.
• Barbed hooks are banned. Barbless or micro-barbed hooks are allowed, so check the rig before you settle into the swim.
• No bivvies, tents or camping, and no fires, barbecues or alcohol at the bank. Dogs are banned too, apart from guide dogs.
• Carry your current club identification card and an Environment Agency licence. Coarse fish cannot be removed or killed without committee permission, while no grayling may be killed or taken.

Methods: For coarse fish, feeder or float approaches around steadier glides and the crease look the sensible starting point. Game anglers can target trout and migratory fish with the permitted methods, with night fishing fly-only.

Access & tickets

FDAC membership is required for ordinary club-water fishing. The club’s 2026 membership prices are £60 senior, £25 intermediate, £10 junior, £35 OAP and £40 disabled. The club defines a temporary member as someone who has purchased a day ticket, but it does not publish a day-ticket price for Hunwick & Newfield.

Fish the club names

trout

Key rules

• Members must carry their current club identification card.
• Members must carry and produce an Environment Agency licence when requested.
• Fishing is limited to one rod, and all rods must be fished from the same peg.
• Barbed hooks are prohibited; barbless or micro-barbed hooks are allowed.
• No bivvies, tents or camping are allowed on river stretches.
• Dogs are prohibited except guide dogs. No fires, barbecues or alcohol are allowed at the bank.
• No coarse fish may be removed or killed without committee permission. No grayling may be killed or taken.
• A maximum of two brown trout may be taken in one day. Game fish must be at least 12 inches nose-to-fork before retention.
• The migratory-fish limit is three salmon or sea trout in one week.

Where it is