Lower Ballingham
Lower Ballingham is a cracking 1¼-mile, right-bank beat on the Middle Wye, with gravel underfoot, streamy fly water and proper holding pools. It’s ticketed through the Wye & Usk Foundation Fishing Passport, with room for visiting anglers but no exclusive use.
Run by Wye & Usk Foundation / Fishing Passport · checked 13 Oct 2026
River Wye
Lower Ballingham
Our river artwork — photos for this stretch are on the way
River level
Measured — Environment Agency
Mordiford gauge
Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.
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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 single-bank fishing from the right bank, stretching for roughly 1¼ miles. Plenty of water to explore, although it’s a travel-light sort of day.
- The riverbed is mostly gravel and wading is described as relatively easy. Just mind the steep banks in places.
- The Middle Wye is generally leisurely and meandering, with a fairly uniform width and depth. Look for the streamier sections where the salmon fly water comes into play.
- Several holding pools suit spinning for salmon. The Quarry is the standout named feature — a deep holding pool worth a proper look.
- Coarse anglers have barbel, chub and pike named for the beat. Brown trout are noted around Carey Islands.
- Access along the bank is on foot only, so don’t turn up with half the tackle shop. The track can get awkward when wet, though no 4x4 is needed.
- Parking is available at the top of the access track, provided you don’t block access. Keep the kit compact and the faff down.
- The beat has been lightly fished in recent years, but a small salmon syndicate also uses the water. Day tickets are not exclusive, although the scheme says there’s enough space for visiting anglers.
- Canoe traffic may crop up, as the Wye has a right of navigation downstream of Hay. Pick your moments for trotting, feeder work or settling over a quieter glide.
- The full-day salmon ticket is £36, while a full-day coarse ticket is £26. Maximum four tickets are listed per day, so there’s a useful cap on numbers.
Methods: Salmon anglers can target the streamy water with a fly, or try spinning in the deeper holding pools such as The Quarry. For coarse fishing, the named barbel, chub and pike make the gravel runs, glides and deeper water the areas to explore.
Access & tickets
Full-day salmon ticket
Maximum four tickets per day are listed. Salmon fishing is catch-and-release at all times.
£36 (as listed 13 Oct 2026 — check before you go)
Full-day coarse ticket
Coarse fishing regulations apply.
£26 (as listed 13 Oct 2026 — check before you go)
Book through the Wye & Usk Foundation’s Fishing Passport scheme. Full-day and evening tickets are available for the listed fishing categories, with block booking also offered.
Fish the club names
barbel, chub, pike, trout
Key rules
- National fishing byelaws apply.
- Salmon fishing is catch-and-release at all times.
- Coarse fishing regulations apply.
- Dogs are not allowed.
- The fishery operates a wash-off policy.
- Access along the bank is on foot only.
- Day tickets do not provide exclusive use, as a small salmon syndicate also fishes the water.
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 fishWhere it is
Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.
Community reported
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