Symonds Yat — Newport Angling Association

River level

The lowdown

• The fishery runs in two beats, from the second fence line above St Dubricious Church at Whitchurch down to the head of the island below The Royal Lodge Hotel at Symonds Yat East.
• Beat 1 covers the two fields above St Dubricious Church. Just remember, there’s no fishing in front of the church boundary.
• Beat 2 runs downstream from Sterretts Caravan Park to the rapids below The Royal Lodge Hotel. The southern end has shallow, lively water.
• Most of the river sits around 6–8 feet deep, but it drops to roughly 12 feet in front of the Saracens Head. A proper bit of depth there.
• Feeder fishing is the most popular approach. Most swims can also be float fished, so there’s scope for a bit of trotting or working the crease when conditions allow.
• Chub and barbel are the main draw, with the club saying both can reach double figures. Dace, perch, pike and roach are also named.
• The 120-metre section between the two canoe-launching ramps at River Wye Caravan & Camping Park is seasonal. It’s fishable from 1 November to 14 March and shut during the site’s high season.
• There’s no night fishing, and fishing in front of the Saracens Head Hotel is banned before 8am. Keep things quiet near hotels and houses too.
• You can clear bankside weed or small branches around a peg, but felling trees is a definite no-no. Some riverside gardens also need the owner’s permission before you fish.
• Parking needs a bit of care: don’t use the church car park, don’t block gates or passing bays, and use the listed paid car parks or suitable roadside parking at Whitchurch.

Methods: Feeder fishing is the go-to method here, with most swims also suitable for float fishing. Work the varied depth, from the shallow rapids to the deeper water in front of the Saracens Head.

Access & tickets

Newport Angling Association owns the fishing rights. Buy a day ticket for Beats 1 and 2 through the Clubmate booking service linked from the association’s day-ticket page.

Fish the club names

chub, barbel, roach, perch, pike, rudd

Key rules

• Coarse fishing only.
• All fish must be returned, except dace and bleak when required for pike bait.
• Junior anglers must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over.
• Anglers may clear bankside weed or small branches around pegs, but felling trees is prohibited.
• Some riverside gardens require the owner’s permission before fishing.
• No undue noise or disturbance near hotels or dwellings.
• Fishing in front of the Saracens Head Hotel is prohibited before 8am.
• The 120-metre section at River Wye Caravan & Camping Park is fishable from 1 November to 14 March only and is closed during the site’s high season.

Where it is