Plym Head, Dartmoor to Cattewater, Plymouth Sound · 20 miles
Fly Fishing on the River Plym
2 beats on the River Plym sell access by the day, from £20.
Where the River Plym runs
The river's course with every beat and fishery we list on it. Tap a marker for a quick read on price.
Fishing Beats on the River Plym
2 beats availableBrowse day tickets, syndicate rods, and permit fishing on the River Plym. Each beat listing includes pricing, species, and booking details.
Clubs and syndicates on the River Plym
1 clubMembership bodies holding water on the River Plym. Some sell day tickets alongside membership, others are open to members only, and a few run a waiting list.
About the River Plym
River Plym at a glance
- Length
- 20 miles
- Source
- Plym Head, Dartmoor
- Mouth
- Cattewater, Plymouth Sound
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Water type
- Spate
Fish species
Anglers on the River Plym can target brown trout, sea trout and salmon. Brown trout dominate most beats here; grayling, sea trout, and salmon appear on certain rivers and seasons.
The River Plym begins at Plym Head, a marshy upland on Dartmoor about 450 metres above sea level, and runs roughly south west for around 20 miles. It passes clay workings near Shaugh Prior and meets the River Meavy at the Dewerstone, then turns south between Plymouth and Plympton through Plymbridge Woods. Its upper tidal estuary is the Laira and the lower part is Cattewater, which leads out to Plymouth Sound.
It is a spate river in the strict sense. The Plym is often the first of the Dartmoor rivers to fill during heavy rain and one of the first to drop afterwards, which canoeists know as well as anglers do.
The river holds brown trout, sea trout and salmon. The sea trout run is the main draw: the fly at night in summer, and fish taken on lures after a spate. The moorland tributaries hold a few surprisingly large brown trout.
Much of the Plym is managed by a freshwater angling association, with visitor permits available. For a river of this size, it is a surprisingly easy one to reach, running close to a big city.
FAQ
River Plym FAQs
Common questions about fishing the River Plym, from day tickets and seasons to what to expect on the bank.
