Above Sweethope Lough, Fourlaws Forest, Northumberland to North Sea near Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
Fly Fishing on the River Wansbeck
6 beats on the River Wansbeck sell access by the day, from £8.
Where the River Wansbeck 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 Wansbeck
6 beats availableBrowse day tickets, syndicate rods, and permit fishing on the River Wansbeck. Each beat listing includes pricing, species, and booking details.
Clubs and syndicates on the River Wansbeck
1 clubMembership bodies holding water on the River Wansbeck. Some sell day tickets alongside membership, others are open to members only, and a few run a waiting list.
About the River Wansbeck
River Wansbeck at a glance
- Source
- Above Sweethope Lough, Fourlaws Forest, Northumberland
- Mouth
- North Sea near Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Water type
- Spate
Fish species
Anglers on the River Wansbeck can target brown trout. Brown trout dominate most beats here; grayling, sea trout, and salmon appear on certain rivers and seasons.
The River Wansbeck rises above Sweethope Lough on the edge of Fourlaws Forest, in the part of Northumberland locally called the Wanneys, and runs east through Kirkwhelpington, Hartburn, Mitford and Morpeth before it reaches the North Sea near Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. The Hart Burn joins at Meldon and the River Font at Mitford. The lower few miles below Morpeth are a country park, and the river there was once locked for navigation.
The Wild Trout Trust describes it as an upland spate river, with a wide range of flows: very low in dry weather and high after heavy rain. The valley is steep and wooded, and the middle river runs through mid-Northumberland farmland over limestone, sandstone and glacial till. Water quality is thought to be very good, and white-clawed crayfish are present.
It is mainly a brown trout river. The floods of 2008 washed away a large weir at Mitford, and with the fish pass at East Mill downstream of Morpeth this has opened the catchment to migratory fish. The Wild Trout Trust expected sea trout, and to a lesser extent salmon, to increase.
Fishing is held by an angling association and by private owners, so check the details for the stretch you plan to fish.
FAQ
River Wansbeck FAQs
Common questions about fishing the River Wansbeck, from day tickets and seasons to what to expect on the bank.
