About Us
The club is limited to 50 members and is strictly fly only with the vast majority of trout being caught on dry fly. A five weight rod is more than ample and being a small stream it lends itself to the use of 3 and 4 weight rods with stalking tactics. Imagine casting a size 18 comparadun between 2 weed beds to a 2lb trout on a crystal clear stream where a season ticket costs 1/2 the price of a day on a chalkstream.. The river is lightly fished, but each year around 250-300 trout are caught with nearly all of then being returned. We have regular work parties to help maintain the river banks and this acts a good way to get to know other members.
Yearly Report (2025)
Below is the yearly report for the 2025 season.
Reflecting on the season just gone, it was very much a year of two halves. The early part of the season was dry, with low water levels - particularly in May, which is usually one of our most productive months. While reasonable numbers of trout were caught and fish could often be seen rising, they proved challenging in the low, clear conditions.
Rain eventually arrived, but this brought prolonged high water, with the river frequently in flood through much of the summer. Despite this, some excellent trout were caught, including several around the 2lb mark and one exceptional fish estimated at close to 4lb.
The normally reliable evening rise was far less consistent than usual. Fly hatches were patchy, and at times the river felt surprisingly quiet. However, when the condition were good, there were days with strong hatches and genuinely rewarding dry-fly fishing.
In total, 249 trout were recorded from 213 visits. A notable highlight was the capture of a salmon.
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With any luck, the coming season will bring more settled conditions and a return to the consistent hatches that have been a feature of recent years.
Yearly Report (2024)
Below is the yearly report for the 2024 season rounding up on a great year.
The 2024 season was an encouraging one on the River Bela, with generally good water levels thanks to regular rainfall, although occasional high flows limited fishing at times. Strong weed growth was a feature of the year, reflecting healthy river conditions, and summer fly hatches - particularly from June onwards - provided enjoyable fishing during the peak months.
Trout were caught throughout the season, with June, July and August proving most productive. A total of 271 brown trout were recorded, including many well-conditioned fish and several notable larger specimens. The river continues to perform well as a naturally sustained fishery, having not been stocked for many years.
There were no reports of salmon or sea trout this season.
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Improved access, ongoing river management work, and regular water quality monitoring all supported the health of the fishery.
Membership remained strong, with active work parties, a growing online presence, and new initiatives aimed at welcoming younger anglers.
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Overall, 2024 was a positive and productive season. See a few highlight pictures below.
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