Trout Fishing in North Wales: The Best Lakes
By Alex Clayton · Updated 24 October 2026
The best stillwaters for trout fishing in North Wales are Llyn Brenig, a large fly-only reservoir with boats that is stocked weekly from March to September, the Hiraethog reservoirs right next to it, stocked pools such as Tan-y-Mynydd near Abergele, and mountain lakes like Llyn Crafnant above Trefriw. They differ more than the map suggests.
Brenig is fly only. Llyn Aled Uchaf allows spinning and a worm. Tan-y-Mynydd has family pools where bait is fine, and Brenig won’t let you fish without booking first. This page compares the venues, sets out the licence and permit you need for fishing in North Wales, and helps you pick by experience and season. It is part of our wider guide to fishing in Wales.
What You Need Before You Fish: Rod Licence and Fishery Permit
The most common mistake is buying a day ticket and forgetting the rod licence, or buying the licence and assuming that covers the fishing. You need both.
A rod licence is required to fish for trout in Wales, and that includes private lakes and commercial fisheries. Children under 13 don’t need one. Anglers aged 13 to 16 need a junior licence, which is free. Visiting anglers from England use the same licence, because it covers England and Wales. The fishery permit or day ticket is a separate purchase from the venue.
Current GOV.UK prices for a trout and coarse licence (up to 2 rods):
| Licence | Price |
|---|---|
| 1-day | £7.30 |
| 8-day | £14.70 |
| 12-month | £36.80 |
| 12-month, 3 rods | £55.30 |
| 12-month concession | £24.50 |
| Junior (13 to 16) | Free |
The 1-day and 8-day options suit a holiday trip. Prices change, so check GOV.UK before you buy, and read our explainer on how the rod licence works.
The licence is only the base layer. Each venue adds its own rules on method, bag limits and catch and release, so read the permit terms before you set up.
North Wales Trout Lakes Compared at a Glance
Start with the question that decides most trips: which lake lets you fish your way?
| Venue | Type | Run by | Trout methods | Booking / tickets | Check before you go |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Llyn Brenig | Large upland reservoir, boat and bank | Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water | Fly only; stocked weekly March to September | Book in advance online, on 01490 389 222, or at the shop and car park machines | Closed about 15 days each March for restocking; west shore temporarily closed (low water) |
| Llyn Aled Uchaf | Moorland lake | Welsh Water (via Brenig) | Spinning, natural fly, single natural worm; stocked weekly March to September | Via Brenig | Remote; check access |
| Aled Isaf and Alwen Reservoir | Moorland reservoirs | Welsh Water (via Brenig) | Catch and release only; Alwen fly only north of the bridge | Via Brenig | Rules differ by water |
| Tan-y-Mynydd, Moelfre near Abergele | Stocked pools | Tan-y-Mynydd Trout Fishery Ltd | Three fly-only pools, two family pools (bait and fly); rainbow, brown, blue and tiger trout | Contact the fishery on 01745 740100 | Prices: check with the fishery |
| Llyn Crafnant, above Trefriw | 63-acre (25ha) mountain lake | Leased by the lakeside cafe, which runs boats and fishing | Stocked brown and rainbow trout | Tickets listed as sold at the cafe | Season and prices: check with the cafe |
| Graiglwyd Springs | Stocked trout fishery | Check with the fishery | Check with the fishery | Check with the fishery | Reported closed for works in 2025; confirm it has reopened |
| Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid) | Wales’s largest natural lake | Check with the permit seller | See our Bala guide | Check with the permit seller | Current permit arrangements |
The table quotes no ticket prices. They change yearly, and Brenig’s full price list sits in a PDF, not on its fishing page. Check with the fishery before you travel.
Llyn Brenig and the Hiraethog Reservoirs
Llyn Brenig shuts for about 15 days every March for restocking, just as many anglers are planning their first trip of the year. Get that date wrong and you drive up onto the Hiraethog moors for nothing.
Brenig is run by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and is the biggest and most organised fishery on this page for north Wales fly fishing. Trout fishing is fly only, from boat or bank, and the water is stocked weekly from March to September. You must book in advance: online, by phone on 01490 389 222 or by email at llynbrenig@dwrcymru.com. Permits are also sold at the shop and from the car park machines.
The venue also closes occasionally for competitions, and the west shore is temporarily shut because of low water.
Brenig isn’t a trout-only venue either. For 2026 to 2027 the pike season runs on the bank from 1 October 2026 to 1 March 2027 and from boats from 1 October to 24 November 2026, with dead sea baits and lures over 6in (15cm) allowed.
The neighbouring waters give you options if Brenig doesn’t fit:
- Llyn Aled Uchaf allows spinning, natural fly and a single natural worm, and is stocked weekly from March to September. It is the pick if you don’t own fly gear.
- Aled Isaf is catch and release only.
- Alwen Reservoir is catch and release only, and fly only north of the bridge.
On a water this size, stocked trout move around. If an area produces nothing after a fair spell, move or drift a new line rather than sitting it out. For the venue in full, read our Llyn Brenig fishing guide.
Best for: boat fly anglers and anyone after regularly stocked trout on a large water. Skip if: it’s mid-March, or you want to fish bait.
Tan-y-Mynydd and Graiglwyd Springs: Stocked Pools Near the Coast
A big upland reservoir is a hard place for a first trout session. Wind and open water can beat a beginner before the first cast, and a small stocked pool removes most of that.
Tan-y-Mynydd is run by Tan-y-Mynydd Trout Fishery Ltd at Moelfre, Abergele (LL22 9RF). It has three fly-only pools plus two family pools where both bait and fly are allowed. The stock includes rainbow, brown, blue and tiger trout. Ticket prices weren’t published where we could verify them, so ring the fishery on 01745 740100 or check its website before you go. Our Tan-y-Mynydd guide has more on the venue.
Graiglwyd Springs is a stocked trout fishery on the North Wales coast. It was reported closed pending works in 2025, with reopening expected later that year. We haven’t been able to confirm whether it has reopened, so contact the fishery before you travel. See our Graiglwyd Springs page for what we know.
If you’re bringing children or fishing your first trout session, start at a family pool. Bait is allowed, the water is small, and you can fish a couple of hours without committing a whole day.
Llyn Crafnant, Bala and Fishing in Snowdonia
Who sells you a ticket on a mountain lake? At Llyn Crafnant, the cafe does. That sums up much of the fishing in Snowdonia (Eryri): the arrangements are local, and they need checking before you set off.
Llyn Crafnant is a 63-acre (25ha) lake in the Gwydir Forest above Trefriw, stocked with brown and rainbow trout. The lakeside cafe leases the lake and runs the boat hire and fishing. Visit Conwy lists a season of 20 March to 31 October, fishing from 8am to sunset, with tickets from the cafe. That is a tourism listing rather than the operator’s own page, so confirm dates and prices with the cafe. Read our Llyn Crafnant guide for the detail.
Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid) is the largest natural lake in Wales. We couldn’t verify the current permit or operator arrangements, so this page doesn’t state them. Check our Bala Lake guide and confirm with the permit seller before you fish.
Across the wider Snowdonia area, many upland lakes are controlled by angling associations or estates. The permit source varies from lake to lake, so find out who controls the water before you walk in.
Quick comparison: Crafnant is a scenery and small-boat day. Brenig is a big, organised fishery with weekly stocking and online booking.
Which North Wales Trout Lake Suits You
Your fly kit, or lack of it, rules out half the options before anything else. Use this as a starting route:
| If you are… | Go to |
|---|---|
| Fishing your first trout session, or bringing children | Tan-y-Mynydd family pools (bait and fly allowed) |
| Without fly kit, and want to spin or fish a worm | Llyn Aled Uchaf |
| After boat fly fishing with regular stocking | Llyn Brenig (book ahead) |
| Happy with catch and release on quieter water | Aled Isaf or Alwen Reservoir |
| Choosing the view first | Llyn Crafnant (check the season with the cafe) |
| Visiting in winter, after the trout season | Brenig’s pike season, or our Wales fishing guide |
For north Wales fly fishing on a large, regularly stocked water, Brenig is the first choice. For a short day with bait or a family group, a stocked pool asks less of you. Methods and opening dates change, so check with the fishery before you travel.
The verdict: experienced fly anglers should start at Brenig. Beginners and families should start at Tan-y-Mynydd.
When to Go: Opening Dates, the March Closure and Summer Heat
For trout, water temperature matters as much as the calendar. A venue can be open and still be a poor place to fish on a hot August afternoon.
Most upland stillwaters in Wales open around 20 March, and wild brown trout lakes usually close around 17 October, according to Fishing Wales. Treat those as typical dates only, because each venue sets its own. At Brenig, time an early-season trip for after the March restocking closure, when weekly stocking has begun.
Summer brings a different problem. Water above 20C can be lethal to trout, while under 18C is generally safe. In a hot spell, fish early or late in the day, play fish quickly and keep any fish you release in the water. When the water is well above 20C, pack up and come back on a cooler day.
Natural Resources Wales byelaws also apply to trout fishing in North Wales, so check them along with the venue’s own rules. Our page on fishing seasons and close seasons explained sets out how the seasons work.
Plan your trip for spring or early autumn, when water temperatures are kinder to trout, and confirm the venue’s dates before you book.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a rod licence to fish a private trout lake in Wales?
Yes. You need a rod licence to fish for trout in Wales, including on private lakes and commercial fisheries, plus the venue's own permit or day ticket. Children under 13 are exempt, and 13 to 16 year olds need a free junior licence. Buy it from GOV.UK. A 1-day licence costs £7.30 and an 8-day licence £14.70.
Can I fish for trout with bait or spinners in North Wales?
Yes, at some venues. Llyn Aled Uchaf, next to Brenig, allows spinning, natural fly and a single natural worm. The two family pools at Tan-y-Mynydd allow bait and fly, while its other three pools are fly only. Llyn Brenig is fly only for trout, so leave the spinners and bait at home there.
Do I need to book Llyn Brenig in advance?
Yes. Llyn Brenig requires anglers to book in advance, online, by phone on 01490 389 222, or by email at llynbrenig@dwrcymru.com. Permits are also sold at the shop and car park machines. The venue closes for about 15 days each March for restocking and occasionally for competitions, so check the dates before you travel.
Is Graiglwyd Springs open?
Its current status is unconfirmed. Graiglwyd Springs was reported closed pending works in 2025, with reopening expected later that year, but we have not been able to verify that it has reopened. Contact the fishery directly before you travel, and see the stocked pools section above for Tan-y-Mynydd as an alternative.