Fishing the River Swale

By Alex Clayton · Updated 23 October 2026

The Swale changes character over its length, from a Dales trout stream in the upper valley to a lowland barbel river below Topcliffe. That split shapes river swale fishing: wild trout and grayling around Richmond, barbel and chub on the lower river.

Much of the advice published online dates from 2014, so many quoted prices and club details are out of date. Every price, date and rule below was checked against the club or GOV.UK source in October 2026, and older reports are labelled as such.

For other rivers nearby, see our Yorkshire fishing guide or the full list of UK fishing rivers.

The River Swale at a Glance: Species by Stretch

Pick your stretch by species before you pick a ticket.

The Swale runs for about 72 miles from its source above Keld. The Richmond & District Angling Society (RADAS) controls over 12 miles around Richmond and lists wild brown trout, grayling, chub, dace, barbel and pike on its water. A long-standing Dales fly guide puts the best grayling fishing between Richmond and Catterick, with trout dominating upstream of Catterick.

Angling reports from 2014 say barbel start to appear around Easby Abbey, but the main barbel water is below Topcliffe weir.

Stretch	Main species	Who to check with
Upper (Keld to Marske)	Wild brown trout	RADAS (lower end only)
Middle (Richmond to Catterick and Great Langton)	Trout, grayling, chub, dace, some barbel, pike	RADAS
Lower (below Topcliffe weir)	Barbel and chub	Leeds & District ASA, Helperby & Brafferton AC

If you want barbel, head below Topcliffe. For grayling, fish between Richmond and Catterick.

Richmond and Catterick: Trout, Grayling and Chub on RADAS Water

A RADAS day permit covers most of the society’s water, but not all of it, and some beats are fly only or closed for part of the year. Read the beat list before you park.

The day permit covers:

Great Langton
Catterick Bridge
Brompton on Swale
Broken Brae
Iron Banks Wood
Easby Waters
The Falls and The Batts
Green Bridge to The Falls
Round Howe
Marske Waters, as far as Marske Bridge

Water upstream of Marske Bridge, plus Oxque and D’Arcy Hildyard, is for members only.

Methods change along the river. Below Lowenthwaite Bridge, any legal method is allowed. Above it, you are limited to fly and worm.

Two seasonal restrictions catch visitors out:

Round Howe, Oxque and Marske are trout-only beats, with no fishing from 1 October to 25 March.
There is no fishing within 50m of Richmond Falls from 31 August to 24 March.

For trout and grayling, a retired Dales fly guide found dry flies and Czech nymphs worked best on this water. For chub, the pacey glides they hold in are often good trotting water, so a float can do the job without a feeder. Anglers who fish the River Wharfe or the River Ribble for trout and grayling will find the same fly methods carry over.

Best for: a mixed-species day on a budget. Skip if: you want to night fish, because permits run from 6am to 10pm.

Check current beat details with RADAS before you travel.

Swale Barbel and Chub: The Lower River Below Topcliffe

Swale barbel and Swale chub draw most coarse anglers to this river, yet the stretches with that reputation have the least current public ticket information.

What follows comes from Angling Times reporting in 2014, so treat it as background rather than current fact:

The main barbel water is below Topcliffe weir.
Villages named along the lower river include Asenby, Cundall, Fawdington, Thornton, Helperby and Myton.
The average North Yorkshire barbel was put at 4-5lb (1.8-2.3kg). A fish over 7lb (3.2kg) counts as a specimen, and doubles are rare.
Chub of 5-6lb (2.3-2.7kg) were described as realistic.
Local knowledge of the pockets above Topcliffe was described as vital.

Angling Times also lists Fawdington, run by Helperby & Brafferton AC with online day permits, as a wild stretch that fishes best when the water is running slightly up and coloured. No price is given here, because it could not be verified.

That matches how barbel and chub are usually fished on pacey rivers: a little extra colour after a rise often switches them on. A rising flood is a different matter, and the level section below explains why you should stay off it.

The River Ure and the River Derwent are other Yorkshire rivers worth a look for barbel and chub.

The verdict: the lower Swale is worth the trip for barbel, but sort out access before you load the car. Check with the clubs below before you travel.

Day Tickets and Clubs: Who Controls the Swale

Most day-ticket prices quoted online for the Swale date from 2014. Here is what can be confirmed now.

RADAS sells a 2026/27 day permit online through Ticket Tailor:

£12.50 per angler, with no concessions
Valid 6am to 10pm, with no night fishing
Non-refundable and non-transferable
Bought in advance for a chosen date

RADAS also advertises a winter permit on its website, but the details could not be confirmed, so ask the club.

Downstream, Leeds & District ASA sells yearbook membership (1 January to 31 December) covering more than 40 waters, with no day ticket stated. Angling Times reported in 2014 that it held both banks at Topcliffe, so check the current yearbook for Swale water. Helperby & Brafferton AC is reported to sell online day permits for Fawdington, price unverified.

Club	Area	How to fish	Verified?
RADAS	Richmond, Catterick, Great Langton	Day permit, £12.50	Yes
Leeds & District ASA	Topcliffe (reported)	Annual membership	Check
Helperby & Brafferton AC	Fawdington	Day permit (reported)	Check

For a guaranteed day ticket, start with RADAS. For anything else, check with the club before you travel.

Licence, Close Seasons and the Rules That Catch Visitors Out

On RADAS water the whole river shuts from 15 to 24 March, and no fish may be kept. Neither rule comes from the national byelaws.

You need an Environment Agency rod licence from age 13 in England, including on club water. It is free for 13 to 16 year olds, and fishing without one risks a fine of up to £2,500. On 23 October 2026, a 2-rod trout and coarse licence cost £7.30 for 1 day, £14.70 for 8 days and £36.80 for 12 months. Prices change each April, so check the GOV.UK buy page.

The Swale sits in the EA Yorkshire byelaw area. National rules:

Coarse close season on rivers: 15 March to 15 June inclusive.
Up to 4 coarse rods (outer rods within 3m); 1 rod for trout and salmon on rivers.
Keep limits: 1 pike a day up to 65cm, 2 grayling of 30-38cm.
No crayfish as bait.

RADAS rules add:

Trout season 25 March to 30 September (on other stretches, check the EA Yorkshire byelaws); coarse and grayling 16 June to 14 March.
All fish returned alive; maximum 2 rods.
Single barbless or nipped barbed hooks; no doubles or trebles.
No keepnets 25 March to 15 June.
Knotless landing net and disgorger; for pike, a wire trace, unhooking mat and long forceps.
Catch return within 24 hours, even if you blank.
Check, clean and dry your kit.

Reading the River Level and Staying Safe

One number decides most Swale days, and you can check it before you leave home.

RADAS members use the Catterick Bridge gauge. A reading of about 0.45m is a good benchmark, and below about 0.30m the river is thin at Langton Bridge. Gauges at Grinton and Lowenthwaite Bridge are also on riverlevels.uk. Treat these figures as RADAS guidance, not rules. If Catterick Bridge reads well under 0.30m, expect the shallow runs to be thin and plan around the deeper beats.

Before a long drive, check the Environment Agency flood warnings on GOV.UK as well.

The RADAS safety guidance is blunt: the river can rise rapidly and unpredictably. RADAS recommends a wading staff and a buoyancy aid, and warns anglers to keep rods clear of overhead power lines. The retired Dales fly guide quoted earlier describes the river rising at frightening speed.

Pick your exit route before you step in. If colour and debris start coming down, or the level starts to climb, get out and stay out.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a close season on the River Swale?

Yes. The national coarse close season on English rivers runs 15 March to 15 June inclusive. On RADAS water the whole river also closes 15-24 March, and the trout season runs 25 March to 30 September. Other clubs can set different dates, so check before you fish.

How much is a day ticket on the River Swale?

A RADAS day permit costs £12.50 for 2026/27, valid 6am to 10pm and bought online for a set date. It is the only Swale day ticket with a price confirmed for this guide. For the lower river, contact Leeds & District ASA or Helperby & Brafferton AC directly.

Where is the best barbel fishing on the Swale?

Long-standing reports point to the lower river below Topcliffe weir, including Fawdington, which is said to fish best when slightly up and coloured. Check current access with Leeds & District ASA and Helperby & Brafferton AC before you go.

Do I need a rod licence to fish the Swale?

Yes, from age 13, and on club water too. The licence for 13 to 16 year olds is free, and under 13s do not need one. Buy it from GOV.UK before your trip, because fishing without one risks a fine of up to £2,500.

Can I take fish home from the Swale?

Not on RADAS water, where every fish must go back alive. Elsewhere the national limits apply (1 pike a day up to 65cm, 2 grayling of 30-38cm), subject to any club rules.