Fishing the River Tyne

By Alex Clayton · Updated 23 October 2026

The Tyne was the only principal salmon river in England classed “not at risk” against its conservation limit for 2025, the sixth year running. Yet its estimated 2025 salmon returns were the lowest on record (EA and Cefas salmon report, 2026).

River Tyne fishing means salmon and sea trout from February to October, wild brown trout across the North Tyne, South Tyne and tributaries, grayling on the Derwent, and pike, perch, roach and dace on the main river.

Below you’ll find each stretch, species, ticket and byelaw, checked against GOV.UK and the Tyne Rivers Trust in October 2026. For other waters, see our UK river fishing guides.

North Tyne, South Tyne and the Main River: How the Tyne Splits Up

Which Tyne do you mean? The answer decides your species, your ticket and how much Kielder Water matters to your day.

North Tyne. North Tyne fishing sits below Kielder, and the Tyne Rivers Trust notes that reservoir releases affect flows on the North Tyne, Rede and Derwent. Fishing is banned at all times in a zone immediately below Kielder Dam. Heading for the reservoir itself? See fishing Kielder Water.

South Tyne. It runs past Alston, Featherstone, Haltwhistle and Haydon Bridge. This is wild trout water, with Alston and District AA club water on the upper river.

Main river. Below the meeting of the two branches, the Tyne flows past Hexham, Riding Mill and Wylam, joined by Devil’s Water and the Derwent. Most salmon beats and coarse fishing sit here.

Tidal Tyne. Species and access through Newcastle and Gateshead could not be verified from a primary source, so check locally first.

Stretch	Main species	Typical access
North Tyne and Rede	Brown trout, occasional salmon and sea trout (Rede)	Tyne Angling Passport beats
South Tyne	Wild brown trout	Passport beats, Alston and District AA
Main river	Salmon, sea trout, coarse fish	Commercial beats, clubs

Best for: budget trout anglers start on the North or South Tyne, salmon anglers on the main river. For the wider county, see fishing in Northumberland.

Tyne Salmon Fishing: Season Dates, the 16 June Rule and 2025 Stocks

Get the season dates a few weeks wrong and you are fishing in the close season.

The Northumbria salmon close season runs from 1 November to 31 January, so the Tyne salmon fishing season is 1 February to 31 October (GOV.UK North East byelaws).

Before 16 June, you may fish for salmon with artificial fly or lure only, and every salmon must be released (national byelaws). The Tyne is not on the regional list of all-year release rivers (which includes the Aln, Blyth, Derwent and Wansbeck), but a beat can set stricter rules, so follow it. Across England and Wales, 98% of salmon declared in 2025 were released.

The Tyne Rivers Trust rates April and May as the best spring months; catches build through July and August and peak in September and October. Stop fishing when the water reaches about 19 to 20°C, because a fish played in warm water struggles to recover.

Night rule: no fishing for salmon or migratory trout from the end of the first hour after sunset to the start of the first hour before sunrise, unless you fish a fly with every hook passing through a 10mm tube.

The 2025 declared rod catch across England and Wales was 4,053 salmon, the lowest since 1988. The Tyne kept its “not at risk” status, but is not projected to keep it by 2030.

You need a salmon and sea trout rod licence. For other salmon water, see the River Dee and River Tees guides.

Tyne Sea Trout and Wild Brown Trout: Seasons and Size Limits

Three dates and two size limits are all you need to fish the Tyne’s trout legally.

Under the North East byelaws, sea trout are closed from 1 November to 2 April, and brown trout on rivers from 1 October to 21 March. Kielder Water and listed reservoirs have a later brown trout close season, covered in our Kielder Water guide.

Fish	Close season	Minimum size
Sea trout	1 November to 2 April	25.4cm
Brown trout, Tyne below Hexham Bridge	1 October to 21 March	22.5cm
Brown trout, elsewhere in Northumbria	1 October to 21 March	20cm (unless listed)

Guides report Tyne sea trout of 3 to 6lb (1.4 to 2.7kg) taking freely by day. The night rule from the salmon section applies to them too.

The Tyne Rivers Trust lists grayling on the Derwent; check the beat’s rules before you target them. On rivers you may use only one rod for salmon and trout.

For wild trout on a budget, start with the Tyne Angling Passport in the tickets section below.

Coarse Fishing on the Tyne: Pike, Perch, Roach and Dace

Salmon gets the headlines on the Tyne, but the coarse season stays open for nine months of the year.

Northumberland National Park lists perch, pike, roach, dace, gudgeon and eels, with coarse fishing largely on the main Tyne.

The river close season runs from 15 March to 15 June inclusive, so you can fish from 16 June to 14 March. During it, the byelaws allow only fly, minnow, worm, shrimp, prawn, sand eel and artificial lures, which covers anglers still fishing for trout or salmon. See our fishing seasons guide.

In winter, look for pike and perch in slacker water off the main flow. For roach and dace, trot a float down a steady glide.

You can fish up to four coarse rods, within 3m of each other and never unattended. Lead weights between 0.06g and 28.35g are banned, so carry non-toxic shot.

Day tickets for main-river club water could not be verified, so ask the club or a local tackle shop.

Skip if: you want still-water carp fishing.

Tyne Tickets by Stretch: Who Sells What

There is no single Tyne ticket, and no stretch we checked could be verified as free.

Ticket	Water	Species	Price	Book via
Tyne Angling Passport	20 wild trout beats on the Tyne, North and South Tyne, Rede and Derwent	Brown trout, grayling (Derwent), occasional salmon and sea trout (Devil’s Water, Rede)	£8 a day (checked October 2026)	Tyne Rivers Trust shop
Commercial salmon beats	Main river, e.g. Tyne Waters Meet (eastern bank, 2 rods, dated listing)	Salmon, sea trout	Check with the beat	The beat
Alston and District AA	South Tyne	Brown trout	Check with the club	The club
Coarse club water	Main river	Coarse fish	Check with the club	Club or tackle shop

The Trust says most commercial game beats book through FishTyne, but that site did not load when we checked, so ask the Trust for current booking routes.

Assume every bank needs permission, and check with the fishery before you travel.

Rod Licence and Tyne Byelaws: What Keeps You Legal

One licence choice and five byelaws keep you legal on the Tyne.

Environment Agency licence	1 day	8 days	12 months
Trout and coarse (up to 2 rods)	£7.30	£14.70	£36.80
Salmon and sea trout	£13.50	£30.50	£93.10

Prices are from GOV.UK, checked October 2026, and can change. Juniors aged 13 to 16 need a licence, but it is free. Our rod licence guide explains each type.

The Tyne sits in the Northumbria byelaw area, which covers English North Sea catchments from Boulby Craggs northwards but not the Tweed, so Tweed rules do not carry over.

Night rule for salmon and migratory trout, as in the salmon section.
Weirs. No night fishing, and none at all from September to November, within 25m upstream or 95m downstream of listed weirs including Riding Mill, Hexham Bridge, Chollerford, Haydon Bridge, Haltwhistle, Featherstone and Derwenthaugh (full list on GOV.UK). Wylam Bridge has a night ban in the same zone.
Kielder Dam. No fishing at any time in the zone below the dam.
Rods. One for salmon and trout on rivers; up to four for coarse.
Lead. No lead weights between 0.06g and 28.35g.

Sources: the North East byelaws and EA national byelaws. Read the GOV.UK page before your first trip, and see our River Test guide for a contrast in how river access works.

Kielder Releases, River Levels and When to Go

On the North Tyne, a reservoir upstream can change your day more than the weather.

Guides report that Kielder releases help keep the North Tyne and main river topped up in dry spells, and the Tyne Rivers Trust notes they affect the North Tyne, Rede and Derwent.

A dry week on the River Tyne does not always mean low water. Release schedules change, so check current levels on the GOV.UK river and sea levels service and ask the beat or the Trust about planned releases.

For timing, use the salmon section: April and May for spring fish, September and October for the peak, and stop at about 19 to 20°C.

Frequently asked questions

When is the salmon season on the River Tyne?

The Tyne salmon season runs from 1 February to 31 October. Before 16 June you must fish with fly or lure only and release every salmon. The salmon section of this guide covers timing and the night rule.

Is there a coarse close season on the River Tyne?

Yes. The coarse close season on rivers runs from 15 March to 15 June inclusive, so coarse fishing on the Tyne is open from 16 June to 14 March.

Do I need a licence to fish the Tyne?

Yes. You need an Environment Agency rod licence (the salmon and sea trout type for migratory fish) plus permission from the owner or club.

Can you fish the River Tyne for free?

No stretch could be verified as free, so assume every bank needs a ticket or permission. The cheapest verified option is the Tyne Angling Passport at £8 a day; check the current price before you book.