Hawker-Overend Fishing
How to fish the Tip Pool on the Welsh Dee at Llangollen
Introduction
This guide covers how to fish the Tip Pool on the Lower Beat. The Tip Pool is a good place to go fly fishing when the river is at its summer level because it’s a fast streamy piece of water, littered boulders that provide many fish holding pockets.
I find it best to fish this pool when the river level is below 0.6m and ideally below 0.5m.
How to fish the Tip Pool for trout and grayling
I usually fish this pool early in the evening with either a team of wet flies or Czech nymphs.
Over the years both methods have produced some good catches (10+) of grayling and brown trout from this pool. Especially, when the river is low during the summer months when the fish move up into this oxygenated water.
How to fish the Tip Pool for salmon
Surprisingly, I have never fished this pool for salmon and it is probably something I should correct in soon. Canoeing activity through this pool during the day has increased considerably, especially in summer, which can spoil the fishing. Therefore, I tend only to fish this pool either early morning or late in the evening during the summer.
Directions and Parking
From Llangollen take the A5 east towards Wrexham and just as you leave the town take the lane on right, Birch Hill. Sometimes it is possible to park on the left about 50m up Birch Hill. Otherwise, you will have to use a town car park and walk down to the play ground opposite Birch Lane.
You access the river by walking through the play ground and then take the path into the wooded area which takes you down to the river. When you reach the river the Tip Pool is directly in front of you. A map to this pool can be found on Llangollen-Maelor Angling website.
[Disclaimer – like most outdoor sports, fishing is not without its hazards. Therefore, you MUST do your own RISK ASSESSMENT before starting to fish; especially if you decide to wade and/or fish at night. In addition, you must follow the club rules when fishing this water.]