Stoneflies
Caddisflies
Gammarids
- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
NRW (Wales) · UKGB110066059960
Water temperature for Sea Trout
Ideal15°C est.ideal 8–15°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Sea Trout
When
From dusk into the first half of the night.
Where
Deeper pools and slower glides · hold water and current seams.
Method
Fish dark patterns on a sink-tip or lightly sunk line, especially near structure.
Kit
10 ft #6/7 rod, floating line with a sink-tip option, 8–10 lb fluoro tippet for the swing.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Likely species
Caddisflies
- Net-spinning caddisMost likelyLower confidenceNearest relative#12–14–16 · PupaWidespread riffle net-spinner; evening emergence.
- CapererAlso possibleLower confidence#10–12 · AdultBig autumn sedge; fish dry at last light.
- Large sedgesAlso possibleNearest relative#8–10 · AdultBig waked sedge in the last light and after dark.
- Green SedgeAlso possibleLower confidenceNearest relative#10–12–14–16 · NymphFree-living green caddis larva; fast stony riffles.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 12h
12h(now) — Heather Fly
Stage: Terrestrials on topApproach: Dry flyActivity: 54%
Also:Reed Smut49%Cinnamon Sedge30%Autumn Dun28%
Peak emergence windowWeather boost10 food groups active
Peak activity at 12h — Heather Fly (Heather Fly, Peak emergence window)
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 3 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence
Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.
Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Hawthorn FlyHatch
2
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Fly box · Sea Trout
Top
1-2 inch · Tube
In deep pools and dark water, silhouette and contrast do the work colour cannot. A fly that reads as black against depth is enough. Fish it broadside, hold the swing, let it hang at the dangle — that is when the best fish take.
8-12 · Streamer
Slim and mobile — fished sunk through the pool when surface work is not producing. Consistently takes fish that will not come to the surface.
2-4 inch · Streamer
A mobile eel-like profile that undulates through deep pools — effective when sea trout are lying deep and not responding to conventional wets.
Beats · 5 · 2 reaches
Rhyl & St Asaph AA — visitor permitsAccess varies
The Clwyd is a sewin river first.
Visit official site ↗Clwyd tributaries · 4 beatsMixed
River Elwy — Vale of Clwyd AC (Kinmel Estate), River Elwy — Rhyl & St Asaph AA, River Aled — Rhyl & St Asaph AA, River Wheeler (Afon Chwiler) — Vale of Clwyd AC
The 4 beats
River Elwy — Vale of Clwyd AC (Kinmel Estate)Members
Vale of Clwyd Angling Club
Six beats on the lower Elwy near the Kinmel Estate, closer to St Asaph — the Elwy is one of Wales's more productive sea trout (sewin) fisheries, with fish of 5-10lb routinely caught.
Members only. Annual membership around £145 (renew before 31 March).
Visit official site ↗River Elwy — Rhyl & St Asaph AADay tickets
Rhyl & St Asaph Angling Association
About 9 beats further upstream, from St Asaph town water up toward Llanfair Talhaiarn — part of a combined ~20-mile Clwyd/Elwy/Aled holding.
Visitor day ticket £15 (1-day) / £60 (5-day), covering Clwyd/Elwy/Aled beats — confirm which specific beats are included before travelling.
Visit official site ↗River Aled — Rhyl & St Asaph AAMembers
Rhyl & St Asaph Angling Association
A single double-bank beat downstream of Llansannan, on this smaller Elwy tributary that rises at Llyn Aled reservoir. Best later in the season for migratory fish; salmon is not confirmed on this specific beat.
RASAAA membership ~£180 adult; some beats may be included in the visitor day-ticket scheme, confirm before travelling.
Visit official site ↗River Wheeler (Afon Chwiler) — Vale of Clwyd ACMembers
Vale of Clwyd Angling Club
A single beat near Bodfari on this small Clwyd tributary, followed for its whole length by the A541. Established brown trout population, with sea trout and salmon running when water heights allow.
Members only — no day-ticket route found for this beat.
Visit official site ↗What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 6
River Clwyd valley, southwest of Ruthin 
Afon Clwyd at Trefnant 
River Clwyd at Rhuddlan 
The River Clwyd, Ruthin Park 
River Clwyd, Ruthin Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
The full read · show the working · for Sea Trout · confidence 90%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightVery Low-3.4
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftDropping Too Far Towards Low Clear+1.1
Water temperatureCool To Moderate+3.5
Time in seasonLate Season+1.9
ClarityClearing+2.4
Hydrology base5.5
Will they take?Neutralcaps the band
Taking mood is fair — clearing, stained water, very low flow.
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
What would change the calculation
No prolonged stable spell before the current rise.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Salmon 20 March → 17 October
- Trout 3 March → 30 September
Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026) — NRW At Risk classification. North Wales river. Sea trout present but stocks are among the more marginal in Wales; classified At Risk. Secondary quarry behind salmon.
Salmon: Negligible (2026) — NRW / EA 2024 Salmon Stocks Assessment classifies this Welsh principal salmon river 'at risk' — egg deposition below Conservation Limit. All Wales byelaws (in force 2020-2030) make catch & release mandatory. Conservation priority; not a salmon fishing destination. The Clwyd's salmon run is much reduced; classified at risk.
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Boards & regulators
River Clwyd
Water temperature for Sea Trout
Ideal15°C est.ideal 8–15°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Sea Trout
When
From dusk into the first half of the night.
Where
Deeper pools and slower glides · hold water and current seams.
Method
Fish dark patterns on a sink-tip or lightly sunk line, especially near structure.
Kit
10 ft #6/7 rod, floating line with a sink-tip option, 8–10 lb fluoro tippet for the swing.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Likely species
Caddisflies
- Net-spinning caddisMost likelyLower confidenceNearest relative#12–14–16 · PupaWidespread riffle net-spinner; evening emergence.
- CapererAlso possibleLower confidence#10–12 · AdultBig autumn sedge; fish dry at last light.
- Large sedgesAlso possibleNearest relative#8–10 · AdultBig waked sedge in the last light and after dark.
- Green SedgeAlso possibleLower confidenceNearest relative#10–12–14–16 · NymphFree-living green caddis larva; fast stony riffles.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 12h
12h(now) — Heather Fly
Stage: Terrestrials on topApproach: Dry flyActivity: 54%
Also:Reed Smut49%Cinnamon Sedge30%Autumn Dun28%
Peak emergence windowWeather boost10 food groups active
Peak activity at 12h — Heather Fly (Heather Fly, Peak emergence window)
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 3 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence
Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.
Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Hawthorn FlyHatch
2
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Fly box · Sea Trout
Top
1-2 inch · Tube
In deep pools and dark water, silhouette and contrast do the work colour cannot. A fly that reads as black against depth is enough. Fish it broadside, hold the swing, let it hang at the dangle — that is when the best fish take.
8-12 · Streamer
Slim and mobile — fished sunk through the pool when surface work is not producing. Consistently takes fish that will not come to the surface.
2-4 inch · Streamer
A mobile eel-like profile that undulates through deep pools — effective when sea trout are lying deep and not responding to conventional wets.
Beats · 5 · 2 reaches
Rhyl & St Asaph AA — visitor permitsAccess varies
The Clwyd is a sewin river first.
Visit official site ↗Clwyd tributaries · 4 beatsMixed
River Elwy — Vale of Clwyd AC (Kinmel Estate), River Elwy — Rhyl & St Asaph AA, River Aled — Rhyl & St Asaph AA, River Wheeler (Afon Chwiler) — Vale of Clwyd AC
The 4 beats
River Elwy — Vale of Clwyd AC (Kinmel Estate)Members
Vale of Clwyd Angling Club
Six beats on the lower Elwy near the Kinmel Estate, closer to St Asaph — the Elwy is one of Wales's more productive sea trout (sewin) fisheries, with fish of 5-10lb routinely caught.
Members only. Annual membership around £145 (renew before 31 March).
Visit official site ↗River Elwy — Rhyl & St Asaph AADay tickets
Rhyl & St Asaph Angling Association
About 9 beats further upstream, from St Asaph town water up toward Llanfair Talhaiarn — part of a combined ~20-mile Clwyd/Elwy/Aled holding.
Visitor day ticket £15 (1-day) / £60 (5-day), covering Clwyd/Elwy/Aled beats — confirm which specific beats are included before travelling.
Visit official site ↗River Aled — Rhyl & St Asaph AAMembers
Rhyl & St Asaph Angling Association
A single double-bank beat downstream of Llansannan, on this smaller Elwy tributary that rises at Llyn Aled reservoir. Best later in the season for migratory fish; salmon is not confirmed on this specific beat.
RASAAA membership ~£180 adult; some beats may be included in the visitor day-ticket scheme, confirm before travelling.
Visit official site ↗River Wheeler (Afon Chwiler) — Vale of Clwyd ACMembers
Vale of Clwyd Angling Club
A single beat near Bodfari on this small Clwyd tributary, followed for its whole length by the A541. Established brown trout population, with sea trout and salmon running when water heights allow.
Members only — no day-ticket route found for this beat.
Visit official site ↗What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 6
River Clwyd valley, southwest of Ruthin Afon Clwyd at Trefnant River Clwyd at Rhuddlan The River Clwyd, Ruthin Park River Clwyd, Ruthin Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
NRW (Wales) · UKGB110066059960
The full read · show the working · for Sea Trout · confidence 90%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightVery Low-3.4
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftDropping Too Far Towards Low Clear+1.1
Water temperatureCool To Moderate+3.5
Time in seasonLate Season+1.9
ClarityClearing+2.4
Hydrology base5.5
Will they take?Neutralcaps the band
Taking mood is fair — clearing, stained water, very low flow.
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
What would change the calculation
No prolonged stable spell before the current rise.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Salmon 20 March → 17 October
- Trout 3 March → 30 September
Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026) — NRW At Risk classification. North Wales river. Sea trout present but stocks are among the more marginal in Wales; classified At Risk. Secondary quarry behind salmon.
Salmon: Negligible (2026) — NRW / EA 2024 Salmon Stocks Assessment classifies this Welsh principal salmon river 'at risk' — egg deposition below Conservation Limit. All Wales byelaws (in force 2020-2030) make catch & release mandatory. Conservation priority; not a salmon fishing destination. The Clwyd's salmon run is much reduced; classified at risk.
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Boards & regulators