Free Fishing

Fishing the River Tees at Leekworth Caravan Park and Campsite 

(you do require a rod licence click here)

The River Tees is a prolific game fishing river and the stretch at Leekworth is no exception and contains wild brown trout and grayling in good numbers. There are several angling methods for catching these fish including fly fishing with artificial flies, bait fishing with worms or maggots or using a light spinning rod with a lure or spinner.  The most widely used method for catching trout on the upper Tees is fly fishing with an artificial fly and on most water, no other method is allowed. 

Fly fishing for Trout and Grayling at Leekworth

Equipment for river fly fishing is generally light.  A rod between 8 and 9 feet and rated for 3-5 weight fly lines is used.  A floating fly line is the most suitable.  If you are new to river fly fishing and would like an introduction there are local guides available http://www.onstream-guide.com/streamguiding.html who can teach you the basics and get you catching fish very quickly.  Waders are essential but take extra care when wading in the river Tees.  It is a spate river and can rise very quickly without warning and the river bed is challenging with various slippery boulders which are not visible.  Felt-soled wading boots and a wading staff are advised for safety reasons.

Flies for the River Tees at Leekworth

A small selection of dry flies and nymphs should see most visiting anglers at Leekworth catching fish. We recommend the dry flies for this stretch of river, especially the Match and the Hatch Pale watery.  

Nymphs are also useful for catching trout and grayling and the widely acclaimed pheasant tail and hares ear nymphs are as good as any. Other flies that work include spider patterns like the snipe and purple, partridge and orange and waterhen bloa.

Other Fishing Methods

Maggots and small worms can be trotted under a small stick float using coarse fishing tackle.  Worms/maggots can be ledgered using small weights or a swim feeder.  Spinning with a small Meps spinner may fool trout early in the morning or at sunset.

We are one of the only places to stock Jonathan Barnes (on stream guide) flies.  We also have a range of fly fishing equipment and accessories. 

The above video ‘In the ring of the rise’ shows Jonathan Barnes fishing in Leekworth Caravan Parks stretch of the River Tees.

We can also be used as a great base to visit many more nearby excellent fly fishing spots on the River Tees.  These include Darlington Brown Trout Angling Association (DBTAA) Water (Members and guest only), Cow Green, Grassholme and Hury.