Fishing
Our Park offers excellent coarse fishing or game fishing in rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs. We also have a great selection of country hotels that offer a special welcome to outdoor sportsmen.
To fish with a rod and line in England, Wales or the Border Esk region of Scotland, you need a Rod Licence. Valid for one day, eight days or a full year (1 April – 31 March), these are available from the Post Office, in person at any branch, by phone (tel 0844 800 5386) or online (www.postoffice.co.uk).
Where to fish in the Brecon Beacons National Park
The River Wye
The Wye rises at almost 700m above sea level in the remote Cambrian Mountains. From there it journeys for 260km (160 miles), touching the Park around Hay-on-Wye before flowing on and into the Severn Estuary at Chepstow. The coarse fisherman can expect barbel, chub, roach and dace or one of the big predatory perch and pike that lurk in the deep pools. Day tickets can be purchased for most reaches.
The River Usk
An important salmon river and also famous for its wild brown trout, the Usk winds it way along the beautiful Usk Valley from Brecon to Abergavenny, before ending its journey in the Bristol Channel.
The Wye and Usk Foundation (www.wyeuskfoundation.org) is a registered charity concerned with restoring the habitat, water quality and fisheries of the rivers Wye and Usk. It publishes The Wye and Usk Passport, with information about how to fish the Wye and Usk, educational material and almost all you would ever need to know about the foundation or the two rivers.
Talybont Reservoir
Talybont Reservoir is in the forested Caerfanell Valley, a short distance from the village of Talybont-on-Usk.
It has a reputation as a productive brown trout fishery.
Fishing permits can be obtained on site from a machine at the water treatment works. Contact Welsh Water / Dwr Cymru (www.dwrcymru.com) for further information.
Usk Reservoir
This is spectacularly sited at 320m above sea level at the head of the Usk Valley.
It is an excellent trout fishery in a quiet and remote area of the Park under the scarp faces of the Carmarthen Fans.
Fishing permits are available from a machine located near the dam wall. Contact Fishing in Kite Country (www.fishing-in-kite-country.co.uk) and Welsh Water / Dwr Cymru (www.dwrcymru.com) for further information.
Llangorse Lake
Llangorse is the largest natural lake in South Wales. It's famous for coarse fishing for pike. There are also perch, roach, bream, tench and eels in the lake. Fishing is only permitted from a boat, not from the bank.
Unless you're under 16, as well as a rod licence (available from the Post Office, as detailed above) you will need a day permit from Lakeside Boat Hire, Lakeside Caravan and Camping Park, Llangorse Common, which also hires fishing boats.
The lake is a Special Area of Conservation, and fish must be returned to the water after being caught.
Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal
Running alongside the River Usk is a narrow and picturesque canal where anglers who prefer the pace of slow flowing waters can fish for trout, carp, dace and perch. The towpath at Talybont allows wheelchair access.
Fishing permits can be obtained from the Canal and River Trust (The Dock Office, Commercial Road, Gloucester, GL1 2EB, tel 03030 404040, www.canalrivertrust.org.uk).
General information
Detailed and up to date information on angling sites, licences and permits is available from our visitor centres and tourist offices, Welsh Water / Dwr Cymru (www.dwrcymru.com), the Environment Agency (www.environment-agency.gov.uk) and Fishing in Wales (www.fishing-in-wales.com).
Be prepared, be responsible, stay safe
For important advice on good practice and safety including the Check, Clean, Drain, Dry routine, see our Be prepared and stay safe section.
Salmon is prey to a particularly nasty parasite, Gyrodactylus Salaris, which is only half a millimetre long but can devastate populations. Thankfully, they’re not here yet. Please help keep them out of Wales. If you’ve been boating or fishing in Europe, particularly Scandinavia, wash your equipment in salt water and dry it thoroughly.