Milnthorpe Angling Association 

The Bela  is a short spring fed  river rising from the surrounding limestone area and is more  chalk stream like in nature than most other northern rivers. The river usually runs clear and most years has a good growth of Ranunculus weed which helps to maintain water levels and keeps the water cool  during dry and warm periods.  Milnthorpe Angling Association, which was founded in 1858,  controls around 3 miles of mainly double bank fishing on the river.  In addition there is a tidal section at the bottom of the river which is rarely fished but mullet are known to be in this part of the river.  

 

The river Bela holds a healthy stock of wild brown trout  ranging from 3" all the way up to 25" plus.  Every year fish of over 3lb are caught and fish up to 5 lbs have been taken . Check out our Photos section to see some of the stunning brown trout in our river. There is a small run of salmon and seatrout which usually get caught by accident!

 

The river Bela offers some of the most exciting dry fly fishing in the North, with grannom and various olives appearing in April, as the season progresses good hatches of blue winged olives continue right through into September .  

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