Saltney to Queensferry
Last updated September 2022
The Dee Estuary from Saltney to Queensferry has a dyke type embankment along its right-hand bank. It gives good access offering excellent flounder fishing. This section of the estuary is uniform in its width and depth. It is the part of 5 mile (8 km) section which was canalised in the 19C by Dutch workers. This part of the river runs from approximately 1.5 miles below Chester weir to just below Hawarden Bridge at Shotton.
Saltney Bridge
Fishing is mainly from the right-hand bank where access is easiest but where you can access the left-hand bank where you you’ll find a bit more peace and quiet from passers-by. This section of the estuary is uniform in width as it is the part of the five-mile (8 km) 'canalised' section
which begins around Shotton and runs almost right into Chester itself.
The Dee is tidal right the way to Chester Weir so targeting sea fish you don't need a freshwater licence.
The banks are quite steep in places and venturing onto the mud at low water isn’t a good idea! Because the river channel has been narrowed the tidal flow can be quite strong on the higher spring tides which can limit your fishing time. Normally you be looking to fish 2hrs either side of high water but you can fish from low water right up and over high. Start as soon as the tide begins to flood.
The main species you’ll expect to catch are flounder and silver eels. Some big bags of flounder are possible and the fish are a good average size.
The characteristics of the tides in this part of the river can be a little bit strange. The flood seems to happen very quickly so much so that the river is famous for it's tidal bore. The ebb is a much gentler affair. I'm no expert but imagine the tidal characteristics are to do with man's intervention creating the atificially narrow channel. Even though you're more than 20k from the open sea the tidal flow will require 125g - 150g leads most of the time. If you get the balance so that the lead is very slowly moving in the tide you’ll often find bites come as the line swings round and settles. Best baits are ragworm and lugworm.
This section of the estuary carries the usual warnings about too much fresh flood water and the impact it has on fishing. Not something I’d normally say but being so far inland the salinity levels are more affected and drop much faster when the rivers in flood. An advantage to being so far inland is that when the open beaches are too rough to fish you can normally still fish here.
Last updated September 2022
The Dee Estuary from Saltney to Queensferry has a dyke type embankment along its right-hand bank. It gives good access offering excellent flounder fishing. This section of the estuary is uniform in its width and depth. It is the part of 5 mile (8 km) section which was canalised in the 19C by Dutch workers. This part of the river runs from approximately 1.5 miles below Chester weir to just below Hawarden Bridge at Shotton.
Saltney Bridge
Fishing is mainly from the right-hand bank where access is easiest but where you can access the left-hand bank where you you’ll find a bit more peace and quiet from passers-by. This section of the estuary is uniform in width as it is the part of the five-mile (8 km) 'canalised' section
The Dee is tidal right the way to Chester Weir so targeting sea fish you don't need a freshwater licence.
The banks are quite steep in places and venturing onto the mud at low water isn’t a good idea! Because the river channel has been narrowed the tidal flow can be quite strong on the higher spring tides which can limit your fishing time. Normally you be looking to fish 2hrs either side of high water but you can fish from low water right up and over high. Start as soon as the tide begins to flood.
The main species you’ll expect to catch are flounder and silver eels. Some big bags of flounder are possible and the fish are a good average size.
The characteristics of the tides in this part of the river can be a little bit strange. The flood seems to happen very quickly so much so that the river is famous for it's tidal bore. The ebb is a much gentler affair. I'm no expert but imagine the tidal characteristics are to do with man's intervention creating the atificially narrow channel. Even though you're more than 20k from the open sea the tidal flow will require 125g - 150g leads most of the time. If you get the balance so that the lead is very slowly moving in the tide you’ll often find bites come as the line swings round and settles. Best baits are ragworm and lugworm.
This section of the estuary carries the usual warnings about too much fresh flood water and the impact it has on fishing. Not something I’d normally say but being so far inland the salinity levels are more affected and drop much faster when the rivers in flood. An advantage to being so far inland is that when the open beaches are too rough to fish you can normally still fish here.
Jim Bewley a brace of Flounder taken from Saltney Bridge
Jim Bewley yet another Flounder from Saltney Bridge
The whole length of the right-hand bank from Saltney to Old Shotton Steelworks Head Office building alongside the railway bridge is almost 7km in length so plenty of places to fish!
Queensferry
The right-hand bank between the Blue Bridge and the railway bridge by the old Shotton Steel Works is not noticeably different from the Saltney end of this stretch of river. It is however 7km nearer to the open sea and this means in summer there’s a slightly better chance of a school bass. But flounder and silver eels will still be the mainstay of catches.
Whether it's true or not there’s a belief by some that the fishing improves as you get closer to the railway bridge.
The easiest places to access these marks if you're in a vehicle is at Saltney Bridge via Ferry Lane on the right hand bank or from the small parking spot off the B5129 for the lefthand bank. Queensferry by the Blue Bridge offers only limited parking opportunities. You can follow the road that takes right down to the old Steel Works Head Offices and park up there close to the Hawarden Railway Bridge but its a bit of a challenge to access the coastal path from there.
Summer offers Flounder, Silver Eels, and very occasional School Bass. In winter there's an influx of Whiting joining the Flounder.
Nearest Post Code Saltney Bridge CH1 6QQ
Nearest Post Code Jubilee Lift Bridge CH5 2RA
('Queensferry Blue Bridge')
Tide Times Chester
Thanks to Jim Bewley 'River Dee fishing , From SOURCE to SEA' for his input and photo's.
