Fished the ribble from 7am till 12. Saw a few coloured fish but no takes apart from a small chub.

 

l got an Email the other day saying that the EA are thinking of making changes to the bylaws on the Ribble catchment like returning all Salmon,(quite alot of us already do that,) use barbless hooks, ban worm fishing, limits on hook size and number, Sea trout slot limit (upper and lower size for retention

 

You can do the survey here.
EA target anglers rather than water companies, farmers and (of course) cull the birds.

Proposed Environmental Agency (EA) New National Byelaws Dear Member You may be aware that the Environment Agency (EA) is developing new national byelaws that could significantly impact salmon and sea trout angling across England—including the Ribble catchment. These proposals include: ​ 🔍 EA Informal Proposal Highlights: Mandatory catch and release for salmon on rivers classed as “At Risk” or “Probably At Risk” (which includes the Ribble) Ban on worm fishing Use of barbless hooks only Limits on hook size and number Sea trout slot limit (upper and lower size limits for retention) ​ If you wish to complete their online survey collating members views on these proposals, follow the link below: 📌 Click here to access the survey

Salmon & Sea Trout National Byelaws Feedback Form

Please click the link to complete this form.

form.jotform.com

 

I'm largely in favour of those changes, but I'm not sure who that survey is on behalf of? It isn't a government document, and I'm not inclined to fill it in, when I don't know what will be done with the data. Who is trying to find out, and for what purposes? It says North West Angling Trust, but I can't go up from that link to see why they are asking, and I can't find it on their site. Plus, if I can fill it in, and I'm not a member, how can it be collating member's views?

 

I produced the survey on behalf of the North West Angling Trust Fisheries Consultative Council (NWATFCC) and I’m happy to clarify.

NWATFCC is a regional, volunteer-led body that brings together various consultatives — such as the Ribble Fisheries Consultative Association (RFCA) — and represents the major North West catchments: Ribble, Lune, Kent, Derwent, Eden, Border Esk, and others.

The purpose of the survey is to gather structured feedback from anglers across the North West ahead of the Environment Agency’s formal consultation on proposed national byelaws for salmon and sea trout. This allows both individual catchments and NWATFCC as a whole to understand local angler views based on real data — not anecdote or assumption.

At the last NWATFCC meeting, the EA presented their draft proposals and it was agreed that gathering catchment-level opinion would be valuable. To support that, it was agreed we would host a survey to capture views in a meaningful and consistent way.

So far, we’ve had around 350 responses from across the region — and the insights have been invaluable for identifying themes, support, and concerns across different rivers.

To answer your question — no, you don’t need to be a member of any specific organisation to complete the form. The EA’s informal consultation is open to all stakeholders — anglers, clubs, riparian owners, landowners, or anyone with an interest in our rivers.

This is simply a pre-consultation step to help inform local engagement and representation ahead of the EA’s formal deadline on 7 October 2025. For reference, similar surveys are also now being adopted and run independently in other regions, including the South West.

I hope that reassures you — and if you have any other questions, I’d be more than happy to help.

 

I’m not going to have a pop at you for this.
Anglers are an easy target, which is a disgrace given that it’s us that really are the custodians of the rivers and the day to day eyes on of impacts to our waterways and fish.
Any weapons that can be given to the toothless and (generally seen to be) useless EA is a weapon too many.
Catch and release, barbless hooks, bans on this and that for anglers are inconsequential when compared to the sewage spills, bad farming practices, water extraction, poor aquaculture, decimation of prey fish by offshore fishing, gobbling up of young fish by birds (and before somebody says that birds have no impact - open your eyes), and climate change.

So in summary, stop trying to constrain anglers and force the powers that be to act responsibly and do what they should do to look after our environment.
Governments year after year have done nothing to enforce better practices as it’s simply not vote worthy.

We are an easy target. Stop shooting at us and turn the howitzers the other way round.

 

I’m not going to have a pop at you for this.
Anglers are an easy target, which is a disgrace given that it’s us that really are the custodians of the rivers and the day to day eyes on of impacts to our waterways and fish.
Any weapons that can be given to the toothless and (generally seen to be) useless EA is a weapon too many.
Catch and release, barbless hooks, bans on this and that for anglers are inconsequential when compared to the sewage spills, bad farming practices, water extraction, poor aquaculture, decimation of prey fish by offshore fishing, gobbling up of young fish by birds (and before somebody says that birds have no impact - open your eyes), and climate change.

So in summary, stop trying to constrain anglers and force the powers that be to act responsibly and do what they should do to look after our environment.
Governments year after year have done nothing to enforce better practices as it’s simply not vote worthy.

We are an easy target. Stop shooting at us and turn the howitzers the other way round.

Thanks for your comment although I’m not entirely sure which part you’re referring to specifically, but I’ll try to respond constructively.

If the suggestion is that organisations like the RFCA or NWATFCC don’t engage with the Environment Agency or other statutory bodies, I’d have to respectfully disagree. In fact, much of this current process is being driven by DEFRA, and these voluntary, regional organisations are some of the few voices consistently raising angler concerns in formal settings.

What’s important to understand is this: choosing not to engage or submit a response — whether through the RFCA/NWATFCC or directly to the EA will be interpreted by the EA as agreement with the proposals by default. If only a few hundred respond out of thousands of licence holders, the assumption will be that the majority are content.

One of the biggest challenges for the angling community is that we don’t always act collectively or proactively. Meanwhile, organisations like the RSPB, for example, are highly coordinated and therefore hold far more influence with policymakers and regulators. As the person who manages the Area Based Bird Management Licence for the Ribble be assured that Natural England are placed under extreme pressure by bird lobbying group and their legal entities to justify allocated numbers and intervention. Be also assured that many licensees don't use their allocation - what does that say?

This isn’t a personal criticism of you: but a general observation: if even a fraction of the energy spent on forums and Facebook threads was instead directed toward writing to MPs or responding to consultations, we would have a much louder voice where it actually matters.

We all care deeply about our rivers and fish but I sure you will agree we have to engage constructively to be heard rather than silent but nosey in our echo chambers.

 

Presumably if the survey shows widespread disagreement with the proposed byelaws and with space for comments then that is what will be presented to the EA ?
Not saying it will make any difference but at least anglers will have made their views clear.

 

Just filled in the survey. Same old EA. Ban it n stop it mentality.
Sadly that’s all they bring to the party.Everytime.

 

Thank you for taking the time to explain in detail 9007, it's much appreciated. I will certainly consider completing the survey now.

Crabacle, I do get what you're saying, that we are, largely speaking, inconsequential, but that doesn't make the proposals entirely pointless. Yes, we are relatively low in numbers, and can often do far more good than harm anyway, able to report problems far quicker than they might otherwise be, but, that doesn't mean that fishing with barbless hooks, for example, would not be a good thing. I've nearly switched over entirely now, but if it were law, I'd definitely make the effort to go through all my pretied leaders and do so. Indeed, this exercise has made me think that I will do just that.

I would also never dream of taking a fish, any fish, and would be gutted if one died on me, and it's been years and years, including all the trout and grayling I've caught. If one did, or had serious injury, I would be seriously upset, frustrated and annoyed with myself. I don't see how it can be a bad thing if barbless hooks are mandated, and if we are asked to return all migratory fish. Surely that would be good for the fish, and as such that's a good thing for all of us.

Just because we are likely to be asked to do these things, that doesn't necessarily mean they aren't doing any of the other things we would like them to be doing. They probably aren't, but would stopping doing this really give them the resources to do all the things we would like?

 

I won’t give my views to the ‘EA will do what they want if we don’t respond’ line.

However as regards the licence for shooting birds not being fulfilled, I believe that our club has a cormorant license for a whole 2 birds this year. WTF ?
Won’t even make a dent. ‘Many licencees don’t use their allocation’? There’s probably a good reason for them not reporting accurately.
Please stop pandering to political niceties and do something meaningful.
Perhaps the next meeting of the RFCA will put forwards a joint response from all Ribble clubs along the lines of my sentiments above.
By the way, don’t assume that by posting here that I haven’t responded to the questionnaire.

There are lots of cooks representing anglers and no chiefs - just how the powers that be like it.

Have I put somebody’s nose out with my post? I hope so.
It’s not worth commenting any more this subject.

 

I won’t give my views to the ‘EA will do what they want if we don’t respond’ line.

However as regards the licence for shooting birds not being fulfilled, I believe that our club has a cormorant license for a whole 2 birds this year. WTF ?
Won’t even make a dent. ‘Many licencees don’t use their allocation’? There’s probably a good reason for them not reporting accurately.
Please stop pandering to political niceties and do something meaningful.
Perhaps the next meeting of the RFCA will put forwards a joint response from all Ribble clubs along the lines of my sentiments above.
By the way, don’t assume that by posting here that I haven’t responded to the questionnaire.

There are lots of cooks representing anglers and no chiefs - just how the powers that be like it.

Have I put somebody’s nose out with my post? I hope so.
It’s not worth commenting any more this subject.

I'll ensure your positive proactive response is certainly brought up at the next RFCA meeting. If you wish to formally present please feel free to email ng.rfca@gmail.com

 

Ever decreasing circles

The only data that Defra have about salmon numbers is provided by our catch returns and they charge us £85 a year to provide it. What a system.

Make it harder to catch fish - ie restrict methods etc - more people give up. Less people fishing = less salmon caught. Less salmon caught = more restrictions. Because it's a cheap fix. A pathetic cheap response to look like they have taken action. Lip service.

As others have rightly said - the problem aint us. We are already at 96% C&R voluntarily.

Ive filled it in - Undecided mainly and a moan about the migratory licence fee. IMO it should be scrapped - trout licence and a catch return is plenty for the data. Without us they are blind.

Defra seem to reach out every ten years 2015 - 2025 - next one will be 2035. Meanwhile the rivers polluted constantly by private water and agri run off.

Question 1 - Do you think salmon like cold, clean water
Question 2 - Should we reduce the gape on a hook

Of the two questions which is harder to achieve within a budget.

We are low hanging fruit.

Playhappy, Fish more,
Boo

 

Any suggestion that EA/DEFRA actually do anything effective to protect fishing is entirely false. Many factors involved of course in fishery declines - BUT virtually all resolvable with alternative approaches (sewage treatment and farming methods) that, extraordinarily also benefit the wider public interests - yet powerful vested interests prevent.

 

Might help if they did something to stop it being overloaded with nutrients. This is what I arrived to today.

 

That’s what I’ve found too at Sawley. Are you downstream of that?

 

Not far upstream.

 

I hadn't realised that Norwegian salmon numbers have dramatically declined over recent years, and it seems that one of the main culprits is sea-lice, mainly from salmon farms.

I found this video really interesting -

 

mr sharkey could do with seeing this

 

I got the rod out for the first time in a couple of months on a big 3ft peaty river mainly to clear cabin fever. Using big red Francis I was surprised to get a strong pull then later on an aggressive take with a fish on for 15sec before did an acrobatic leap and threw the fly, a fresh looking Salmon of around 10lb that got the heart beating.0

 

Well done Warwick, as the saying goes 'better to have hooked and lost than never have hooked at all'.... I once said the same to PlayHappy after loosing a tide fresh Springer 8th April that spat the fly after a good few minutes fight and lept 3 times near Clitheroe. He said to me after seeing me go pale, head in hands and tears in eyes repeatedly saying 'No, No, No, No' he said he doubts the saying is correct

 

Sea trout season finally over - another blank for me😩
I‘ve been more successful with the salmon than sea trout.
I got out this afternoon with the big rod & hooked & landed a salmon within the first half hour & managed another grilse in the last hour of day light.
Lets hope there’s a decent run of salmon to come in the last 6 weeks of the season 🤞

 

Well done Paul, youve had a decent season. Im sure there will be plenty more for you over the next 6 weeks

 

I managed another salmon this afternoon & a 1 1/2lb Sea trout season for & lost either a salmon or a sea trout - reel scream off for a couple of seconds then all went slack, win some & lose some! All part of fishing 😀

 

all

 

Ribbles goosed now though, lucky I didn't take a trip over this morning, I'd have just crossed the river and shortly after all thoughts of crossing back over and indeed constructive fishing would have gone flying downstream with all this flood water!.
Time for a bit of fly tying!.
Pedro.

 

I’m sure you get out sometime this week Pete.
Message me on whatsApp if you are unsure, when you plan on coming over

 

Fished Hodder yesterday morning, not a sniff then Ribble in afternoon and hooked a tiny coloured grilse about 3lb which came off as I was about to land it. Good water on both rivers, was expecting more

 

With today's forecast rain on top of what's already in the river, meaningful fishing will be on hold for perhaps the rest of the week yet. However this height of water should flush the worse of the peat stain out thats been a result of the dry spring and summer. Fingers crossed folks, get the starting blocks out!
Pedro.

 

Some rain forecast every day for the next week. If the river stays high for a long time it does start to run clearer even at higher levels meaning fish can be caught providing you hit the river dropping and on a stretch with (normally) shallower pools. Often just the inside half of pools above what would be dry land in low water.

 

I have a few spots in mind for a 3ft height Occasional salmon fisher that have worked for me in the past, but as the rivers on the up again patience will be a virtue for a while yet.
Pedro.

 

I have caught in 4 foot plus in the past (with big tubes and sink tips) but generally only when the river is falling with one exception when it stayed fairly clear even when rising a couple of feet.