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River Ribble 2025

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#81 ·
For the past 2-3 weeks I have been out sea trout fishing on our beat at YFFC on the Ribble.
In many evenings the river has become converted in scum - see the. First picture for an example. When dark falls this gets worse.
Surprisingly, the morning after this has all cleared, but it repeats itself the next day.
It’s too early to point fingers, however it’s very odd that this happens almost daily.
It’s not just that it makes night fishing for sea trout virtually impossible, but it’s so worrying that this scum miraculously appears as it goes dark and ‘washes away’ by first light.
I have access to a video that shows the worst of it at midnight.
It cannot be a natural phenomenon.
The EA will do nothing unless readings show issues or there is fish kill. However I would ask any others who fish the Ribble above or below the YFFC beats to describe if they have encountered the same conditions whilst night fishing.
The 2 images show the same beat at dusk and early morning. The video would shock you.
 
#82 ·
Image

Image

crabacle said:
For the past 2-3 weeks I have been out sea trout fishing on our beat at YFFC on the Ribble.
In many evenings the river has become converted in scum - see the. First picture for an example. When dark falls this gets worse.
Surprisingly, the morning after this has all cleared, but it repeats itself the next day.
It’s too early to point fingers, however it’s very odd that this happens almost daily.
It’s not just that it makes night fishing for sea trout virtually impossible, but it’s so worrying that this scum miraculously appears as it goes dark and ‘washes away’ by first light.
I have access to a video that shows the worst of it at midnight.
It cannot be a natural phenomenon.
The EA will do nothing unless readings show issues or there is fish kill. However I would ask any others who fish the Ribble above or below the YFFC beats to describe if they have encountered the same conditions whilst night fishing.
The 2 images show the same beat at dusk and early morning. The video would shock you.
Click to expand...
 
#84 ·
crabacle said:
on t e first picture ignore the scum close to the camera but look at the river towards the far bank. It’s full of scum
Click to expand...
crabacle said:
For the past 2-3 weeks I have been out sea trout fishing on our beat at YFFC on the Ribble.
In many evenings the river has become converted in scum - see the. First picture for an example. When dark falls this gets worse.
Surprisingly, the morning after this has all cleared, but it repeats itself the next day.
It’s too early to point fingers, however it’s very odd that this happens almost daily.
It’s not just that it makes night fishing for sea trout virtually impossible, but it’s so worrying that this scum miraculously appears as it goes dark and ‘washes away’ by first light.
I have access to a video that shows the worst of it at midnight.
It cannot be a natural phenomenon.
The EA will do nothing unless readings show issues or there is fish kill. However I would ask any others who fish the Ribble above or below the YFFC beats to describe if they have encountered the same conditions whilst night fishing.
The 2 images show the same beat at dusk and early morning. The video would shock you.
Click to expand...
I reported something similar on the lower river a couple of years ago although it happens during the day. Sudden appearance of foam on the water that you can almost set your watch by coinciding with pot washing times, mid morning and early evening ? Not sure if anything was found or done about it ?
 
#87 ·
lve seen quite a lot of the same scum held up in little back eddy's for months, we have noticed a change in the colour of the river while fishing and never the levels not moved. It's nice to hear that there's fish in the system of you guys .
 
#88 ·
Out yesterday afternoon to dark. Ribble was getting back low again, but a good enough height for fishing. Loads of green snotty weed up the banks in the reeds and stones and still a fair bit in the water. Once more the water was very dark and carrying quite a bit of foam. I put this down to peat stain!. With the low water of spring, and only the occasional minor flush through I've usually found the peat isn't getting flushed away or more probably not diluted enough by the lower flows. As a consequence it's lingering a lot longer, or it's just more plain noticeable for longer. Good bank toppers or more prolonged water heights seem to dilute its effects more!.
Saw one fish all session, couldn't tell what it was , either a small Salmon or a good Sea Trout, showed in an awkward spot and although I got to cover it, it wasn't for chewing the flee.
At last I did manage to get off the mark with a small Grilse that had been in a while. I was just starting at the head of a pool in a foot of water at most, just working the head out bit at a time, not enough line to load the rod and the 3rd cast went a bit square into the faster water. I saw the splash and had to wait to feel anything before the line tightened and the fish went mental.
Sadly it was spewing blood and died in the net. Thats only the 3rd fish I've killed on Ribble in 12 years, the wee double was right down its throat.. One other pool, I'd 5 wee Brownies right in the tail and it was 9pm in my last pool of the session when I had a Sea Trout of 2lb that went back. It looked like the river was dead all afternoon/evening with nothing showing, not even Brownies or Chub .
It was nice to be out again! and good to get the Monkey off the back, even though I felt guilty at the consequences!. The weather report said it would rain early evening, so I put the wading jacket on- and cooked for doing so, even though it didn't rain.
Pedro.
 
#93 ·
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
 
#94 ·
You can do the survey here.
EA target anglers rather than water companies, farmers and (of course) cull the birds.

Image

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

form.jotform.com

Salmon & Sea Trout National Byelaws Feedback Form

Please click the link to complete this form.
form.jotform.com form.jotform.com
 
#95 ·
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?
 
#96 · (Edited)
Rennie said:
Out yesterday afternoon to dark. Ribble was getting back low again, but a good enough height for fishing. Loads of green snotty weed up the banks in the reeds and stones and still a fair bit in the water. Once more the water was very dark and carrying quite a bit of foam. I put this down to peat stain!. With the low water of spring, and only the occasional minor flush through I've usually found the peat isn't getting flushed away or more probably not diluted enough by the lower flows. As a consequence it's lingering a lot longer, or it's just more plain noticeable for longer. Good bank toppers or more prolonged water heights seem to dilute its effects more!.
Saw one fish all session, couldn't tell what it was , either a small Salmon or a good Sea Trout, showed in an awkward spot and although I got to cover it, it wasn't for chewing the flee.
At last I did manage to get off the mark with a small Grilse that had been in a while. I was just starting at the head of a pool in a foot of water at most, just working the head out bit at a time, not enough line to load the rod and the 3rd cast went a bit square into the faster water. I saw the splash and had to wait to feel anything before the line tightened and the fish went mental.
Sadly it was spewing blood and died in the net. Thats only the 3rd fish I've killed on Ribble in 12 years, the wee double was right down its throat.. One other pool, I'd 5 wee Brownies right in the tail and it was 9pm in my last pool of the session when I had a Sea Trout of 2lb that went back. It looked like the river was dead all afternoon/evening with nothing showing, not even Brownies or Chub .
It was nice to be out again! and good to get the Monkey off the back, even though I felt guilty at the consequences!. The weather report said it would rain early evening, so I put the wading jacket on- and cooked for doing so, even though it didn't rain.
Pedro.
Click to expand...
Well done Pete, good to hear you are off the mark. Whilst i dont want to get into politics on the new EA 'consultation' (i.e. done deal already decided) you would have had to put your dead fish back to float away belly up. Like you iv not killed a fish out of want for 13 plus years yet iv seen three die from deep hooking in the years since. One was the last fresh run sealiced October grilse a guest of mine caught on fly at Low Moor, deep hooked on a size 12 fly it simply died as netted, went pale and expired. I took it as my clubs one fish limit. The onother two were fresh Springers on fly at Clitheroe who engulfed my size 10 double and bled to death. Having to watch them float off belly up really affected me. The Ribble has hit 100% or a percentage below for years so why impose mandatory rules? I know some rivers and areas to take a higher percentage of fish but address it catchment
by catchment. The EA will no doubt state its un-enforcable given reasource reductions but how do they intend to manage the worm ban for salmon when you can fish worm for other species on mixed fisheries. Whilst i rarely fish the worm the ban will fold many small clubs on small spate rivers not suited to fly. Also it will prevent some immobile anglers who cant wade/stand for hours not to mention spate streams that encounter 3 or 4 rises in their running season. Luckily the Ribble is not one of those but i have friends on Commitees on clubs on the Cumbrian Esk, Irt, Annas etc where majority of fishing is worm in low water, they return all their catch and strike immediatly to avoid deep hooking. Those clubs will go under. Assuming the worm ban is because of deep hooking iv never had to kill a worm caught fish due to deep hook bleeding but i have many on spinner and a number on fly, mainly springers. I am all for releasing fish but restrictions ring the doom bells for the sport on many rivers. I also question the EAs classification system, it recently publically stated the Tyne was failing quoting counter data when counters had been out of operation for months of the last few seasons. The Border Esk has fished its head off this year, good runs, great catches kept quiet yes, but EA says its Salmon are on the verge of extintion. How can an organosation of not fit for purpose, under resourced Quangos, many not fisher people or having an understand of our iconic species life cycle or cyclic run timings be allowed to make permanent changes to law affecting the future (death) of the sport we love. We anglers are custodians of the rivers, we care and nurture the species, we report pollution, rod poaching but our opinions wont be listened to. I will provide my response to the consultation but i know i wont be listened to. The only acceptable ban is to ban banning, let us anglers, river trusts and regional consultatives manage the catchments. Not some acne suffering post graduate intern decide the future based on floored data. Apologies Pedro for hijacking your sucess post! Rant over.
 
#97 ·
Saint Andrews said:
Well done Pete, good to hear you are off the mark. Whilst i dont want to get into politics on the new EA 'consultation' (i.e. done deal already decided) you would have had to put your dead fish back to float away belly up. Like you iv not killed a fish out of want for 13 plus years yet iv seen three die from deep hooking in the years since. One was the last fresh run sealiced October grilse a guest of mine caught on fly at Low Moor, deep hooked on a size 12 fly it simply died as netted, went pale and expired. I took it as my clubs one fish limit. The onother two were fresh Springers on fly at Clitheroe who engulfed my size 10 double and bled to death. Having to watch them float off belly up really affected me. The Ribble has hit 100% or a percentage below for years so why impose mandatory rules? I know some rivers and areas to take a higher percentage of fish but address it catchment
by catchment. The EA will no doubt state its un-enforcable given reasource reductions but how do they intend to manage the worm ban for salmon when you can fish worm for other species on mixed fisheries. Whilst i rarely fish the worm the ban will fold many small clubs on small spate rivers not suited to fly. Also it will prevent some immobile anglers who cant wade/stand for hours not to mention spate streams that encounter 3 or 4 rises in their running season. Luckily the Ribble is not one of those but i have friends on Commitees on clubs on the Cumbrian Esk, Irt, Annas etc where majority of fishing is worm in low water, they return all their catch and strike immediatly to avoid deep hooking. Those clubs will go under. Assuming the worm ban is because of deep hooking iv never had to kill a worm caught fish due to deep hook bleeding but i have many on spinner and a number on fly, mainly springers. I am all for releasing fish but restrictions ring the doom bells for the sport on many rivers. I also question the EAs classification system, it recently publically stated the Tyne was failing quoting counter data when counters had been out of operation for months of the last few seasons. The Border Esk has fished its head off this year, good runs, great catches kept quiet yes, but EA says its Salmon are on the verge of extintion. How can an organosation of not fit for purpose, under resourced Quangos, many not fisher people or having an understand of our iconic species life cycle or cyclic run timings be allowed to make permanent changes to law affecting the future (death) of the sport we love. We anglers are custodians of the rivers, we care and nurture the species, we report pollution, rod poaching but our opinions wont be listened to. I will provide my response to the consultation but i know i wont be listened to. The only acceptable ban is to ban banning, let us anglers, river trusts and regional consultatives manage the catchments. Not some acne suffering post graduate intern decide the future based on floored data. Apologies Pedro for hijacking your sucess post! Rant over.
Click to expand...
Spot on! The EA need to concentrate on improving water quality, habitat and catching poachers. Leave the Anglers alone.
 
#98 ·
sutty said:
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?
Click to expand...
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.
 
#99 ·
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.
 
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