12/01/2026 - A day on the River Wyre

My first swim

Robin Smith picked me up from home around 0830 hrs, it was a very cold but bright day, with wall-to-wall blue sky, with just a light wind. As we were passing a field near our venue, we were both very surprised and extremely pleased, to see a large flock of Lapwing. It's a one of a group of waders known as plover's, over the past thirty or more years their numbers have decreased dramatically due to modern farming. The river Wyre starts life in the Forest of Bowland then flows south through Dolphinholme to Garstang, where it is joined by the River Brock, below the weir at St Michael's. The river Wyre becomes tidal. ending up in the Irish sea at Fleetwood. It was in the Fleetwood docks, where I was float fishing with bread flake. I caught my best mullet weighing in at 6lbs

Fifteen minutes later we were on the bank of the river Wyre, it certainly put a smile on my face. It must be some thirty plus years since I visited this lovely twisting waterway, often flowing between high banks, with lots of good-looking chub swims. It's also known for its big bream, very good size perch and pike. It was wonderful to be back. After Robin walked the beat with me pointing out some swims worth fishing, suggesting the baits to use. Most important for me was he showed me some swims I would be safe in fishing.

Being unsteady on my legs, I needed a spot where I could slide into a safe spot. I soon realised I should have had my dog spike and rope with me. Thankfully there were three safe swims. The first swim was at the top of the beat where the water flowed fast on the far side of the river then swinging back on itself creating a quiet area of water, on my side of the river. Taking the water temperature, I got a reading of 38 degrees F. After putting together my usual soft Avon action rod with a small, fixed spool reel I attached two float stops on the line so I could mould some plasticine around as a weight. For the first hour I tried meat and bread crust, with no sign of a bite. I then moved to my second spot with a row of willow trees,

It took my sometime to get in a safe spot, I done so by sliding down on my bottom, to a flat area, though I was a bit nervous, as I was some eight feet above the water. Thankfully my twist and lock Drennan landing net was perfect for the job of landing any fish I might hook.

A while later Robin arrived just upstream of me, I felt bit more at ease. Robin was casting upstream, he was soon getting bites, but not enough movement to strike at. I suggested he fish a longer tail between hook and weight. It worked as he was soon catching. Robin was showing me the way, soon had a second fish, I manged to photograph his swinging the fish from water to his unhooking mat.

I was fishing a big bit of meat, downstream close to some overhanging willows, some twenty minutes later the rod top nodded twice where a fish had picked up the bait, then dropped it, after a minute or so the rod tip pulled round in a determined manner. The answering strike, put a very healthy curve in the rod, as some line was taken by the fish. After some five minutes I was gaining control, and soon the fish was coming towards a shallow area below my bank where I planned to net my fish, suddenly all wend solid, the fish had found a snag that I couldn't see. However hard I tried I could not budge the fish, though I could feel it still attached. Then it was off. All I could do was pull for a break. Eventually I got my tackle free to find the hook well bent.

After tying on a fresh hook, I baited with a big bit of meat then cast out towards the opposite bank dropping the bait tight to where a bush over hanging the water (See Picture3 ) Within ten minutes I got a good pull, striking I was into action. This fish gave a good account of itself trying all the tricks in the book to get free. Eventually it was in the net, estimated at a good 4lb plus chub and most welcome. In the next two hours both Robin and I had chub, also several missed bites, or bites that did not develop. For the last hour we moved up to the fence line, How ever hard I tried, I couldn't get a bite on cheese paste, bread or meat, Robin had one nice chub. As we walked back to the car, I thought how lucky I was that Robin had been kind enough to collect me, then take me to a river Wyre, a water I fished a lot in the past, that had many good memories especially with the bream.

For membership Contact St Michael's AA also for day tickets for seniors and Juniors Telephone:07522 495445

Robin on the high bank among the dead reeds 

The bush on the opposite side of the river where I had my second chub. 

Robin with another good chub 

One of my chub from the bush at second swim.

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