Ribblesdale Farm (Post Office)

River level

The lowdown

• The access is on Cuerdale Lane, with parking in the farmyard. Before you even tackle up, pop your details in the book inside the barn.
• The fishable length starts in the farmyard and runs upstream to a wire field fence stretching into the river opposite the start of Melling’s Wood on the far bank.
• There’s a small gate beside the parking area giving access through to the wider Church Deeps section. SDAA members need their key for the relevant gates.
• The wider Church Deeps water is tidal, and high tides can push the level up by several feet. Keep a proper eye on conditions — the river can change its tune quickly.
• Barbel, bream, pike, quality roach, dace and chub are named for the associated water. Carp over 20 lb are also reported from the wider water.
• This looks like a stretch where reading the flow matters. Pick out the crease, steadier glides and any depth changes, then build the swim around what the river is doing on the day.
• Trotting should suit the roach, dace and chub when the flow is carrying a bit of colour. A feeder approach is the obvious shout when you need to hold bait in deeper or pushier water.
• For barbel and bream, concentrate on the deeper, steadier water and keep things tidy. Pike give you another option where baitfish gather, but stick to the rules and daylight hours.
• There are only two farm day tickets available per day, sold first come, first served. No booking ahead, so an early start is the sensible play if you’re chasing one.

Methods: Trotting, feeder work and targeted barbel fishing all fit the river mix. In the wider tidal water, keep an eye on the level and fish the steadier water around the changing flow.

Access & tickets

Day tickets are sold by the farm owners, with a maximum of two available per day. They are first-come, first-served and cannot be booked ahead; the official SDAA page does not state the fishing price.

Fish the club names

barbel, bream, pike, carp, roach, chub

Named by Southport & District Angling Association across its waters, not for this stretch on its own.

Key rules

• Record your details in the book inside the barn before fishing.
• Pay the £2 farm parking charge before fishing.
• A maximum of two day tickets are sold per day, first come, first served.
• Day tickets cannot be reserved in advance.
• Fishing is permitted from dawn until dusk only.
• Night fishing is not allowed.
• Dogs are not allowed.
• The national close season applies: no fishing from 15 March through 15 June inclusive.
• SDAA members need a key when using the relevant gates to access Church Deeps from the farm.

Where it is