River Ribble — Elston

River level

The lowdown

• This is a nice, natural bit of Ribble rather than a tidy stocked commercial fishery. Expect a proper river feel and changing conditions.
• The stretch runs from Red Scar Wood upstream into Alston Wood. No measured length or peg count is given, so it’s very much a case of finding the swims that look right on the day.
• Pole fishing is specifically mentioned as effective. That’ll suit the steadier edges and any fish tucked into softer water.
• The method feeder has also been successful. A tidy option when the Ribble has a bit of colour or the flow is pushing through.
• Halibut pellets on a hair rig are another named approach. Worth having a few in the bag for barbel and chub.
• Keep an eye on the crease, slack water and any deeper-looking runs. Natural rivers can switch on quickly as flow and colour change.
• Barbel, chub, roach and dace are the named fish here. A nice mixed-bag prospect, with lighter gear for dace and roach and something beefier for barbel.
• The fishing window is sunrise to sunset, Monday to Sunday. So there’s plenty of daytime scope, but don’t roll up expecting an evening or overnight session on a standard membership.
• It’s capped at two rods, and rods must not be left unattended. Keep everything close, tidy and properly under control.
• There’s no dedicated parking detail or postcode on the checked page, and no public day-ticket price is listed. Best bet is sorting the membership and access details before setting off.
• We're not sure on ticket prices for this one — check with the club or local regulations before you leave.

Methods: Pole fishing and the method feeder are both named as effective. Halibut pellets on a hair rig have also been successful, with the right choice depending on flow, colour and what the swim is doing.

Access & tickets

Fishing is available to Wigan DAA members, with membership cards running from 1 January to 31 December. The holder states that 2026 membership cards are on sale, but no specific membership price is shown on the checked page; the stretch is jointly run with St Helens Angling Association.

Fish the club names

barbel, chub, roach, chub

Key rules

• Maximum of two rods; rods must not be left unattended.
• No fires. Radios are only allowed with headphones. Food tins and nuts of any description are prohibited.
• Groundbait and particles must be used in moderate amounts. Inline swimfeeders are required, except for the Guru Xsafe system.
• Braided hooklengths and leadcore are prohibited.
• Fish must not be removed from the water, dead or alive, or transferred between Wigan DAA waters without committee permission.
• Take all rubbish home. A strict 5 mph driving limit applies when entering Wigan DAA venues.
• A valid Environment Agency rod licence is also required by law.

Where it is