The River Ribble bailiff team completed a total of 377 salmonid creel censuses by interviewing anglers fishing on the banks of the Rivers Ribble and Hodder during 1994. The study was undertaken for a number of reasons: 

(i) , To determine which areas of the river were fished 

by anglers. 

(ii) To ascertain which fishing methods were used in 

these areas. 

(iii) To identify the success of each fishing method 

within each area of the River Ribble system. 

In a limited 1993 sampling programme, 55 censuses were 

carried out. Results from these indicated that fishing 

with worm as bait was the most common method (39% of 

anglers interviewed) and also resulted in the greatest 

number of salmon being caught (61% of all salmon). 

The 1994 census data were collected from all areas of the 

Ribble system during the months of June to October. The 

data presented here are for anglers fishing for salmon 

only or for those fishing for salmon and sea trout at the 

same time. All of the fish caught were salmon

Clifton-Dey , D.

Walsingham, M.

Aquatic Commons

r 
Scientific Investigations Database - NFTT 
Unique Document No: £ | •? 3 
UDC Class No: 
Keywords: St4Ut4cno 
Annotations: 
Contact details: 
Post: 
Ecological Appraisal Team Leader 
Name: 
Liz Locke 
Address: 
Environment Agency, Lutra House, Dodd 
Way, Off Seedlee Road, Walton Summit, 
Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lanes, PR5 8BX 
D3. Z1C 
£30 
NRA 
National Rivers Authority 
North West Region 
Report On The Collection Of 
Salmon Creel Census Data 
From The Rivers Ribble 
And Hodder. 
NRA\NW\FTR\95\12. 
GUARDIANS OF THE WATER 
ENVIRONMENT 
i 
IL 
REPORT ON THE COLLECTION OF 
SALMON CREEL CENSUS DATA 
FROM THE RIVERS RIBBLE 
AND HODDER. 
January 1995. 
Report compiled by: 
Area Fisheries Technical Staff. 
D. Clifton-Dey 
M. Walsingham 
Data collected by: 
Area Bailiff Team, 
M. Swindells 
S. Leech 
I. Bentley 
A. Blezard 
B. Clarkson 
P. Glover 
N. Handy 
J. Johnson 
G. Wharton 
CONTENTS 
Page 
Introduction 1 
Methods 2 
Results 3 
3.1 Number of censuses received 3 
3.2 Catch per unit effort 3 
3.3 River Ribble downstream of Hodder Foot 4 
3.4 River Ribble upstream of Hodder Foot 4 
3.5 The River Hodder 6 
3.6 The Ribble system as a whole 6 
3.7 Summary of 1993 creel census data 6 
3.8 Comparison of 1993 and 1994 census data. 7 
Discussion 10 
4.1 Spinning 10 
4.2 Shrimp fishing 10 
4.3 Fishing with worm 11 
4.4 Fly fishing 11 
4.5 Potential problems 12 
Recommendations 12 
5.1 Number of censuses taken 12 
5.2 Catch per unit effort data 12 
1. INTRODUCTION 
Following on from the work instigated by Viscount Mills 
(Area FRE manager) in 1993, the River Ribble bailiff team 
completed a total of 377 salmonid creel censuses by 
interviewing anglers fishing on the banks of the Rivers 
Ribble and Hodder during 1994. The study was undertaken 
for a number of reasons: 
(i) , To determine which areas of the river were fished 
by anglers. 
(ii) To ascertain which fishing methods were used in 
these areas. 
(iii) To identify the success of each fishing method 
within each area of the River Ribble system. 
In a limited.1993 sampling programme, 55 censuses were 
carried out. Results from these indicated that fishing 
with worm as bait was the most common method (39% of 
anglers interviewed) and also resulted in the greatest 
number of salmon being caught (61% of all salmon). 
The 1994 census data were collected from all areas of the 
Ribble system during the months of June to October. The 
data presented here are for anglers fishing for salmon 
only or for those fishing for salmon and sea trout at the 
same time. All of the fish caught were salmon. 
The results from anglers fishing only for sea trout are 
not included in this report. A limited effort was 
expended (a total of 73.5 hours) resulting in only 5 sea 
trout being caught during the survey period. 
1 
2. METHODS 
Creel census forms were distributed to the team of 8 
bailiffs on the River Ribble system. It was each 
bailiff's objective to complete at least 10 forms per 
month from June to the close of the fishing season in 
October. This objective was not achieved each month 
because of constraints on bailiffs' time and a lack of 
anglers to sample during periods 6f the fishing season. 
For the purpose of this report the River Ribble system 
was divided into three areas: 
Area 1. The River Ribble downstream of its confluence 
with the River Hodder. 
Area 2. The River Ribble upstream of its confluence with 
the River Hodder. 
Area 3. The River Hodder. 
The following information was recorded on each completed 
creel census form: the time spent fishing for salmon or 
for salmon and sea trout, the fishing method (fly, worm, 
spinner or shrimp), and the number of salmon or sea trout 
caught. From this information, it was possible to 
determine the total time spent in each area fishing each 
of the methods. An example of a completed creel census is 
shown in the appendix. 
It was also possible to calculate Catch Per Unit Effort 
(CPUE) values for each method and each area. The CPUE is 
defined as the average number of fish caught per hour. 
Using these CPUE values, it is possible to compare the 
effectiveness of each fishing method both within and 
between areas and to determine which are the most 
successful. 
2 
3. RESULTS 
For each area of the Ribble system; the number of 
censuses carried out, the hours spent fishing, and the 
salmon catch are shown in Tables 1 to 3. The percentage 
time spent fishing with each method and salmon catch for 
each area are shown in Figures 1 and 2. 
3.1 Number of censuses received. 
A total of 377 creel censuses was collected from all 
areas of the Rivers Ribble and Hodder, including a 
significant proportion {36%) from the Ribble, below 
Hodder foot. 
Table 1. Creel census returns 
MONTH 
JUNE 
JULY 
AUGUST 
SEPTEM. 
OCTOBER 
TOTAL 
DOWNSTREAM 
HODDER FOOT 
15 
4 
42 
35 
41 
137 
UPSTREAM 
HODDER FOOT 
2 
5 
34 
41 
84 
166 
RIVER 
HODDER 
9 
11 
15 
20 
19 
74 
TOTAL 
26 
20 
91 
96 
144 
377 
3.2 Catch per unit effort. 
A total of 73 salmon was recorded on the creel census 
forms from all areas of the Ribble system. (Table 2). A 
single salmon was caught by an unknown method in the area 
of the River Ribble above Hodder Foot. This fish is 
included in calculations of CPUE for the whole River 
system but is ignored when specific methods are 
discussed. 
Although the greatest number of salmon were caught on the 
River Ribble above Hodder Foot, the Catch Per Unit Effort 
(CPUE) remains approximately the same for each of the 
areas on the Ribble system (Table 2). These data suggest 
that the average fishing time required to catch a salmon 
on the Ribble system was between 14 and 17 hours in 1994. 
Table 2. Catch per unit effort. 
AREA 
DOWNSTREAM 
HODDER FT. 
UPSTREAM 
HODDER FT. 
RIVER 
HODDER 
NUMBER 
CENSUSES 
137 
166 
74 
NUMBER 
HOURS 
383 
686 
156 
NUMBER 
FISH CAUGHT 
24 
38 
11 
CATCH PER 
UNIT EFT, 
0.06 . 
0.06 
0.07 
3.3 River Kibble downstream of Hodder Foot. 
In this area the two most popular forms of fishing were 
spinner and shrimp. Spinning accounted for 29% of the 
total time spent fishing and shrimping 27%. 
The majority of salmon taken were caught on spinner 
(54%). The effectiveness of spinning, in this area of the 
lower Ribble,, is further emphasised by the CPUE for this 
fishing method of 0.12 fish per hour, the highest 
recorded. 
The percentage of fish caught on shrimp (17%) was much 
lower than the percentage time spent fishing with shrimp 
(27%). From the CPUE data, fishing with shrimp (0.04) is 
a far less effective method than using a spinner (0.12) 
or a worm (0.06) and was only marginally more effective 
than fly fishing (0.4)3). 
3.4 River Ribble upstream of Hodder Foot. 
The most popular fishing method in this area was worm, 
accounting for, 46% of the total time sipent fishing and 
39% of the fish caught (CPUE value of 0.05). 
The percentage of fish caught on spinner (37%) was far 
greater than the percentage time spent fishing by this 
methbd (23%). The CPUE value for spinning (0.09.fish per 
hour) was higher than for worming (0.05), as was the case 
below Hodder Foot. 
4 
The greatest CPUE value (0.21 fish per hour), and 
therefore the most successful technique in this area was 
the use of shrimp. This reflects a low total number of 
hours fished combined with a single highly successful 
days fishing and is probably an anomaly. In October, at 
Stainforth Force, a single angler fishing with shrimp 
took three salmon in four hours. The angler's comment on 
his spell at the site was, not surprisingly, "A great 
days fishing" (see also appendix 1.). 
Fishing with fly in this area was the least effective 
method with a CPUE value of only 0.03 fish per hour. 
Table 3. Catch per unit effort data 
METHOD 
FLY 
hours 
catch 
%catch 
CPUE 
WORM 
hours 
catch 
%catch 
CPUE 
SPIN 
hours 
catch 
%catch 
CPUE 
SHRIMP 
hours 
catch 
%catch 
CPUE 
DOWNSTREAM 
HODDER FOOT 
. 70 
2 
8.7 
0.03 
71 
4 
17.4 
0.06 
112 
13 
56.5 
0.12 
103 
4 
17.4 
0.04 
• 
UPSTREAM 
HODDER FOOT 
177 
6 
15.8 
0.03 
313 
15 
39.5 
0.05 
159 
14 
36.8 
0.09 
14 
3 
7.9 
0.21 
RIVER 
HODDER 
27 
2 
18.2 
0.07 
26 
0 
0 
0 
106 
9 
81.8 
0.08 
— 
-
— 
— 
Total Catch 
TOTAL 
274 
10 
13.9 
0.04 
410 
19 
26.4 
0.05 
377 
36 
50 
0.10 
117 
7 
9.7 
0.06 
72 
3.5 The River Hodder. 
On the River Hodder the most popular fishing method was 
spinning (67% of the total time spent fishing) and this 
technique accounted for 82% of the total number of salmon 
caught. 
Unlike the other areas of the Ribble system, the 
percentage of salmon caught by fly fishing on the Hodder 
(18%) was similar to the percentage time spent fishing 
with this method <17%). The CPUE's for fishing with fly 
and spinner are both similar (0.07 and 0.08 fish per hour 
respectively). 
3.6 The Ribble system as a whole. 
On the river system as a whole, fishing with worm and 
spinner were the two most popular methods (33% and 31% 
respectively of the total number of hours spent fishing). 
Spinning accounted for the largest percentage of salmon 
caught (50%).and also gave the highest CPUE of 0.10 fish 
per hour. 
Fishing with shrimp was the least recorded method giving 
the lowest total number of hours fished (10%), and the 
lowest total number of fish caught (10%) but gave the 
second highest CPUE of 0.06 fish per hour. 
Fishing with fly or worm showed similarly low CPUE values 
(0.05 and 0.04 fish per hour respectively). Fly fishing 
was therefore the least successful fishing method in 
1994. 
3.7 Summary of 1993 creel census data. 
In 1993, a total of 55 creel censuses was taken. Analysis 
showed that: 39% of anglers interviewed were using worm, 
15% spinner, 16% fly, and 8% used shrimp. In addition, 
for 23% of the censuses an undisclosed method or variety 
of methods (fly, shrimp or worm) was used. 
The majority (61%) of the salmon caught were by worm 
fishing, 6% by spinner, 11% by fly, and 22% by shrimp. 
6 
3.8 Comparison of 1993 and 1994 creel census data. 
The results from the creel censuses taken in 1993 and 
1994 are compared in Table 4. 
Table 4. 
Creel censuses per method 
Method 
Fly 
Worm 
Spin 
Shrimp 
Not 
Known 
1993 
Percent. 
censuses 
returned 
16 
39 
15 
8 
23 
Percent. 
salmon 
caught 
11 
61 
6 
22 
1994 
Percent, 
censuses 
returned 
27 
19 
23 
9 
22 
Percent. 
salmon 
caught 
14 
26 
50 
10 
The most popular fishing methods recorded in 1993 were 
fishing with worm (39%), and in 1994 fly fishing (27%). 
Fishing with worm also produced the greatest percentage 
of fish caught in 1993 (61%) though spinner was the most 
successful in 1994. Fishing with shrimp constituted a 
nearly egual percentage of anglers in both years (8% in 
1993 and 9% in 1994), but was more successful in 1993 
(22% and 10% of the total recorded catch in 1993 and 1994 
respectively). The percentage of anglers fishing a 
combination of methods, or whose method was not recorded 
on the creel census forms (as indicated in the row "Not 
Known") was approximately the same in both years (23% in 
1993 and 22% in 1994). 
Figure 1. Salmon Creel Census 1994 
Fishing Methods Catch per Method 
1. River Ribble Downstream of Hodder Foot 
Figure 2. Salmon Creel Census 1994 
Rivers Ribble and Hodder 
Fishing Methods 
4. DISCUSSION 
4.1 Spinning. 
In 1994, the most effective fishing method, based on the 
percentage of fish caught, the percentage of time spent 
fishing and the CPUE data, in all areas of the Ribble 
system was spinning. The high usage of spinning is likely 
to result from it being a method that is favoured by 
anglers since there is no need to collect bait and it is 
acceptable to most angling clubs. It is also suitable for 
a wide range of fishing conditions, from the generally 
low river levels found in early summer 1994 to the spate 
conditions experienced at the end of the season. 
The facets of spinning tha^ made it popular in 1994 might 
also be expected to have proved similarly popular in 
1993. The relatively low percentage usage and catch of 
salmon by spinner in 1993 may be an artifact of the low 
number of census forms received in that year, or may 
reflect a real difference in fishing methods from season 
to season. 
4.2 Shrimp fishing 
Shrimping appears to have been far less effective than is 
perceived by the general angling fraternity. Although it 
has the second highest CPUE value in 1994, it had the 
lowest total number of hours fished and the lowest number 
of salmon caught. This being the case, the capture of any 
single fish on this method is likely to have a greater 
effect on the overall CPUE value (see section 3.4). The 
low number of hours recorded using this method, even 
during periods when the rivers were low and clear, (ideal 
conditions for shrimp fishing) would appear to suggest 
that shrimp fishing on the Ribble is controlled by 
fishing club rules or by the choice of the fishermen 
themselves. 
The similar percentage usage of shrimp in 1993 and in 
1994 would tend to support the above conclusion that 
shrimp fishing is controlled by angling clubs and anglers 
themselves. The relatively high percentage catch in 1993 
may be due to the generally low flows in September and 
October of 1993 creating successful shrimp fishing 
conditions. Alternatively it may be a sampling error or 
artifact due to the overall low numbers of salmon caught 
by all methods in this year. 
4.3 Fishing with worm 
Fishing with worm as bait was the most popular method in 
1994, especially on the River Ribble upstream of Hodder 
Foot. It was not, however, particularly successful * 
generating an overall CPUE of 0.05 fish per hour. This 
may be due to unsuitable water conditions for successful 
worm fishing during the majority of the fishing season. 
The relative success of worm fishing in 1993 may be due 
to more favourable river conditions for worm fishing in 
this year, or could be a sampling error caused by the low 
number of censuses received. Alternatively it may result 
from bias if bailiffs, pressurised by constraints of 
targets and available time, undertook censuses under 
particular fishing conditions in 1993 where they knew 
fishermen would be present. 
4.4 Fly fishing 
Of all the angling methods, fly fishing appears to have 
been the least successful in 1994. Fly only is dictated 
by a number of clubs on stretches of the Rivers Ribble 
and Hodder. Since it is probable that fly fishing is most 
successful over only a limited range of flow conditions 
and is a relatively skilled method of angling requiring 
both successful selection and presentation of the fly to 
the fish it is likely to be the least successful method 
overall. 
The high degree of expertise and the narrow band of flow 
conditions required to be a successful fly fisherman 
appears to result in anglers spending a long time fishing 
for little reward. This will be the case in most fishing 
seasons and so the CPUE value for this method is always 
likely to be the lowest. 
4.5 Potential problems. 
Potential problems with the collection of catch data on 
the river bank by creel censuses are that it may lead to 
the generation of unrepresentative results. This can be 
for several reasons. 
(i) A disproportionate number of censuses may be 
carried out in sections of the river where one 
particular method of fishing is favoured. 
(ii) The collection of census data may be targeted to 
times when fishing conditions are such that 
bailiffs are confident that large numbers of 
anglers will be on the river (eg. a falling spate) 
and may therefore only reflect the methods used 
under such conditions. 
(iii) Similarly, biases may arise from seasonal 
variations in stock availability, angling 
conditions, and the number of anglers fishing 
particular areas or methods. 
These biases can only be "compensated for by the 
implementation of a strategic programme of census taking, 
targeted to give the best possible temporal and spatial 
coverage in terms of area and season and carried out over 
a number of years. 
5. RECOMMENDATIONS 
5.1 Number of censuses taken. 
The number of censuses taken and the distribution of 
these across the river system in 1994, was of increased 
significance when compared to 1993. It is recommended 
that, if creel censuses are continued, a similar level of 
effort would need to be expended in future years. 
Comparisons of data generated over several years should 
even out the effects of flow conditions and stock 
availability for any individual year and thereby give a 
true reflection of the situation over time. 
5.2 Catch Per Unit Effort data 
The creel census data is the most effective means of 
gathering accurate Catch Per Unit Effort data for the 
various fishing methods and thereby identifies the 
relative success of each. It would also be possible, by 
comparing several years CPUE data, to identify changes in 
the methods of exploitation of the salmon population of 
the Ribble system. 
12 



Report on the collection of salmon creel census data from Rivers Ribble and Hodder

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Report on the collection of salmon creel census data from Rivers Ribble and Hodder

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