The river drains a total catchment area of approximately 175 square miles (450 km²). With the decline in the size of the fleet, most of the dock complex has subsequently been converted to a marina and the adjacent Affinity Lancashire outdoor shopping centre. It has been the recipient of a Green Flag Award.įleetwood at the mouth of the river was a major fishing port up until the latter part of the 20th century. įrom Skippool, just downstream of Shard Bridge, to Fleetwood, the banks of the river form the Wyre Estuary Country Park. The area around Burn Naze on the western side of the Wyre Estuary was formerly known as Bergerode, believed to be an Old English term for 'shallow harbour', beor grade. Industrial activity by a number of various companies continues by the river, albeit on a much reduced scale. Later processes undertaken on the site included those dealing with vinyl chloride monomer, although this was later moved to Runcorn and ICI activity on the site ceased. It was originally an alkali works taking brine from mines and wells across the river in and around Preesall. Major industry existed at the former ICI site at Burn Naze, close to the estuary of the river. A pedestrian ferry runs between Fleetwood and Knott End but the ferry to the Isle of Man no longer runs. A former toll bridge, Shard Bridge, close to Poulton-le-Fylde, has been rebuilt and is now free. It is crossed by Cartford Bridge, a toll bridge, between Little Eccleston and Out Rawcliffe. It becomes tidal below the weir at St Michael's. The river then turns westwards, flowing through St Michael's on Wyre where it is joined by its second major tributary, the River Brock.

One mile south, at Catterall, it meets its first major tributary, the River Calder. įrom Abbeystead, the river flows south through Dolphinholme to Garstang, where the Lancaster Canal crosses on a small aqueduct.

In 1984 a pumping station, built just below the confluence as part of a water transfer scheme in the 1980s, saw the Abbeystead disaster, an explosion in which 16 people were killed and a further 22 were injured. The river rises in the Forest of Bowland in central Lancashire, as two distinct tributaries, the Tarnbrook Wyre and the Marshaw Wyre, whose confluence is near the village of Abbeystead. The river's name possibly means 'winding river' in Celtic. The River Wyre possibly shares its etymology with other river names, including the Wear in County Durham and the Quair Water in Scotland. It may be derived from *wiΣ-, a form of the element * wei, with a basic sense of 'flowing', with the suffix * –urā. The name Wyre is of pre-Roman, likely if specific, Common Brittonic origin. It is 28 miles (45 km) long and has a sheltered estuary which penetrates deep into the Fylde peninsula. The River Wyre in Lancashire, England, flows into the Irish Sea at Fleetwood. ( grid reference SD340479) Shard Bridge spans the River Wyre between Hambleton and Singleton Cartford Bridge spanning the river Do not trespass on private lands or camps.Class=notpageimage| Wyre estuary shown within Lancashire The public is permitted to access the banks of Fishing Brook but not the shoreline of County Line Flow. The lands are privately owned with limited public access rights. NOTE: Fishing Brook and County Line Flow are on Township 20 Easement Lands. Traveling upstream on Fishing Brook is not advisable in low water. Canoes and kayaks may be launched or retrieved at the hand launch on County Line Flow. Launch onto Fishing Brook at the Pickwickett Pond Road Hand Launch and paddle 0.9 mile downstream to County Line Flow. See map here.įrom the DEC website: 'Paddling is allowed on Fishing Brook and County Line Flow. Heading downstream the fish are much smaller and harder to catch, but that doesn't stop it from being a popular spot.Īnglers can fish here but must stay within 33-feet of the Public Fishing Rights corridor. The small pond that has been created upstream from the small dam makes for some fantastic brook trout fishing. Shoreline fishing is very good here, up and downstream.

There is a bridge and dam here creating a small pond upstream. Continue to where Fishing Brook goes under the road and immediately look for a dirt drive on the right, after you cross.

Start at the three corners in Long Lake drive toward Newcomb on Route 28N. The brook trout fishing is so good you might want to keep it a secret. The well-named Fishing Brook is in a lovely area which is mostly wild.

Winsnape brook fishing