The Swanswater Cygnets is a club for junior anglers aged 16 and under which was set up in September 2000 and is based at Swanswater Fishery. The aim of the club is to promote the arts of fly fishing and fly tying to youngsters.   It is the brainchild of Tom Postlethwaite, a retired gentleman with a lifetime's experience in angling both for pleasure and in competitions, who started giving lessons at Swanswater in the summer of 1999  The response from youngsters was so great that Tom had to restrict numbers in order to give individual attention to the boys.   In September 2000 the Cygnets Club was started.    It started as a junior club run by the members for the members with minimal interference from adults, but as time progressed it was felt that there should be more adult input to the committee.  Instead of a purely members committee (with the exception of the Treasurer), the committee is now made up of two adult helpers, two parents and three juniors, with adults holding the positions of Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.  

The Club Constitution states that the members are to be encouraged to take group responsibility for running the Club and they have a healthy input in all decisions.  There is a friendly atmosphere within the Club although the members are very competitive and like to do their best!  However it is nice to see older boys helping out some of the younger ones who have not been fishing for long.

Every second Sunday morning the club meets for fly fishing classes.  A group of experienced volunteers, with occasional help from a professional instructor, teach the youngsters all aspects of angling including setting up tackle, casting, which flies to use in different conditions, playing and landing fish and etiquette.  The club also has a large quantity of flytying materials and the members are encouraged to tie and use their own flies. 

During the season the more experienced members have several outings, at Swanswater and to other local fisheries.  Points are awarded for fish caught and weight of fish and at the end of the season the Club Champion receives a trophy.  Competition for the Championship is fierce but friendly with the points system meaning that the angler who catches most fish over the season is more likely to win than the one who possibly catches one or two bigger fish.  The less experienced anglers join in the Swanswater outings and also have small friendly competitions at Swanswater where the prizes consist of small items of fishing tackle such as flies.  It is hoped that these informal competitions encourage the less experienced anglers and motivate them to improve so that they can join the others on the away days.