Despite The Cold Weather - Its Certainly Worth Getting Out On The River Bank

Despite the arctic winds, low water temperature and low river flow rates some excellent fish have been caught by those anglers who are prepared to get out on the rivers Kennet, Loddon, Teme, Ribble, Wharfe, Swale and Enborne which have all been worth fishing. Both The Kennet and Ribble are two rivers where anglers have taken chub of 6lbs plus. From the Kennet three big barbel have been caught including two at 15lbs plus and a 14lb fish.
Paul Smyth sales executive with Pallatrax who also holds the river Kennet barbel record has been switching his attention to the perch in the Kennet where he has had success with perch of 3lbs plus with the best at 3-10-0. He also had some nice fish from the river Enborne. Its reported that George Moody despite the cold weather has taken some good barbel on lobworms from the river Kennet.

Brace Of Six Pound Chub From Ribble

On the Ribble in Lancashire near Clitheroe I was lucky to get a brace of six pound chub. Knowing I couldn't fish for several days as I was having to attend a fly fishing show in the United States I grabbed a couple of hours fishing close to home in weather more suited to Polar Bears or Penguins. I was a lucky to find a few chub feeding. Fishing free lined sausage meat paste on a size 4 barbless hook to 6lb line 11 ft Avon action rod with Mitchell 300 reel of 1953 vintage, I was fortunate to start catching within half an hour of starting around 3-30pm.
With a dropping water temperature it had gone down 3 degrees F from the previous day and with heavy frost I was surprised to catch in the daylight, quickly taking a brace of 4lb plus chub. In the fading light I had a savage pull on treble lobworms pricking a good fish, I thought my chances had gone. With the light fading I had to strain my eyes to see the rod tip, when I had a small pull. Picking up the rod I thrust it forward to give the fish some slack line. Suddenly the tip was pulled round quite savagely The strike connected with an angry and powerful fish which took several yards of line off the reel. For several minutes I slowly fought the fish upstream through some streamy water, then in towards the bank where it was quickly netted by Chef Anthony Morris. Anthony said "Martin its huge, more like a carp. I've never seen such a big chub" As I looked at the fish I realised I had another 6lb chub The scales said 6-9-0. After a couple of pictures we watched it swim away hoping it would grow into a seven pounder. After a quick brew I rebaited with another chunk of sausage meat paste. Rolling the bait downstream, I quickly had another chub about 4lbs. This was followed by another couple of chub about 3lbs. Just as I was thinking of calling it a day I had a good pull connecting with what felt like a very heavy fish which took several yards of line. I played the fish carefully as I thought I had a bigger fish than the previous six pound plus fish. Eventually Anthony was able to net the fish. It looked big. The scales gave a reading of 6-4-0 I punched the air then shook Anthony's hand saying "That's the first time Iv'e had a brace of six pound chub in a session". We then headed off home I certainly had a spring in my step.

Person Best Chub For A Chef And A Fireman

Andrew Birch caught a personal best chub of 6lb from the Ribble at Elston. A Wigan AA water. Andrew is the Executive Chef at the JJB Stadium Wigan. The fish was caught on bread crust, size 4 hook with a 6lb line. The conditions were very cold with clear skies and shooting stars. This was his only bite of the session, and certainly a great reward. .

John Houghton a fireman of Parbold near Wigan fished with me on the Ribble taking a personal best chub of 5-2-0. Heavy frost covered our tackle tackle and clothing, but the chub could still be caught even with a water temperature of 38 degrees F with cat ice along the margins. John fished legered crust on a size 4 hook to 6lb line with an Avon action rod and fixed spool reel.

Chef's Big Chub From Kennet

Chef Anthony Morris of Wigan Lancashire has been having some guiding tuition from me which he has put to good use. Up to Christmas when Anthony got in touch with me at BBC Radio Lancashire his best chub was about 2lbs. During several guiding trips with me, he had pushed his personal best up to 4-8-0.
On his latest fishing session with me to the river Kennet at Aldermaston he set a new personal best of 5-12-0. Early in the day I had walked the stretch putting mashed bread into various swims which I thought might produced. Half an hour before dusk I put Anthony into a swim that has been productive in the past. Within twenty minutes he had netted his big chub. Tackle was John Wilson Avon rod, Mitchell 300 reel, 6lb line and a size 4 barbless hook, with 4 LG shot lightly pinched on the line about 4 inches from the hook.

Fly Fishing The Indian Ocean

I have just returned from Fujairah on the Indian Ocean in the UAE where I have been running a saltwater fly fishing academy at the Meridien 5 star hotel. Pupils from Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates attended the academy including several ladies. A great time was had by everyone, and at the end of the course they were well on the way to being proficient saltwater fly fishers. Some joined me on the water where dorado and bonito were caught. The academy is now closed until next October when the courses will once again be up and running. Anyone interested please e-mail me [email protected]

Bonefishing Trip

There are three vacancies for a ten day bonefishing trip to Moxey Town at Mangrove Cay on Andros Island in the Bahamas. Anyone interested please e-mail me [email protected] for further details

Good River Ribble Chub

I have just had a short session on the Ribble near Clitheroe and despite the snow and finding the water temperature at 37 degrees F, with a low and gin clear river. I felt it might catch a fish or two at dusk. I missed the first bite, but not the next one which happened about five minutes later, when I got a good chub of 5-8-0. With no more bites in the next hour, and having watched the river become ice covered. I called it a day. Checking the water temperature I found it had dropped to 34 degrees F It was certainly one of the coldest days I have had on the river for several years. The weather forecast is promising for the last few days of the season when I will be on the river Kennet seeking the perch, chub and barbel.

Big Catch of Chub and Perch

My mate Paul Smyth Pallatrax sales executive and the current barbel record holder for the river Kennet with a 17-2-0 fish has today Sunday 5th of March had a great days fishing on the Kennet. It will certainly go down as a 'Red Letter' day for Paul who had some super sport with chub and perch. He used waggler float fishing rig, and lobworms as bait. During the day Paul had many perch with several weighing over 3lbs the best at 3-8-0 . The chub were also willing to take Paul's float fished worm with fish up to 5-4-0 Well done Paul.