Two Sessions on a Bank High River Ribble

n the past few days the River Ribble has had a lot of water, what I call barbel feeding time. Yes, you can catch chub, bream, roach and other species, but its barbel I target when the water is up and coloured. I have caught my share of chub in coloured water, but prefer a lot less colour or even very clear water then it’s a chub day. During September I usually like to spend some time fishing for sea and brown trout, in fact this week I should have been in the Highlands fishing for trout and pike, while my mate David fished for Salmon.

Sadly I have a rather bad sore on my back the size of half a golf ball, so I had to cancel on doctor’s advice being on a course of two different antibiotics, also having to visit the doctors while they decide what is going to happen. As I write the problem hasn't got any better. But how long can one stay away from the waters edge, not long in my book. Wednesday I just had to spend some time fishing, the River Ribble with barbel my quarry. Having sorted out some gear I put some sausage paste, along with a ball of rather smelly cheese paste into the bait bag, and a stale loaf of brown bread which I would mash up for feed On the way to the river I stopped off at the local bakers picking up three fresh white loaves.

Pulling into the car park I could see I had the beat to myself which didn’t surprise me as many anglers are put off fishing a bank high river, for the newcomer it might look awesome and not fishable, but it often is. I chose a 12 foot Avon action rod, centre pin reel, 10lb Gamma line with a size 4 Pallatrax barbless hook. Many anglers fish four or more ounces of weight when fishing these bank high rivers,

I don’t use heavy weights; just a string of LG shot lightly pinched on the line between six inches and two feet from the hook depending on the bait in use. Where many anglers cast out towards the middle of the river, I fish close in to the bank, always looking for the slower water. Perhaps I might get bigger or more barbel fishing with big weights in the faster water, but I am more than happy with my results. Over many years of fishing bank high rivers, I have had my share of big barbel and chub on a bait just a rod length out from the bank.

I chose a swim where the roots of a Horse Chestnut tree pushed deep into the water, fifteen feet upstream the bank protruded causing the flow to be diverted towards the far bank. Increasing in speed as it did so. I was left with an area of steady flowing water; the area under the tree looked so inviting. After a few casts I found I could fish comfortably with 3 LG shot I baited with flake on a two foot tail; in three casts I had one good size trout and two chub. Then a blank period for about an hour during which I introduced fifteen to twenty hook size bits of sausage paste. A good salmon rolled in my swim.

A Good Size Roach

I decided to move upstream of some fallen trees that had been in the Ribble for several years. Water was about six feet deep over large stones with the odd football size rock. I chose to fish crust, despite the coloured water. Within a minute I had a nice chub about 4lb, Rebaiting I sat holding the rod, then five or ten minutes later I felt a light pluck, then a positive pull. Striking I felt a fish, soon I had a roach which I reckon might have weighed around a pound and a half in the net. It didn't stand much chance on the barbel gear.

This roach was probably the most welcome fish this season; it’s great to see the roach returning to the River Ribble which at one time was a great roach river.
If more clubs on the River applied for a licence to cull cormorants. I reckon the fish would have a better chance of survival. I have licence, and just by shooting in the air around dawn you soon get the cormorants moving on. I have had the odd rogue cormorant which has to be shot. What amazed me when I examined the gut was the size of the trout that could be swallowed.
A trout that would have offered great sport to a fly fisher who is paying £350-00 for the privilege. Another question that has to be asked why angling clubs don’t wage war on the mink. I have trapped and killed 68 in twenty months, through the trapping programme, we have noticed more ducks have survived along with ground nesting and song birds.

During an hour in the new swim I had five more chub between three and four pounds. Then nothing, after thirty minutes I moved back to my Horse Chestnut Tree swim. Baiting with a pigeon egg size chunk of sausage paste I dropped the bait in front of the tree roots, an area that looked so inviting. I slowly edged the bait down the swim by lifting the rod tip and giving a few inches of line. I supposed the bait had travelled fifteen feet when I felt a slight pluck then a slow but distinct pull on the line. Striking I connected with a powerful fish which moved out into the faster water.

The well balanced tackle soon helped me drag the fish back into the quiet water. A couple of minutes later I had a barbel about six pounds in the net. It’s important to bully the fish into the net, they are not playthings. This fish was followed by two more chub about three pound. Two hours later with no more bites I ended my session.

Gale Force Wind and Heavy Rain Showers

Looking out my study window on Thursday morning I could see the rain sheeting down, the tree were swaying too and fro as they were buffeted by the gale force wind. The surrounding hills were wreathed in heavy rain; the sky was varying shades of colour between grey and the colour of soot. It didn’t look good for fishing, but I was going to try. I picked up an extra ball of sausage paste then headed for the garage. After a visit to the doctor’s, bank and various shops I was on my way. Thirty minutes later I pulled into the car park, once again I had the river to myself.

Stepping from the car I was buffeted by the wind, quickly pulling on waterproof trousers and top coat, I grabbed the same gear I used yesterday before I moved off towards the river. It was in an angry mood, white rollers breaking down the centre. More suitable for white water rafting than fishing. Once I gained the shelter of a small copse it felt lot better, on arrival at the Horse Chestnut Tree swim I found an extra two feet of very muddy coloured water from the previous day, even in the margins the flow had increased considerably. It looked as if it would be tough fishing. A large tree floated by on its way to the sea.

I chose to fish a fifteen inch tail starting with 4LG shot, I found the tackle being moved downstream in the stronger flow, adding two more LG’s I made another cast, this time the tackle settled in the flow. Having sorted myself out I sat down on a piece of sponge, then baited with a big piece of bread flake. Within half a minute I was hooked up to a good fish, just as Will Carter called me then he heard the reel scream saying “Got a fish” he said. “Yes on my first chuck” Call you back in ten minutes.

After a good scrap in the high coloured water I netted a nice chub about four pounds. Rebaiting I made another cast, within seconds the tip pulled round soon chub number two was netted then released. Just as Will called again “Saying “What did you have” I answered “A chub and I have just had another one the first about four pounds the second about two pounds”. After a brief chat Will had to go off to a job while I rebaited with another bit of bread flake. In the next half an hour I had five more chub all on bread flake.

There were occasions when the wind was so strong, the rod tip was being pushed upstream by the strong wind. I had the river to myself, which didn’t surprise me. In the tackle shops the loud mouths will be saying “The Rivers got to much water; it’s muddy with lots of rubbish coming down, you want catch today” Yes, you might not catch on every session. But it doesn’t stop you from fishing and often catching. Then we get told you can’t catch chub in coloured water, or barbel on bread and many other such silly statements. What a load of rubbish they talk. The trouble is most of these windbags’ probably only fish half a dozen times a year; they would be better off taking up Tiddlywinks.

By lunchtime I had eight good chub and two barbel about three pounds apiece. After a brew, I was back to my swim noticing the water had dropped about an inch. Baiting with sausage meat I worked the bait slowly down the swim then I had a light pluck followed by two more plucks then the tip slowly pulled round I pushed the rod forward, the slack line was quickly taken.

Time to strike; I set the hook into an angry powerful fish. Barbel I thought as I was forced to give line. It was several interesting minutes as the fish fought for its freedom. It’s at such time you hope you have tied on the hook correctly. I had, soon I was able to force the fish into the quiet water then I was guiding it over the net. A good barbel of around eight pounds. Still the rain hammered down the hooligan wind tried its best to snatch the rod from my hand, but I had two more chub. Then after a blank spell it was time for home. Once again the river had entertained me, despite the squally showers and gale force wind.