Its Been Good on the Ribble

The River Ribble this past week has been on good form for both the coarse and game fish species. What made it so exciting was a lift of water in the middle of the week, at one time the gauge at Grindleton gave a reading over five feet. Salmon were everywhere but they didn't hang around for long heading upstream as fast as possible. Some nice fish were taken, the best I heard was an 18lb fish which was returned. I managed to get in one fly fishing session, I was fortunate to arrive on the river midmorning to find a good hatch of olives coming off. The fish were rising with gay abandon. I fished one of the new Thomas and Thomas Heirloom 8 foot 4 weight fibre glass rods and floating line with a 12 foot leader with a 3lb tippet. I had some nice brown trout averaging about a pound in lovely condition.

The next day I'm back on the Ribble with a 13 foot Avon action rod, centre pin reel with 4lb line. I had attached a float taking 6 of the new AA egg shaped shot from Dinsmore, bunched 12 inches from a size 4 barbless hook. Bait would be bread. I wanted the shot bunched near the hook so the bait would be close or just touching the bottom. That's where I expected to find the better quality chub. After feeding in half a half a dozen golf ball size lumps of mashed bread over twenty minute period, I then left the swim for an hour, giving the fish time to settle down and feed on the free offerings, while I went off for a mug of tea.

Back at my chosen spot and wearing chest high waders I slowly made my way out into the fast flowing water using a wading staff to steady myself and check the depth of the water, remember the bed of the river can change very quickly after a big spate. Having arrived at a spot where the river flowed from the left hand bank across the river to the opposite bank then flowing at walking pace under the far bank trees with many of their branches trailing a foot or more in the water. I know from past experience I had an average of five feet of water, also a good holding for both chub and barbel. From my standing position I could Wallis cast then drop my bread baited hook a couple of feet from the far bank.

Around my waist I had a bag with some extra thick slices of two day old bread, No landing net was needed, my intention was to bring any fish to hand then unhook the fish while still in the water by just slipping out the barbless hook. Baiting with a fifty pence piece of bread flake I made a long cast dropping the float in at the head of the swim. I held back the float hard so the bait preceded the float, occasionally the float started to dip slowly by lifting the rod tip I was able to manoeuvre the bait over the slight obstruction. After fifteen yards the float buried, setting the hook I quickly realised I had a good fish as it powered away downstream staying deep, occasionally I could feel some head shaking. The rod was bend in a curve right down to the butt, every now and again I was forced to give line as the ratchet gave out its harsh sound. I suppose five minutes had gone when I started to gain some line as the fish moved upstream. After more head shaking and a couple of powerful pulls where I was forced to give line I slowly pulled the fish towards me. Soon it was wallowing on the surface a good chub of five pounds plus, I slipped the hook out then watched the fish slowly sink a couple of feet before it moved off strongly. In the next couple of hours I had five more chub averaging about 4lbs and three trout all big fish of 2lbs plus. With the river starting to rise and colour up I slowly made my way back to the bank. It had been another great session on the River Ribble