I Targeted Roach but caught Barbel and Chub

It was just after dawn when I arrived on the banks of the River Ribble, my intention was to target the roach. Choosing to fish a light shot leger, quiver tip rod, fixed spool reel with 3lb line and a size 12 hook, bait would be corn.

Having the river to myself I baited three well know roach swims with a handful of corn in each. Back at the car I made a brew, and then put together my equipment. Putting a few items in the shoulder bag along with a large plastic bag of corn I slung it over my shoulder, then picking up my tackle, and landing net I headed off to my first swim.

The water flowed from left to right the swim averaged some six feet deep over some gravel with small boulders about the size of a cricket ball. Ten feet below where I sat was a large alder tree and two willows that over hung the river offering shelter and cover to any roach that inhabited the area.
Surprise Barbel

Baiting with a grain of corn I made an underarm cast then took in the slack line. As I sat holding the rod watching the fine tip I thought of the quality roach that were now in the River Ribble thinking I might beat my seasons best of 1-14-0. Suddenly the tip pulled round savagely, I tightened into a good fish, and it wasn’t my intended quarry, but a barbel. After some minutes I was ready to net a fish about 6lbs, neatly hooked in the bottom lip soon the barbless hook was out the fish back in the water.

Throwing in a dozen grains of corn I rebaited then cast to the same spot. Within minutes probably just two the tip pulled round a second barbel was hooked. In the net it looked like the first fish, the brace could be described as like peas in a pod.

More grains of corn were put in the swim, ten minutes later another barbel, this fish was about 4lbs. I then had a bite less half an hour, so I moved to the next swim.

Thirty minutes later without any signs of a bite, I moved to the third swim. Again no results so I made my way upstream for a brew, as I passed the first swim I fed in some corn then headed back to the car. As I sat drinking tea I tried to work out why I hadn’t caught any roach, just barbel.

A Good Chub

About an hour later I am back in my first swim, fifteen minutes later I had a slow pull on the tip striking I set the hook into a fish that done a lot of head shaking after a few minutes it swirled on the surface a good chub, Sinking the landing net I slowly pulled the fish towards me then over the waiting net. A good chub that perhaps might go 5lbs. “This ones worth weighing” I said to myself. On the scales it weighed 4-14-0

Ten minutes later I hooked a barbel that dashed all over the river, with 3lb line I put on as much pressure as I dare. A few minutes later I could see it was a good fish, a few minutes I netted a nice barbel that I reckon might have gone 9lbs. Isn’t it amazing we target the roach then catch chub and barbel. Still I couldn’t complain if I’d realised I would be catching barbel I’d have chosen heavier gear. I let the barbel rest in the net for a few minutes then watched it swim off strongly.

In the next hour or so I had several nice chub averaging probably 4lbs. During my session I reckon I used about a pint of corn for feeding and hook bait. That’s what I call a cheap fishing session.