How do you start on a river ?

[bennygesserit]

I first started out as a kid fishing the river Severn , we had a caravan in Bridgnorth so I fished it up to about the age of 12 , biggest fish a four pound barbel caught on meat held on with a piece of grass attached to a swim feeder full of maggots.

I remember it being wonderful fishing with the Old Man underneath the Severn Valley railway.

Now having fished numerous commercials and canals and becoming "all carped out" my son and I have decided to give the rivers a go , but where do you start ? We are prepared to blank , possibly , the first couple of times but what venues and tactics would people recommend to start with and maintain our interest ?

I think perhaps a prolific day ticket water and probably fishing a feeder stuffed with hemp and a hair rigged trout pellet or worm - what do you think ?

We are in the Midlands prepared to spend some time driving

[Ron The Hat Clay]

I have fished both the Severn and the Trent so I might be able to help.

I would strongly advise that you get hold of a good book on river fishing. Probably the best I have seen is "Quest for Barbel" by Tony Miles and Trefor West. Yes I realise it's a barbel book but it contains much river angling lore. Trefor West is a river genius.

The best way of tackling any river you have not fished before is to spend some time - no, lots of time - looking at the river and walking its banks. There you will be able to spot eddies, creases, glides, rafts, bends and many other fish holding features.

But get yourself a good book first!

[bennygesserit]

Originally Posted by Ron The Hat Clay

I have fished both the Severn and the Trent so I might be able to help.

I would strongly advise that you get hold of a good book on river fishing. Probably the best I have seen is "Quest for Barbel" by Tony Miles and Trefor West. Yes I realise it's a barbel book but it contains much river angling lore. Trefor West is a river genius.

The best way of tackling any river you have not fished before is to spend some time - no, lots of time - looking at the river and walking its banks. There you will be able to spot eddies, creases, glides, rafts, bends and many other fish holding features.

But get yourself a good book first!

That is a good idea Ron - thanks , whether I can spend a great deal of time on a day ticket walking the bank - I don't know , but we are determined to be more relaxed about catching i.e. not be in a commercial frame of mind.

[chav professor]

I was trying to remember how I started (or re-started if you know what I mean, as an adult that had just passed adolescence)... I have always been restless in nature, so even though I would fish maggots I would fish a swim, fish for bites and as soon as they dried up, moved on till I found another swim with some fish in it. So, for me it was a float rod, maggots and mobility.

I did learn a lot about the river and certainly learnt about why fish liked certain parts of the river at certain times of the year.

BTW, Ron's advice sound superb, I have not read the Trefor West book - I went down the Tony Miles route - It helped me to put into context what I was learning and taught me the basics that lead to a passion for Chub fishing!

[Peter Jacobs]

Benny,

the best possible advice I could offer would be to read the really excellent articles on here by Dave Slater, if they are still available.

He is a fabulous river angler, he thinks his problems through and is free with his advice too.

Alternatively I go with the Tony Miles route.

[peter crabtree]

IMHO The ONLY way to learn river fishing is get on the banks and have a go..

[chub_on_the_block]

To me river fishing is about recognising features or good swims, spending time locating them and recognising how these change under different conditions or with the seasons. Altogether a far more interesting job than fishing your average lake.

[Specihunter ( the Korum Kid)]

Feeder fishing is a good way to go, but mix up your baits as the fish might spook to pellets/boillies so carry some maggots or casters. Also experiment with your groundbait and see what works on the stretch of the river.

[barbelboi]

Originally Posted by chub_on_the_block

To me river fishing is about recognising features or good swims, spending time locating them and recognising how these change under different conditions or with the seasons. Altogether a far more interesting job than fishing your average lake.

Yep, you can never spend too much time on a river - learning the topography when it's low and clear will stand you well when the water is high and carrying colour. And as Ron says - you can learn a lot by reading some of the better books - after all these are very experienced anglers that have put the time in and are sharing their many years of knowledge gathering .
Jerry

[bennygesserit]

Originally Posted by Peter Jacobs

Benny,

the best possible advice I could offer would be to read the really excellent articles on here by Dave Slater, if they are still available.

He is a fabulous river angler, he thinks his problems through and is free with his advice too.

Alternatively I go with the Tony Miles route.

Thanks Dave's articles are still on here I will certainly read them !
I just know though I will get a lot of theory and then sit at the river bank and suddenly not have a clue , but I am going to give it a go anyway.