Ribble: River Ribble Fishing Reports

[Paul C]

Date 16.9.11
Section River Ribble
Time: 12:45 till 6:15p
Weather conditions: Dry to start then torrential rain before clearing later.
Water conditions : 6 inches or so above NSL and steady with a little colour.
Bait - hemp, caster & corn
Air temp N/T
Water temp: N/T
Method: Waggler

Excellent float session despite the 2 hours of heavy rain midway through. I started with some big roach showing and had a very nice first one of 1lb 5oz.

I caught in spells until I had a break half way through, with a mix or roach and some dace ranging between 4oz and 12oz.

After a break, the heavens opened and the dace came thick and fast. I still had an odd roach mixed in, but the dace really took over. I also landed a big brown trout that did a bit of jumping and tail walking, that weighed 3lb 5oz.

In all I had in the region of 60 dace, with some lovely big ones mixed in, I had 10 roach from 12oz to 1lb 5oz, 9 smaller roach and the trout. For some reason, not one chub put in an appearance. Very unusual.

[Paul C]

Date 25.9.11
Section River Ribble
Time: 3:10pm till 8:10pm
Weather conditions: Bright to start, clouding over and one shower later.
Water conditions : NSL and very clear.
Bait - pellet
Air temp N/T
Water temp: N/T
Method: Single feeder rod
Results: 6 barbel and 3 chub


The river was busier with it being a Sunday and I was fishing with a friend who was late picking me up and had also made some arrangements for the evening, so the session was now going to be a short one.

I wasn’t expecting too much early on with a bright sun and clear water, so I was taken by surprise when I had a take that was on the drop, second cast. My initial instinct was it was that it would be a big trout as it grabbed it and ran before I had put the rod in the rest. It turned out to be an 8lb 10oz barbel.

The swim was lifeless over the next hour, until another barbel showed out of the blue. Shortly after I had a chub of about 3lb. It then went very quiet again until the light started to go, which was what I’d expected but I also knew I didn’t have much time left.

I had 2 barbel and a chub and also pulled out of 2 barbel, before my mate came down to see how it was going as he’d packed up. Over the next 15 mins whilst he tried to coach me away, I had 2 more barbel and a chub in 3 casts. I don’t like leaving a swim that’s in feeding mode, but then it’s a long walk home…

[Paul C]

Date 6.11.11
Section River Ribble
Time: 2:30pm till 6pm
Weather conditions: Bright and sunny and then bright 3/4 moon later.
Water conditions : About a foot up with a little colour still but not much.
Bait - pellet & corn
Air temp - chilly, dropping to 2 or 3 degrees at dark
Water temp: N/T
Method: Single feeder rod
Results:

Well... my god, it's been a full 5 weeks since I have been out. It seemed longer and I was so keen to wet a line I wasn't that bothered about whether the conditions were good or not. Time flies and no idea how I've not managed to get out since the end of September!!

The report on the fishing front is... well uneventful! The winter ribble brings you back down to earth with a bump when it wants too. After a very good summer / autumn that I've had, today was like watching paint dry.

I plugged away with my normal endeavor but I couldn't temp even a tap or a rattle. I wasn't alone though. There were several others around me and they all blanked. As I called it a day early at 6pm, my luggage was frozen as was my landing net handle.

Never mind, It was nice to be back out and had a good chat with the chap next to me during his tea break.

That's my first blank on there for a good while I think, but I always console myself by saying you have to have these days to fully appreciate the good ones.

[Paul C]

Date 11.11.11
Section River Ribble
Time: 1:45pm till 6.15pm
Weather conditions: Overcast & mild with a chilli wind.
Water conditions : Low and crystal clear
Bait - pellet, corn & mini boilies
Air temp - mild 10 to 13
Water temp: 9 degrees
Method: Single feeder rod
Results: 3 barbel

Hard work overall! I switched to corn after 40 mins and managed 2 barbel in quick succession. Thereafter it was dead until 6pm when I had another on pellet. Very surprised no chub showed and it was very quiet with little signs of encouragement for long periods.

The rain starting was enough encouragement to pack up and see if there was a pint of real ale with my name on it instead.

[Paul C]

Date 20.2.2012
Section River Ribble
Time: 10:30 till 3pm
Weather conditions: Very wet and cold
Water conditions : carrying a small amount of extra water but clear
Bait - pellet, corn & mini boilies
Air temp -
Water temp: 2.7 down to 2.3c
Method: Single feeder rod
Results: blank

Very wet cold day. As soon as I saw the water temp I knew it was going to be tough. It was just 2.7c and fell to 2.3c.

I had a few signs of activity around mid day with a number of rattles and taps, but no takers and tht was it. I had to be back for early evening so couldn't sit it out till the light faded.

---------- Post added at 17:38 ---------- Previous post was at 17:31 ----------

Date 26.2.12
Section River Ribble
Time: 12:30 till 7pm
Weather conditions: Mild and dry
Water conditions : carrying a small amount of extra water but clear
Bait - pellet, corn & mini boilies
Air temp - 10c dropping to 7.5c
Water temp: 7.5c
Method: Single feeder rod
Results: 2 barbel to 8lb 9oz and 4 chub

Much improved conditions from my last outing and the mild spell made a positive water temp reading.

I caught my best fish of the day immediately within 2 mins on my fist cast. It was followed 15 mins later by another barbel of about 6lb, but then as it sometimes does, it went completely dead.

No activity or signs of life until 6:15 when I had 3 chub in 3 casts. One more followed shortly after. None of them were worthy enough of being weighed as they were all 4lb ish or under. I'd prefer to have stayed longer but wasn't able too. I suspect a few more chub would have come out had that been possible.

[David L Johnson]

Hi all – I’ve been lurking here for many years and just re-started fishing, these reports have kept me interested whilst I’ve been unable to fish, thanks all. I hope I can give something back by contributing something (mainly blank reports no doubt!).

Date 18/19.6.12
Section River Ribble
Time: 2pm – midnight and 6.30pm – 11 30pm
Weather conditions: Mild and dry
Water conditions : Falling after heavy rain day one, then NSL.
Bait – pellet/paste
Air temp: 10 C (night) 16 (Day)
Water temp: Not taken
Method: 2 rods – ledger/pva.
Results: First session 1 Chub 3lb 15oz, second session blank.

After several days of rain and watching the EAs website for the tail of the flood pulse (thanks John for that tip I picked up on here!) I managed to get out Monday and Tuesday for my first session of the new season. Conditions looked great Monday but I had just one bite a really long, lean dark summer chub which fought like a bream, recently spawned out I think. Fishing a new swim which was perhaps a little shallow for barbel, my main target.

Day two – Decided to fish a swim that proved a barbel banker last Autumn, with multiple barbel/chub catches (something I’m not used to as an old Great Ouse Angler when 1 barbel every other session was a good result for me). Complete blank, not even a consolatory chub.

On both sessions all anglers I spoke to denied having caught any barbel, just chub. I’m wondering if the cold/wet June we’ve had has delayed their spawning or they just don’t come out so much early season in the Ribble?

One thing I noticed was that all the barbel I caught last year were very nocturnal, coming out well after dark. Unfortunately it didn’t really get properly dark, even at midnight when I had to pack up and I’m wondering whether at this time of year they feed after midnight. Obviously I’m doing something wrong or the fish have moved or switched off and look forward to spending a few months/years trying to work out what! Some small amounts of weed (hair algae) catching in my rod rings, but tiny amounts compared to what I used to encounter on the Ouse, not causing any real issues other than having to pull it off line between casts.

[Paul C]

Date 21.6.12
Section River Ribble
Time: 10am till 3pm
Weather conditions: windy and showers
Water conditions : NSL pretty much and very little colour
Bait - hemp, caster and corn
Air temp - 12c
Water temp: n/t
Method: Float
Results: a dozen dace, 8 big brown trout, 1 barbel and 3 decent chub

This was only my second trip out fishing since my last post on here, so I was just happy to be out! Things have been hectic at home, so fishing has been off the agenda!!

I opted for a swim that I knew I would get on which a friend goes on and after a quick phone call to check I was in the right spot I fished a chubber float in shallow, fast water.

I had a very active morning with most of the fish coming before midday. I stopped for lunch and afterwards it was hard going! One highlight of the afternoon was the barbel which was 7.5 to 8lb and fought like stink in the shallow fast run. I had it on the pin and was knackered afterwards as it gave me a proper run around!

I had 3 chub between 3lb and 4.5lb, and 8 trout all 1lb to 2lb, which also fought well in the fast water.

A few more chub and dace would have been nice, but I enjoyed it all the same even if trout weren't the intended target.

Today was meant to be a double headed with me fishing this evening. Needless to say I didn't fancy 5 metres of flood water, so a day off a little wasted!!

Unfortunately It will almost 2 weeks before I get back out again.

[Paul C]

Date 8.7.12
Section River Ribble
Time: 16:00 till 19:30 – see below!!!
Weather conditions: Mild and dry
Water conditions : 18 inches up and rising slightly. Nice colour.
Bait – pellet & corn
Air temp – n/t
Water temp: n/t
Method: Single feeder rod
Results: 3 chub, 1 barbel, 1 big roach, 2 eels and 1 broken reel

I had planned to float fish but the river has been up and down like a bride’s knickers. The forecast running up to Sunday suggested more rain was to fall on a river that already had 3 foot plus on it, so no float bait was purchased…..

That left me slightly miffed because the rain didn’t happen and it was just 18 inches up come Sunday afternoon, albeit it was rising slightly.

So an evening feeder fishing was planned, but it didn’t quite work out that way.

It took an hour to get a proper take and a 3lb chub was my prize. 20 minutes later I had a bigger one around 4lb and then it went quiet. After a brief break for food and a walk to see how the only other angler was doing, I returned and switched to corn and landed a roach of about 1lb instantly. Next cast on corn I had a barbel.

However, by now I was well aware that my top of the range shimano GTE baitrunner was having a wobbly. The gears were slipping under tension and the line-lay was going mental!

Being a minimalistic angler I rarely have more than 1 rod or reel, so I had to see if I could make do. Sadly after 2 eels and another chub the reel became un-usable!!

Not good considering it was only the third season of using the thing on the river. My old 5010 GT Japanese built model is going strong after many years of hard abuse. It seems they make the Malaysian versions internally from cheese these days!!

So, that was it…. Session ended before the best few hours of the day were about to happen!! So I sulked home early with £100 of broken plastic, metal and cheese. I have my kids this week so at least a week before I get out again.

[Paul C]

Date 24.7.12
Section River Ribble
Time: 6pm till 9.20pm
Weather conditions: warm and sunny
Water conditions : NSL pretty much and very little colour
Bait - hemp, maggot and corn
Air temp - n/t
Water temp: n/t
Method: Float
Results: around 25 dace and 3 roach

A managed just a short midweek session on the float. It was a little slow overall and no bonus fish either.

Around half of the dace were a really nice stamp but I was missing quick bites and on maggot getting plagued by minnows.

A very nice evening to be out on the river even if the fishing wasn't spectacular.

[Paul C]

Date 2.8.12
Section River Ribble
Time: 18:30 till 22:30
Weather conditions: Bright and warm, odd spots of rain later
Water conditions : 10 inches up, failing with a nice colour.
Bait – pellet & corn
Air temp – n/t
Water temp: n/t
Method: Single feeder rod
Results: 11 barbel, 1 chub, 1 large roach, 1 good brownie and 1 good eel

Not enough light hours available for me to float fish this week, so opted for a feeder session into dark and managed to get on one of my favourite pegs.

My first cast produce a lovely roach that went 1lb 9oz on pellet. I then had lots of indications between quick casts so there seemed to be plenty of interest in the pellet I was constantly introducing but no takes for a spell. I managed to finish the first hour having had 2 small barbel and then a big brown trout which came after I switched to corn.

The bangs and knocks stopped for about 20 to 30mins, but thereafter I caught very steadily with some better stamp fish mostly 5 to 6lb size and my best of the night just before the light went at 8lb 2oz.

Very enjoyable fishing and in between fish the rod was constantly banging and knocking with activity and dropped pick-ups.

The new Korum KXI baitrunner stood up to its first test and performed very well for a reel that was under £40 delivered! I know time will tell if it’s the real deal, but my previous shimano lasted less than 3 seasons for more than twice the cost. It worked with ease under tension and the clutch was very smooth once I found the right balance. I had it way too slack for the first few lively young fish!!