Fishing the Trent

I am relative newcomer in fishing the Trent having always been a die-hard River Witham and Drain angler. My intention is to target the Barbel and Chubb in the river. I have fished the river around Winthorpe and Holme on three occasions while the river was running high and blanked. Am I wasting my time fishing in these conditions and what if any is the best condition to fish the river. Maybe I am fishing in the wrong area? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I could write a book about the Trent in this area.

First of all are you properly equipped. A nice through action rod about 1.5 lbs test curve, don't bother about quiver tips, bait runner or fighting drag reel, 12 lb line with varous materials for hook lengths, I use fluoro from 7lb to 12 lb.

Flat leads from 2 oz to 4 oz and a few big heavy Drennan flat feeders with a selection of dead cows.

Find the inside of a bend with plenty of gravel. Fish fairly close in. If the river is in full spate, fish virtually under your rod tip if you can.

Forget boilies and exotic baits at this stage, use Luncheon meat maggots and casters.

You will need a selection of eyed hooks from 12 Super Specialist to 4 ESP Raptor for large lumps of meat.

To lay out a bed of bait use something like Nutrbaits Carpet Feed mixed with Hemp and small pellets. Don't put a lot of bait out, unless you like catching bream.

The meat is best hair rigged, do not cut it in cubes but rather odd shaped lumps.

Get on the river now. The use of a heavy lead and braid dragged across the bottom will find you the gravel.

If you want more tips, email me direct.

Ron, just download all your posts. One completed book!

I repeat, get to the river NOW. If I wasn't going ont the Idle tomorrow, I would be on the Trent. Conditions could not be better.

Tide tops at 9-00 am tomorrow morning I am told.