Thought I'd bring this topic back up again as we're now comming up to winter 2004/5. It's nice to read back over what others have previously said about winter Chubbing rather than starting another thread: -
I?ve always had a bit of a dilemma when fishing the Ribble in winter, as to how much feed to put in at the start of a session. I?ve tried piling the bait in, spodding or feeder, then waiting an hour before fishing. I?ve tried feeder fishing with liquidised bread and or hemp and caster, usually casting every 15/20 mins, and of course PVA bags of micro pellets, generally casting every half-hour. As yet I can?t say that one way is better than the other.
If I?m pushed for time or the river?s coloured up, then it?s PVA bags of micro pellets, I?ve nearly always got some made up. If the river?s running low and clear (and I can get to the tackle shop for some casters), I usually fish the upstream rod on bread flake fished over liquidised bread and the down stream rod on caster fished over hemp and caster. I will generally change from caster to pellets later in the evening.
At first I thought that by pilling in the bait I might frighten off the bigger Chub?
However, looking back in my records there has been no pattern to when in the session I?ve caught my 5lb plus Chub e.g. the beginning of a session, middle or end.
So the question is what?s you?re thought process as to the method of choice on the day during the winter?