Next up to share a few thoughts in our celebration of the new season on the flowing waters is top all-round specialist Adrian Eves:
The river season is finally here, but although I’ve got lots of ideas for venues and tactics I rarely start on the rivers before the onset of winter so I’ve got plenty of time to get ready! The only exception may be a trip to the Wye with Will Barnard to fish the Llanthomas Fishery and hopefully catch some barbel in breathtaking scenery.
To be fair, I’ve just come back from the rivers of France where I had some nice barbel and chub (no close season there of course) on open end feeders with corn as a hookbait. The one pictured below is one I had from the UK last winter though and I’m certainly looking forward to bettering it this season.
So, where I do start?
I’ll be targeting all of the river species and will swap between them as the river and weather conditions dictate. I really believe that flexibility in the winter is vital, as is a willingness to fish a venue that you enjoy and that hopefully holds the target fish. I love winter on the rivers and I will often fish well into the night, perhaps to 1 or 2am, but I usually don’t start until 3pm – no boat problems, no people and big fish – it couldn’t be better!
If I do day fish I will probably be fishing for grayling or dace by long trotting with maggots. For the barbel and chub I will be using 10mm The Crave boilies with small PVA mesh bags with crumbed boilies and a few mixed, but small, pellets. When I leave I will usually introduce a few baits to perhaps help to get a fish on the next visit.
The thing that I’m REALLY looking forward to this season though is dropshotting for river perch towards the end of the season. I only discovered this tactic right at the end of last season and I absolutely loved it – it’s very exciting to watch the perch hunt down the lure.
As far as ambitions are concerned I’ll be targeting a barbel over 18lb, a new PB chub to top 7lb 8oz, a 3lb 8oz grayling, a 5lb river perch and, hopefully, a 1lb dace – well you’ve got to dream!
