I had about two hours before darkness

Arriving home I checked the mail, filled the bird feeders then grabbed two loaves of bread from the dustbin in my shed. If I didn’t keep them in a sealed container the mice would get into the bread. After some lunch I sorted out some tackle, collected my chest highs and made my way to the car. Time? 2-30pm. I had about two hours before darkness. I decided I would fish the Ribble near Clitheroe which was only ten minutes away. Parking the car, I changed into some wet weather gear, put the two loaves of bread in my bag, assembled the rod which already had the reel in place and the line through the guides, with a size 4 Partridge Jack Hilton barbless hook attached. The first swim was a steady 40 foot long glide ending in a slow deep pool, I decided to trot this first swim choosing a big balsa float taking three swan shot. I wanted the bread bait down near the bottom and by using a big float I would be able to control it better and mend the line. First trot down and my first chub of the session, a nice fish around the four pound mark. Second and third trots down the swim yielded nothing but the next trot through found me attached to a good fish. After a bit of give and take I put the net under a fish I though might go five pounds. Out with the scales and weigh net. After adjusting the scales the fish was weighed and recorded at 5lb 3 ounces. Five more trots through the swim and three more good fish all around the four pound mark. This was fishing at it’s best. I always feel the river Ribble fishes best when it’s carrying a lot of water and with a water temperature of 50 degrees F. give or take a degree, conditions couldn’t be better. Several trots through without a bite. I decided it was time to move. The next swim was in a small wood where the river created a big backwater. This swim often holds some good fish in high water conditions. This was a legering swim. Off with the float, then I pinched on two large shot some five inches from the hook. Bait was a big piece of crust. The first three casts yielded three more good chub. I then had a blank session for about fifteen minutes. I decided on a bait change. Moving the two shot up the line another foot I baited with a big bit of crust and cast out to the far edge of the swim. The time was five minutes past four. I had about half an hour left before going off home. I sat back watching the rod tip and feeding a robin. The tip sprung back, the answering strike found me connected to a powerful fish which shot out into the centre of the river causing me to give line. The fish took some five yards of line. As it moved downstream I swung the rod tip over, pulling the fish into the slower water. After a bit of give and take I was able o net a very good chub. When I had the net on the bank I could see I had a big fish – a very big fish! This one needed weighing. It pulled the scales down to 5lb 12 ounces. I shot a couple of pictures of the fish alongside the rod handle and centre pin reel then watched it swim away hopefully it will weigh six pound plus when I catch it again. What a super winter afternoon session.

Martin James