Just taken this photograph from the office. Looks nice but it certainly looks as though this weather is now well and truly set in until the new year. Just checked the long term weather reports and it certainly doesn’t look good for putting a carp on the bank and that is coming from someone who has caught several from holes in the ice from a few different lakes now.

I think to-night I will dig out the river fishing gear. I have to get out there fishing for something and what better in these difficult conditions than to spend a few hours on a river fishing for something that actually wants to feed and will feed?

My first choice over the years has always been the grayling or chub as both can be relied upon to offer a little sport when there is minimal chance of catching other species. I love trotting a float down a river for grayling and from what I have found in the past so long as the rivers aren’t running too coloured then it simply doesn’t get cold enough to put them off the feed. Maggots or pinkies are all I usually fish with as bait.

If there is a tinge of colour to the river then I usually switch my attentions to chub.

One of my favourite chub fishing methods is leap frogging down the bank covering a lot of ground with mackerel fillet baits. These are really easily prepared, I siply remove the back bone, cut the flesh into strips and fish them side hooked. In my experience mackerel strips tends to sort out a slightly larger stamp of fish.

If the river is up then simply dropping a bait in the slack areas in the edge will often produce instant bites if the fish are there. When the river is running lower, you often have to cast around a bit to find the fish. I tend to give each swim around 15 to 20 minutes before moving on.

Well, I guess that is what I will be doing for a few hours over this festive period. Nice simple fishing without the need to drag a load of gear behind me.

Give it a go you may be surprised at the sport you can enjoy regardless of the weather.

Best fishes and have a great fish filled Christmas

Shaun Harrison

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