The Indian summer ended yesterday. Last week would have been ideal for that late bream session I had hoped for, but clearing a backlog of rods and getting ready for the PAC show put paid to that. This week I have the time available, but the temperature is dropping and the rain arrived last night. Wind had been forecast, and as per the predictions it got stronger as the day wore on. This added a chill factor to the still mild day, so I donned the bunny suit and set off for the river.
It wasn't long before I was wishing I'd left the suit at home as I was soon working up a sweat scrabbling about on the bank after netting fish. The first one only took twenty minutes to appear, and after less than four hours I'd totalled seven to just shy of nine pounds. I packed up earlier than usual at quarter to eleven when a heavy shower had passed by, blown by the strong wind which, during the strongest gusts, had been cracking branches on the far bank wood and blowing my lines so hard they were pulling the rod tips over!
Another fun session, but with no real lessons learned. The same baits produced, although I did search around the swim (which I'd only fished once before) catching from various parts of it.
A few things to ponder though. Like why do cows crap in exactly the place you want to put your rucksack? And why do so many barbel anglers stay away from the rivers when they are low and clear? The former is imponderable, the latter I don't really care about because it means a better choice of swims for me!
Back in 2005 when we had a proper summer the Ribble was pretty much deserted. Most evenings I had it to myself where I was fishing at the time, and caught consistently. Nice fish too. Yet all over the place anglers were moaning about the green slimy weed, the clear water and how it needed a good flush through. More fool them. You can only catch fish with a bait in the water - not with your feet up the chimney back.
As I type the sky is leaden, the wind is howling and rain is falling. I guess the rivers and their banks will be full soon.
