Tactics

[Robert Edwards]

Hi all, not sure if this has been discussed before so sorry if we are going over old ground. Ive just recently started having a go on a piece of river that is a bit of an unknown to me. Not sure on stocking levels or sizes. Its a small overgrown river that shows very little signs of angler pressure, and in four 5 hour evening sessions i have yet to see another angler. The only information i have is ive seen a picture of a 14+ from this stretch a couple of years ago, and that i had a small barbel under a pound on my first session(so there must be some barbel in there), other than that its been chub and crays. Ive been baiting a few areas lightly upon arrival and fishing in a random rotation for about 45mins-1hr each. spotting fish on this stretch is tricky as there is nearly always a TINGE of coulour in the water and the overhaning willows reach from bank to bank, but all grow from the other(inecessible)bank. How would you guys go about tackling such a river? Keep baiting light and try and find the fish, keep baiting an area and keep fishing it through, or sit tight for the duration of each session.
Thanks. Rob.

 

[Gavin Hoe-Richardson]

I would continue as you've started until you find the hot spots. You'll soon learn the river bed contours and the deeper areas close to cover would be the ones I'd eventually settle on.

 

[Terry Banks]

Have a few sessions roving on the float (more of a plumbing exercise than catching fish) its a fast way of getting a picture of the topography of the river bed. You'll be quite surprised how many 'features within a feature' you will find, and also 'features in featureless' water

Once you've found em, you know where to put your bait

Good luck

 

[Jack Pells]

Robert,

I'd go very light and rove until you find the hotspots as was said above, but seeing as you said no one else is fishing it, I'd milk it why you have the chance.

 

[Robert Edwards]

Thanks for the input. Its gonna be a bit of a learning curve thats for sure. Getting bites from the chub is encouraging, I think?! The fact that i have no idea on numbers of barbel, and that it is receiving very little attention is a bit of a double edged sword in as much as i could be fishing for a very small head of fish, which could quite possibly, all be under one snag, on a 3/4mile stretch. For me it really is a step into the unknown. The river in question is very varied, some areas having high populations of modest sized fish, the next having low numbers of big girls. Time will tell.

 

[John Walker]

depends on what river system its on, some rivers the larger fish stick to the deeper sections/spots, other shallow rivers its legwork time, forget bait watch for flashing and signs of barbel present ,if its very very small barbel getting caught then get out from the nursery areas and concentrate on other bits, where theres cover theres usually fish on amall rivers