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Inside Lancashire Sport

You are in: Lancashire > People > Inside Lancashire Sport > Ask Martin - River Ribble

Martin James

Ask Martin - River Ribble

Dek is fishing between two pubs on the River Ribble...and wants to know if the stretch between them is any good for barbel and chub.

Mark from Bury asks...

Have you ever fished the River Ribble for roach? I hear it is now teaming with fish and was wondering the best way to start fishing it.

Thanks
Mark

Martin's advice...

Dear Mark

Yes I have been fishing for the roach over the past couple of seasons. My usual way is float fishing by trotting the stream with cork on quill Avon float 3lb breaking strain line hook size being either 12, 14, and 16 depending on the bait being used.

The baits I have found most successful are casters, feeding with hemp, sweet corn, punched bread and small cubes of crust. I find a bait dropper is a useful item of tackle to have. Some good roach pound plus have been caught by strett pegging.

Though I have fished a light quiver tip rod with a small swim feeder, I cannot say I enjoy fishing this way for roach - I much prefer float fishing which has also has proved the most successful way of catching the roach.

I have found the best fishing time is when the river is fining down with a foot of extra water. I hope this is of help.

Kind regards
Martin

-----

Peter from Bolton asks...

I want to fish for Barbel on the Ribble - where can I go on a day ticket or syndicate stretch where getting a permit isn't a problem?

Regards
Peter

Martin's advice...

Dear Peter

The Tickled Trout stretch and Bonsai gardens both operate day tickets. The Shaws Arms length is worth some effort. You can get a Wigan ticket for Elston. I don't know of any syndicate water.

Cheers
Martin

----

Dek from Fulwood asks...

Could I catch barbel and chub between Shawes Arms and the Continental pub on the River Ribble?

I've been told that the River Darwen runs into the Ribble and that's a good place.

I'd appreciate it if you could help.

Thanks.

Martin's advice...

Dear Dek,

Yes you can certainly catch barbel and chub in that area of the River Ribble, in fact it's an area that might produce a big barbel if you are dedicated and prepared to spend the time.

I would suggest a large piece of Pallatrax Jungle paste mould it around a small piece of cork fixed to the hair with size 8 hook with some 15lb braid.

For chub, I reckon your best bait is a large chunk of crust on a size 2 or 4 hook. Though I have caught many chub on Jungle paste I rate bread as the first choice bait. I hope this helps.

Regards,

Martin

----

Gavin from Blackpool asks...

Dear Martin

Where are the best places to fish for chub on the Ribble & where can you obtain tickets or membership?

Gavin

Martin's advice...

Gavin
One excellent area is Elston on the Preston Longride road. The water is controlled by Preston Centre - cards available from Ted Carter, Church Street Preston. They are excellent value for money.

The stretch upstream of Red Scar wood is a good area for chub, also there are some good barbel in this stretch of river.

Just upsteam of the M6 Motorway bridge, there is a day ticket stretch I have not fished this area of the river as I try to get into the more peaceful reaches of the river.

I hope this helps.

The River Wyre in the St Michael's area is also a good place to seek the chub Day tickets available from the garage.

Best wishes,
Martin

----

Garry from Preston asks...

Martin

Can you tell me the places on the Ribble that I can fish for carp?
Thank you!

Garry

Martin's advice...

Dear Garry

The lower stretch of the River Ribble at Preston contains carp which have been caught to 20 lbs plus.

The tidal stretch also has some good fish. It can be a hit and miss affair, but if you are lucky to hook one it will certainly be a wild fish that hasn't been kissed or given a name.

I wish you all success.

Kind regards
Martin James

----

  • Catch Martin James' At the Waters Edge on BBC Radio Lancashire on Thursdays at 7.30pm and Saturdays at 6.00am - or via 'Listen Again' online. Each show is available for seven days.

last updated: 11/08/2008 at 16:26
created: 26/10/2006

Have Your Say

What do you think?

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terry mead
regarding the question from carl mcnaboe i also had this problem some years ago when there was many more eels in the river. i was told by aold guy to get road kill say arabbit or dead bird and peg it down stream of where your fishing ,all the eels will go there .we used to use this methed for cathing them for live bait by putting the rabbit or bird even sardines in aold wool jumper. it works

ged van den hoek
hi marin just thinking of taking up fly fishing for trout after many years could you tell me were i could trout fish on the ribble as i would like to a day permit first, and can you advice on what fishing club i could join many thanks ged

andrew pickering
iam aiiready planning next season on the ribble but looking for a new stretch to recky this summer.could you tell me any stretches on the middle river with good scenery and good fishing on aday ticket.ps ive heard its day ticket on jackson bank. true or false

dave mansfield
do you need a river ribble permit or can you just fish on your rod liscence

Martin from Preston, Lea
dear Martini have been fishing the ribble for sum time now and all i seem to catch is lousy flatfish to some this may be great but for me i find it a bit boring what else is in that water?i fish near the motor sports centre "TRAX"kind regardsMartin

anthoney clitheroe
well ive grown up tied to clitheroe and the ribble now its my son turn ive never been a strong fishing convert but now ive a son thats never away from river so im looking for help i need some were to point him as a starting part

Carl mcnaboe
When fishing for barbel using various baits and im having problems with eels they arent taking the hookbait they r becoming entangled with the hook length and feeder any ideas

donnie
its the start of january , can i fish the ribble on maggots at the shawes arms .... what am i likely to pull in

Mike B
I fished the bonsai garden stretch of the river ribble a good few years ago and caught some bumper chub. Is this stretch still fishing well and can I still buy a ticjet from the bonsai gardens. If not, where do I get a ticket?

Megan
I want facts on the river Ribble.Can you tell me a little bit about the river.

deck from preston
ive fished bullnose the estury of the ribble a couple of times for flattys or bass but ive had nothin can you please tell me the best baits to use deck ov preston

Dean Hanley
Can you fish any stretch of the Ribble, if not how do you know which stretches you can fish & which are free (if any).I would like to fish the river more often but because of not knowing for sure re; the above, i dont.Thanks.

Graham L Farrell
Hi Martin, Im a "Geordie" traveling down to Dolphinholme this Monday coming (Sept 1st 08). I intend to fish the Wyre, but I have no idea of what tackle to take down with me. There will be nothing worse than taking waggler when I need quiver tip. What andwhere would you sugest.Graham L Farrell, Cramlington. Northumberland.

Leslie Weddell (Preston)
Martin, I'm a fly fisherman but my Son is into course fishing, and apart from visiting those expensive private fisheries that offer two lakes, we wonder if you know of a stretch oh the Ribble where we could both get satisfaction by going fishing together i.e. me on the fly and my lad on his course fishing gear? A day ticket would be fine, but we would certainly consider joining a club or association for next year.

Ronnie Thomas
MartinWhere can i bait fish for Grayling in the Preston/Skipton area.I have been told that the Tickled Trout Strech is good but reading your replies it seems its more Roach/Chub fishing.Also do you know anything about pike fishing at Foulridge Reseviour.Regards,Ronnie Thomas

sean whitham
hi could u tell me witch is the best spot 2 fish on the ribble

lee penman
i agree wif all your comments martin all my big barrbell and carp have come on pellits if you r preperd 2 wait but my tip is on sand banks i use 4 5 pints of red maggots nd shael banks the same but boil em first so they cant diserpier on the bottom and the results r unreal smaller stamp but plenty fish

Jan Johansen
Dear Martin can you tell me please the best baits now for barble on the ribblethanks

michael
dear garrywhere am i best to start looking for barbel and chub between the trickle trout go in down to the shaws arms.

dave
hi could you tell me a good method for fishing the river that runs through whalley near accrington.thanks.

chris
hi i live in lancaster and i would like to know where the best place is to get a day ticket and the best place to catch chub and barbel. The closer the better thanks chris

ryan szanto preston
wats the best bait to fish for barble on The Tickled Trout stretch

josh
the shaws arm stretch is there any fish in this area ?And what is the best method to fish it ?cheers

danny
how much are day tickets on the river ribble

mark garry
does the ribble have a large head of pike and is there any parts of the river where runs are likely.many thanks

Ian McFishmaster
can any1 please tell me "on-foot" directions to the stretch of ribble,up stream of red scar wood and where to obtain a permit?

RICHARD MORRIS
where on the ribble is it free to fish with just a rod liecence?

Dave B
I have just restarted fishing again after a "0 odd year break.i would like try fishing a river but i don`t know anyone who fishes rivers.Do you know of anyone who could offer a days guided fishing on the Ribble.

dek
martin could you tell me were i could get pallatrax jungle paste from please i had a carp from the tram bridge so im happy thank you dek

DAVID
where on the ribble can i get a day ticket to fish for trout and salmon

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