with KINGFISHER

YOU do not need to be an expert to get yourself a Ribble barbel or two, but if you want to get a big one it certainly does help.

And there are few anglers more expert on this particular river than Preston scrap metal dealer David Dean who, you may recall, claimed a river record back in September with a 15lb 4oz leviathan.

He has been fishing the river for over 40 years and, in his own words, "I know it like the back of my hand."

No surprise then to learn that he is claiming to have beaten his own record with a 15lb 6oz fish taken last week.

It fell to a single boilie that Dean presented under an overhanging tree, but that is not the method to use if you are new to the river, or just new to barbel fishing. You do not need to know the river that well either, though you will need some appropriate gear.

The method involves the use of a big, heavily leaded, feeder packed with pellets (halibut). Find yourself a streamy bit of water anywhere between Ribchester and Preston, preferably in mid-river and you will, I am reliably informed, have located some barbel (they really are so widespread and prolific at the moment).

Your likely targets are probably in the three to six pounds range which do, on reasonable tackle, provide some excellent sport. Not, however on this gear, for you need a powerful rod matched to some strong line (10lbs b. s.) in order to put out the big feeder. The business end is completed by a size 8 hook on which, hair-rigged of course, are a couple of pellets (superglue).

This method will not suit all anglers, myself included, but there is no doubt it will take plenty of fish. Personally I prefer to set up to take small fish on float tackle, with the chance of hooking a bigger fish if I am lucky, but each to his own!

Both Springview and Octoplus Blackburn have held on to their positions at the top of their respective divisions of the Octoplus Standish Autumn League, following the penultimate match last weekend.

Springview didn't even have to appear in the frame, making them blas perhaps, because they did not (for the first time). Their lead remains unassailable as, realistically, does that of Octoplus Blackburn in the Second Division.