by Kingfisher

THE question really this week is whether to get out the ice-breaking kit for a stillwater, get down the river, or stay at home to do some DIY.

The last option is really not on for any serious angler, so I have to favour the river where the low water and decidedly cold temperatures have combined to encourage chub to feature most prominently in midweek catches.

Match anglers have little option but to smash their way through the ice after which, surprisingly perhaps, they are usually able to find some roach willing to feed.

Bread-punch is, in the absence of bloodworm and joker, the bait of choice for most local matchmen, especially in the clear water they will find this weekend.

It was not roach however, that proved to be matchwinners last week, on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal at Feniscowles, but bream.

That they fell to bread-punch is indicative of the angler's actual targets on a very cold day.

A field of 32 anglers turned up to contest the Octoplus Blackburn Open, with pegs on the wind chimes the ones to draw.

Derek Bibby (Ted Carter Preston) presented his punch at eight metres and attracted the attention of three bream, best three pounds, to take the top money with 6-12-15.

Local Russell Sands (Octoplus Blackburn) was the runner-up, just two pegs from the winner, with two bream for 5-2-4.

Team-mate Geoff Faulkner was next in the frame with 2-14-10 and Tri-Cast Rochdale's Trevor James was fourth with 1-11-0.

I'm sure they all expect much more from this weekend's league match at Rishton, where roach will certainly figure in the best catches.

Other local matchmen in the money last week included Damien Brierley, who finished in 5th place at a difficult Greenhalgh Lodge with 18-6-0.

Block-end feeder with maggot was the telling method, producing a net of small carp, best 4lbs, for Norman Prue who finished with 37-0-0.

Nelson's Dave Phillips has been doing well recently, at Copthorne.

He was in the frame yet again last week, in a 24-pegger on the Canal Lake, his 9-8-0 being worth sixth place and at the same venue, but in Thursday's match, Todmorden's Simon Beswick took 17-3-0 for a fifth place.

Meanwhile over the border in Yorkshire another Todmorden angler, Frank Szakerley, was helping his Profish UK team-mates to their first win in this year's Tri-Cast Teams of Four league series. The Calder/Hebble canal at Brighouse was in a dour mood and most fish caught had to be worked hard for.

As usual the market-place length was the plum draw, where it was much easier than that. The winner used both punch and bloodworm, at six and twelve metres respectively, to take small roach and skimmers throughout the match for a nice total of 4-12-0. Frank's 3-12-0 was worth third place and in sixth was TriCast Rochdale's Paul Smith with 2-14-0.

Anyway, back to the chub. They are of a much bigger average size, in the Ribble, than they used to be but there are not so many. You can get them with a static method, fishing the feeder in the same peg all day, but anglers favouring a 'roving' approach certainly get as many -- and bigger, whilst keeping warmer.

Some float-fish, though I prefer a light link leger. In either case the top bait, especially in clear conditions, is certainly bread. A big piece (50psize) on a size eight hook to four pounds b.s. line with a nice through-action rod will ensure you get bites, hook some fish and enjoy the fight.

There are quality fish, to five pounds, throughout the lower reaches so it doesn't really matter which section you choose. Some are on club cards, but there are a number of stretches offering day tickets and they will all produce the goods.

Approach the swim quietly, at right angles to the river (the fish are easily disturbed in clear, bright conditions by people on the skyline!) if you need to get down to the water's edge do so very gently, but you are better off if you can cast in from about 6 feet back on the bank.

The weight on the link, I use swan shot so I can adjust it easily, should be only just enough to hold bottom and the idea is that, by raising and lowering your rod, you bounce the bait down your swim, holding very briefly ever so often.

It is an active method, by which you can search out the fish. The rod is in your hand the whole time so there is no need to take a rod rest, or anything to sit on, with you.

Just rod, reel and bait (Warburton's medium in my case) is all you need with you.

Oh! I nearly forgot. You certainly need a landing net of course, preferably a big one, your camera and YES you're right, do not forget your licence!