THE onset of some cooler weather last weekend affected catches everywhere and as we enter the winter period anglers must reconsider their tactics, if they have not already done so.
Though cold, it was quite pleasant last weekend for the main part and many were disappointed with their catch as a result.
An improvement this weekend is hardly on the cards however, particularly on stillwaters, with the severe frosts of the week just past unlikely to have sharpened the appetites of most of the stock.
Waters such as Copthorne, where a good number of chub have been introduced, are likely to fare best but a good catch will be the reward for only those anglers who tailor their approach to suit.
Out go the tackle and bait that was employed for carp and in should come the finer approach, with caster or maggot on the hook.
Running water is a much different story especially if we get a good deluge over the next few weeks with local rivers, particularly the Ribble, in great need of a good flush.
There will be a lot more leaves, to annoy you, this weekend, and a bit of patience is called for, though there are fish ready to be caught.
In fact, some of the biggest chub of the year are being taken, despite the low water.
Balderstone, the Warrington water, has produced a few specimens over 6lbs recently, with quite a few more now very close to that magic weight.
Float-fished breadflake is the most satisfying method by which you can get them, in my view, but I understand feeders filled with liquidised bread are also being used to good effect - with flake on the hook of course.
What you will find, most certainly, is that most commercial fisheries will be much less predictable.
There are sure to be some 'hot' pegs emerging over the next few weeks, but they will probably be the deeper ones, with features such as overhanging trees unnecessary.
Bradshaw Hall Fisheries will be at the top of many a pleasure angler's hit list, especially with the reports of some phenomenal silver fish catches now filtering through. Carp sport has slowed right down on pool 4, but pools 2 and 3 have each produced 40lb plus matchweights.
It's not easy to get any idea of how local stretches of Leeds-Liverpool Canal are fishing, there being very few anglers on the water.
What I can tell you though, is that there is great pike sport to be had, with one angler reporting no less than thirteen fish to 9lbs in a single session, to the spinner.
Now what we all should know is that there are no feeding pike where there is no food. It stands to reason then that all you need to know, to locate plenty of roach, is where the pike are.
Fortunately, I was able to get that info, with Clayton-le-moors coming of little surprise to me - or many of you I suspect.
The third round of the Pennine Winter League was held last Sunday on the Huddersfield Broad Canal and it brought some welcome success for local lads.
Burnley grouping Mack's Tackle could not muster a single section winner between them but, with a tremendous all-round excellent team performance, they just sneaked a win (by a single point) ahead of league leaders Tri-Cast Calder.
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