with KINGFISHER

THE capture of a 14lb barbel, from the Balderstone stretch of the Ribble, will ensure that plenty of anglers descend on the North's premier river this weekend.

It was taken from the Warrington Anglers stretch from where the same angler included other double figure specimens on the same day PLUS chub to 6lbs 2oz. There is quite a variety of successful hookbaits for both species at the moment which includes corn and casters, but trout pellet paste is by far the most popular.

Fish it in conjunction with a blockend feeder filled with a mixture of micro-pellets and cooked hempseed for, with a little bit of luck in your choice of swim, a day to remember. I much prefer the roving approach, with chub the main target, though that can be difficult when much of the most likely looking swims are filled.

I do not despair however, for there are quality fish to be taken from almost everywhere you can get your line in the water. In fact the fast flowing 12 inch deep swim that everyone else avoids at all costs is sure to contain at least one decent chub -- plus a few smaller ones.

The tactic is simple! No groundbait is required because the fish you are after are already there -- no need to attract them. I favour a link leger with bread, carrying about three swan shot, to ensure the bait sinks. With paste I prefer to mount a decent lump on a size six hook tied direct to my 5lbs b.s. reel-line, with no other weight attached. This is known as freelining and can be an especially deadly method.

Cast upstream and allow the bait to get to the bottom (almost immediate in such shallow water). The idea is to trundle the bait along the bottom right into the fish's mouth, but you need to maintain contact with it. You ensure that you do this by gently retrieving line as it comes towards you, without increasing the speed of the bait.

A bit of practice is needed to get this right, but it is worth the effort. Takes are always fairly vigorous and cannot be mistaken -- so be prepared. The swim can also be searched downstream, using the same tackle but with a different technique. Cast out in front and close the bale-arm of your reel. Hold the rod in the air, to keep most of the line out of the water, and allow the bait to swing round to your bank, keeping in touch all the while but allowing a bow to form in your line.

Occasionally, especially using the link leger, the bait will hold in one position. Allow it to remain like that for a minute by letting out a bit of line, then set it moving again by a gentle pull. If the upstream takes can be described as vicious, then take downstream ones using the bow must be savage. There is usually no need to strike, just make sure you have a tight grip on your rod.

After their exploits with Darwen Loyals the previous week, Hyndburn's Greenhalgh Lodge experts, Dave Pickering and John Rogers were back on their happy last Saturday. They found the lakes' large carp in a feeding mood and the match saw each of the top two anglers exceed the magic 100lbs barrier.

Unfortunately neither of these two topped the lot with 141-0-0 (that was left to Mick Southworth), nor could they manage the 130-13-0 needed for second place. Pickering was third however, with 77-6-0 and Rogers also managed to make the frame (again), in fifth place with 62-3-0.