ALTHOUGH it's hard to believe, there really are some positive aspects to the awful weather this summer. They all relate to the river which has been fishing much better than for some years.

Of course this weather is not responsible for the resurgence of small fish, chub and dace. Nor is it the reason that there are many more big fish, chub and barbel, widely spread than ever before.

It is however, I believe, the biggest single factor behind the consistently good sport we have enjoyed over the past four or five weeks.

Without rain the river level falls and some waters become almost stagnant. With such dry weather the low, clear, river is also baked for hours on end by the sun. The result is increased weed growth which, at night, depletes the oxygen levels and makes the fish lethargic.

But this summer the river has been refreshed by the rain which adds oxygen. Weed growth is also restricted, ensuring oxygen levels remain high and the fish active. The result of this is improved catches, particularly during the hours of darkness.

And we're lucky again this week. There is every reason to expect the improved, consistent, catches of the last weekend to be at least matched.

There have been reports of numerous barbel, from different sections of river, over eight pounds including some into double figures.

Ribchester has continued to fish well, but lower reaches around Balderstone, Elston, Red Scar and Samlesbury remain most popular. There are opportunities to try out a variety of tactics and still catch well. Some great mixed bags have been taken by anglers fishing mid-river swims with balsa-float tactics.

Regular feeding (loose of course) with a caster/hempseed mixture has had both chub and barbel queuing up with double red maggot the bait on a 16 hook to four pounds b.s. line.

Do not be tempted to feed maggot initially as it doesn't seem to work anywhere near as well as the caster/hemp mix (about 50/50).

Set the float to fish a full depth when held back slightly against the current. The hot swim may only be a couple of feet deep so that might mean setting your depth to three feet, depending on the weight Bites can be quite violent with this method -- so be prepared.

The most successful alternative is to fish a block-end feeder filled with the caster/hemp mix, and again double red maggot on the hook. You must open up the holes in the feeder to make it empty quickly, and this is easily done with a pair of scissors. Just join up the holes to make slots.

Choose to fish the same, shallow, mid-river swim as you would with the float, even standing in if you want. I would try to fish slightly upstream, letting out a slight bow in the line, and looking for the renowned drop back bites.

It is hard not to favour the river when it's fishing so well but there's good news for everyone.

The canal is fishing quite well. It is hard to gather info, with so few anglers actually pleasure fishing the cut, but those that are, are quite satisfied.

I know of stretches that are absolutely stuffed with fish, of various sizes and species, that are not being fished at all. Just the other day I saw the surface boil over about three pegs, as roach took bread.

That was between the bottom lock at Barrowford and the next bridge (playing fields), but I'm sure there are similar stretches near you.

Both river and canal seem to offer the best chance of improved sport, yet commercial fishers are, it has to be said, consistently good at the moment. Bradshaw Hall, Bolton, again looks best and if it is simply the catching of fish that makes your day, look no further.