DESPITE some very difficult weather conditions in which to fish last weekend, anglers out on most of our local stillwaters found the fish to be willing quarry.

A couple of nights of fairly heavy frost have, as you are aware, followed the downpours and gale force winds. Nevertheless things have taken a turn for the better in respect of the weather towards the end of the week, and prospects for ALL local waters are very good indeed.

The rivers in fact, unfishable last weekend, must come very high on my own list of possible venues right now.

And so they should be yours, if you have any clue at all what to do on running water. You need not be an expert to succeed, even with a big fish. Though my own preference is for floatfishing, it is not necessarily the most likely method to succeed.

A legered bait is possible the best option and, of this there is very little doubt, a lobworm is the best bait.

The most knowledgeable Ribble angler will not have to search out the best swims right now, they know where they are. Those of you new to the river should now be looking towards the slightly deeper, slacker, water but NOT that which appears still.

Your targets are, generally, decent sized chub and barbel. Your choice of tackle must reflect this - or you will lose the fish even if you do hook it. Fish your bait on a short tail with just enough weight to hold bottom yet little enough to ensure you can make it bounce down the swim with the current.

Like any other form of fishing, this one demands from the most successful angler, some thought and a willingness to work at it. Try to get your bait where you think you would be if you were that 8lb barbel or 5lb chub. It would not necessarily be in the spot where your bait has come to rest - would it? Fewer of you than ever are however, fishing the river. I'm not sure exactly why this should be, though I have numerous theories. Fortunately, wherever you choose to fish this weekend should produce some sport, with the canal in excellent form.

The frosts in midweek did, however, have the effect of accelerating the natural clearing process which the cut undergoes as the boat traffic slows down. You should take account of this fact when choosing your tactics and bait. Though breadpunch will prove very successful, when used with pole, you should give very serious consideration to fishing caster with rod and line - believe me.

I'm not going to advise any particular sections of canal to fish for, especially in the Autumn, decent catches from an area last week do not necessarily mean decent catches this week. You all know where the best access points are, where both you and your vehicle will be undisturbed, and you should go just where you fancy.

I believe there are fish to be caught just about everywhere. Of course it's true that there are more in some pegs/areas than in others, but there is sport to be had everywhere. Choice of tackle/tactics and your own application is just as important. Matchmen have no choice - pleasure anglers can (and must) do what they like.

Both bream and roach will continue to feature on smaller and larger stillwaters, such as Burnley's Rowley Lake and Foulridge Reservoir. Either of these or just about any similar water close to you should be worth a visit.

Most successful, at the moment, will continue to be a small/medium sized open ended feeder filled with explosive groundbait and caster, coupled with a redworm/maggot or redworm/caster combination on a size 18 hook to 1lb b.s. line. Choose water, if you can, which is around 8ft deep at least. Though shallow, windward pegs may still produce under ideal conditions, conditions are NOT ideal. I don't want to pontificate in any respect regarding the hunting situation which exists right now. We all have our own views and, because we enjoy a relatively free country, we are all entitled to them. It is my duty however, to ensure that you, my fellow angler, are fully aware of how we may be affected.

"Fishing is one of the most important and most widely practised sports in this country and we know very well that once animal welfare groups ban hunting, they will move on to fishing." Not my words but those of new Sports Minister Kate Hoey when speaking on BBC Radio Five last week. Need I add anything?

Accrington's Steve Duckworth knows how to fish. He may be regarded by some as reaching the veteran stage, but he showed last weekend the youngster still have something to learn.

Conditions were not, as I have indicated, perfect for the Hyndburn and Blackburn AA Open match on the Leeds and Liverpool canal at Rishton. Nevertheless, showing great skill, Steve used pole/punch or caster to take roach to 12oz in his winning 4-9-0 total. Yorkshireman Richard Carrette was second with just an ounce less and, just a further ounce behind him, Hyndburn's Mark Gornall was third with a similar catch. it could hardly be closer, or better, than that.

I do hope some of you, who haven't given it much though before, do consider the potential of the Ribble. Don't commit yourselves without first investigating fully, and this is the best time to do that.

You will learn much more on a visit without actually fishing. Observing other anglers can often not be that easy, especially if they don't want you to, but you can always resort to binoculars - I certainly have. Take your camera also for, if you find a likely looking swim, a photo will be of great use in finding it again.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.