THERE'S plenty of encouragement for anglers of all persuasions this week, with decent catches reported from most venues as the decent weather continues.

The first week of the new season on the Ribble has not proved the disappointment some may have expected. Experienced anglers, with good 'watercraft' and a knowledge of the river, have taken good bags of dace from faster sections (the 'tail' of a pool being a reasonable choice), and decent roach and chub from other areas.

Quality chub, some to 4lbs, have been a feature this week. Late sessions are best and, with the light fading slowly, some anglers have still been on the river at midnight - and catching. Legering is, of course, the prime method for sessions such as these - and bread the bait.

The most important thing to remember here is to get your 'stall' set up well before the light does become a problem. Sort out the swim , knowing where to cast (practice with your eyes closed) to avoid snags and to ensure your bait is in the place you want it.

Chub are very much less wary in the dark (as are most fish), and fine tackle is not only unnecessary, but can be a liability. Fish with 4lbs b.s. line straight through to a size eight hook, and utilise the most simple leger rig possible - a simple sliding link with swanshot.

Feeding is usually not required. Your bait - I prefer a piece of crust - should be large to suit the hook. Have everything at hand, and be prepared for exciting action. Swims that never produce in daylight can come 'alive' with fish after dark.

Stillwaters have shown some colour over the past week, with improved catches the result. Some decent roach and tench taken, but bream remain the number one target and probably will for another few weeks yet.

If we get some particularly windy days over the next week or so, head for Foulridge reservoir. If that wind is in the west (or better still south west) the shallow sandy bank by the old oak tree will produce some very big weights. Short casting (40 yards) only will be necessary.

Use a feeder loaded with dryish crumb laced with casters. Hookbait should be a worm combination of some sort and, if you have a good supply, plenty of chopped worms in the groundbait will do no harm at all. Fish at the edge of the colour and expect fish to 4lbs, tackling up to suit.

Bream are dominant still on the canal, with Salterforth to Barnoldswick still producing and Marsden Star's stretch at Keighley worth consideration. For matchmen, not everywhere of course, gudgeon are once more worthy of consideration. They seem to be making something of a comeback - how long before the 6lb weights of the 70s are repeated?

They are not THE fish at Todmorden where it was 18-6-8 of skimmer bream on long pole/caster which won the first of the summer Open matches. Few anglers know the water better than the winner. Nelson's John Fallows, who knew exactly what to do to snatch the £450 winner's purse.

The latest Hyndburn and Blackburn AA Junior League match was at Dickens Street Lodge, where 15-year-old Alan Kirby landed a 4lbs carp on waggler to add to 2lbs of small roach and gudgeon, to take top place. Second was Lee Mercer with 2-12-8 and, in third place, the highly promising Lee Fielding, 13, brought 1-14-0 to the scales.

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