19/01/2026 - A days Fishing On The River Ribble For Chub And Grayling With Alistair

Alistair trotting the stream

Alistair left Scotland for the long driver south at 0300 hrs, his plan was to arrive at my house at around 0830 hrs, he was spot on time, I was amazed when he arrived as he said he would. After greeting one another, it had been several years since we last met. First item on the agenda was a mug of tea for our Alistair, then we spent half an hour or so as Alistair looked at various items of tackle, also my book collection. At one stage Alistair said, "I could spend a week or more in this room". After signing a couple of my books for him, we were off to the river, where forty odd minutes later we pulled into car park, to find it empty, we had the river to ourselves.

After putting on the Jet Boiler for a fresh brew, Alistair got kitted out in his all weather gear, then assemble a float rod with a centre pin reel, having sorted out a suitable Avon float fitted with double rubbers, I gave him a size 14 hook to eighteen inches of 4lb line, these are tied up for me by a very dear friend Mark Sarul. After another mug of tea, we then headed off to the river where I pointed out various spots where I thought he might catch grayling also other spots where he might catch chub.

Hoping for a grayling

Alistair started off fishing some fast water below a pool, after about half an hour, I suggested he move to another spot further downstream, where the water wasn't quite so fast, also I reckoned the free offerings of gentles, were being swept well down stream. The second swim wasn't so fast as the first spot, which was a known as a grayling area. From experience we know you often have to try several spots before connection with grayling. Alistair again put in several pouches of gentles well upstream of the new area, then adjust his float for the new swim. He was certainly a master of trotting with a centre pin reel, often the float would go some forty-five yards, occasionally a bit more. I suppose the best description of Alistair at work was "Machine like", I didn't see him make one bad cast. It was so interesting watching him. In fact I didn't bother to go after the chub, they could wait.

Chub From The Off

I sat watching him control the float downstream, cast after cast, each cast was proceeded by a pouch full of gentles, I lost sight of the float, then looking at his well bent rod I realised why I could not see the float, he had hooked a fish, that was putting up a good fight at long range. Slow foot by foot Alistair was drawing the fish upstream, picking up the net, I moved just downstream, so I could then when the chance arrived, net the first fish of the day. Eventually I was able to net a nice chub for Alistair. After a quick photograph it was released. Once again, the "Machine" was in action. It was a pleasure to be a spectator.

Lunch Break

It was around 1330hrs when we made our way back to the car park, soon the jet boiler was ready for a brew, I used the other small gas burner, to hot up some mushroom soup, while Alistair enjoyed his soup, I heated up his sausage roll. Lunch over Alistair returned back to the river, I then washed and dried the mugs, plate, and saucepan. Finally clearing everything away, putting all the rubbish in a bin liner, where it was placed in the vehicle for me to take home. I then made my way upriver to join Alistair; Arriving as he netted a grayling. After half an hour, I suggested we move to another area, for fishing into darkness, he agreed. Back at the vehicle Alistair changed over from trotting gear for ledgering, while he was doing so, I made him another brew, he is a great tea drinker, while I had a mug of OXO.

Chub Fishing In The Darkness

Having made our way well downstream, I chose a spot where I've had some good chub in the past, I fished meat as a bait on a two feet link, while Alistair chose to fish crust on a short link, as the darkness enveloped us, I switch on my head torch so to see the rod tip, while Alistair chose to touch ledger. In the next hour we both had a succession of bites, which we both missed. My bites should not have been missed, they were all good ones, one or two knocks, then a good pull round of the rod tip. As we walked across the meadow on our way to the car park we both agreed it had been a good day at the waterside.

With a grayling

Trotting the stream

With a chub

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