River Ribble

[Deleted]

Had a few days on the Ribble recently and very pleased to say that I managed to catch on my new Tenkara 12ft rod.
First was on a baloon caddis off the top, then one on a spider then my hat trick came with a very small PTN

Loved every minute of it!

Tightlines

[leckie]

Mike,

Well done...three down and many more to come....what rod do you have...is it the Iwana which seems to be the most popular
Do you tie your own flies as well .....I have loads of purchased flies but I'm attempting to tie my own this season....it's good when you catch them on something that you have produced yourself.
Look forward to more reports on the rivers you fish this season

tight lines

Alex

[custheyder]

Brilliant stuff Mike.... Welcome to the forum.

As Alex said ... we like river reports!

[Deleted]

Another first for my Tenkara fishing. A good sea trout caught on a dry fly with my Sawa 13ft rod. Good tussle but the rod was able to cope with the extra power of the fish no problems.

Tightlines
Mike
www.tenkaracentreuk.com

[paul1966]

That's brilliant!!

[springerman]

It's a shame that not many forum members write about the Ribble. There has been very little on this great river since I joined the forum. I was there today just North of Clitheroe. I was hoping to tell you about all the grayling I caught. Sadly that was not the case. Nothing wrong with the river or the day although it did start to rain just after lunch. I was also hoping to tell you about how my new ESO 13'6" 7.3 rod was able to handle those fish. Due to circumstances this was only the second time I have used the rod. I am still impressed by the way it casts a line and it just feels right to fish with. It took me a while to get a fish, a very lively Brown. It has a serious wound to it's back and fresh marks. I can only assume Cormorant damage. Despite that it gave a good fight. I caught a good number of descent fish earlier in the year and most had the dreaded marks. Just as I was about to pack in I caught a small Grayling. Then it was home to take the dogs out.
Anybody else had any luck?

[daves]

I hope the cormorants aren't doing what they've done to many of the East Yorkshire rivers which now hold virtually no grayling or dace. There were over 300 of the black b…..s on Driffield Beck last winter!!!!!

[springerman]

Dave, I hope this is not the case as well.  The amount of fish we see with those marks tells us nothing about how many are being eaten or that die afterwards.

[jonathan27]

I fish the Ribble above Gisburn and have to say this last season has proved very difficult with trout and grayling numbers seeming very scarce. Its been reported the middle reaches of the ribble from Clitheroe Sawley and above had suffered this summer from the low lvels and high temperatures with fish kills reported. This doesnt help with the high incidence of predatory bird sightings in the areas too. Fingers crossed for better results next year

[springerman]

Hi Jonathan,  I love the Ribble and it has been a disappointment this year.  Let us indeed hope for better next year.
Tight lines.

[springerman]

Dave, you mentioned about so many Cormorants on the river last year. Does anybody do anything to deter them?

Has anyone applied for a licence to cull them do you know?

[daves]

The cormorants have been chased off but soon return or just move to another part of the river.

The West Beck Preservation Society got a licence to shoot 3 cormorants in 2013 which is just p…ing into the wind!!!!!!!

There have been fewer cormorants about the Driffield Beck this autumn, undoubtedly because there are virtually no fish left in the river.

What with cormorants, desperately low water, herons, otters & Polish anglers much of Driffield Beck is virtually dead, particularly as far as grayling are concerned. At the present time there are just a few huge fish holed up in isolated deep spots where there is sufficient disturbance by people to keep the cormorants at bay.

I got an email from Massimo Magliocco in Italy & cormorant predation is a big problem there as well!!!!!!!!!

[springerman]

Thanks Dave, Not good news at all.

Lets hope something will be dine about these birds and then get the rivers back again.

See you soon.

Ian.

[springerman]

Made it onto the Ribble today.  Glorious day after a frosty start.  River just right.  The first time since the end of January.  Met up with another member of our club.  He was most interested in the Tenkara rod.  He had a grayling just after I arrived.  It took me three casts and I was into a lovely Grayling.  I was using a small beadhead with black hare's mask fur.  Not traditional Tenkara but it worked.  I was also using the ESO 13'6' 7:3.  Great casting rod and although there was an easterly breeze in my face I had very little difficulty casting against the wind.  As the water was clear I could watch the fish as I brought it in.  Beautiful.

A few Olives coming off but only the occasional rise.  The other member also got a good fish on a dry.  Although I tried a dry I failed to get any offers.  That was it, despite trying other runs.  But great to be out on the river .....at last.

Hope other members are able to get out and about in this good weather.

[springerman]

Out again today, the 15th!!. Cold, blustery but not bad. Wind kept blowing my line about. I tried nymphs but got stuck a time or two and lost flies. Awkward with a Tenkara rod. I took two Grayling on a CDC dry using a fluorocarbon line with an extension as described by DaveS previously. All worked well. I even used the Miracle Float on the CDC and that worked a treat as well. So thank you Dave for the tips and suggestions.
No Trout though.
Hope others were more successful.