Packed with expert advice from top anglers to catch you more
When the odds are stacked against you, there’s always one species you can rely on for some cold-weather action. Jake Benson explains all…
PEERING out through frosted windows at a winter landscape, it’s easy for the river angler to lose enthusiasm when faced with the challenging weather conditions that the colder months can bring.
However, in many ways this constant variation is part of the joy of fishing at this time of the year, and the all-round angler, in particular, is spoilt for choice.
That said, we all know how frustrating it can be if you’ve only got limited time at your disposal due to family or work commitments, which can make deciding what species to target difficult. Luckily, no matter what the weather forecast, there’s always a chance with one fish… and that’s the chub!
They thrive in all manner of venues across Britain, and can be relied upon to feed in all but the very worst of conditions. Providing your local river hasn’t burst its banks, a bite is always on the cards, and simple watercraft is all that’s needed to track them down.
The perfect offering
It’s well known that chub like to live in and around cover, and all the ‘textbook features’ are worth a look. Snags, bends, depressions, reedbeds, backwaters, boats, rafts, slacks – they can and will hold chub at some stage. But which bait is the best bet to tempt them? In my opinion, the most species-selective bait is cheesepaste. Rarely accepted by other fish, this pungent offering is irresistible to a big chub, making it my number one choice throughout winter.
Whichever recipe you decide to use, it’s vital the paste has a soft texture that doesn’t stiffen up in cold water, so it can be ‘struck through’ easily and won’t mask the hookpoint.
Once armed with a ball of this deadly bait for the session, you only need minimal tackle to get the best out of it and target big fish effectively.
A simple and strong approach is best, and an Avon-style quivertip rod plus a few other essentials like hooks and split shot are all that’s required to create a basic link leger rig that’s perfect for fishing with cheesepaste.
Though a straightforward approach, there are a few fundamental rules you’ll need to stick to in order to ensure both good presentation and sensitive bite indication. Link-legering should be seen as a balancing act between quivertip strength, line tension, river flow and the amount of shot you use.
See every bite...
Starting with the quivertip, a soft glass version of 1oz to 2oz wil
