WHAT A START!

T

HE river season is usually a bit of a dodgy firework which starts slowly and only gets a little more impressive the longer you wait. Not this year, though!

River record barbel, big chub, huge nets of bream, specimen carp, and even a few notable silverfish catches have found their way into landing nets, prompting many to rank this start as the best in recent memory.

Driving over the River Trent the other day to see lines of white vans and pegs packed with anglers was a welcome reminder of just how much of a resurgence there’s been in river fishing over the last four or five years.

Half the battle is actually finding the fish to start with, as these wild creatures don’t always stick to the rule book, and a comfy peg for us isn’t always a preferred location below the surface for our target species.

There are some real gems out there if you’re prepared to put the time in, and the more days I can spend on the river ‘finding the fish’ the better. At least that’s what I tell the wife!

And it’s not just the big, famous waters like the Trent, Wye, Severn or Thames which are in form. The tiny River Bain in Lincolnshire, a stone’s throw from the coastal holiday parks, is one of the UK’s biggest hidden gems. On our visit we were treated to near-2lb roach, dace pushing a pound (when did you last catch one of those?) and chub you can often only dream of. It’s free fishing too. There are lots of wonderful, intimate waterways around and this week we’ve picked out a few for you to head for in our bumper Where to Fish section. You might have to beat down a few nettles, but it will be worth it.