While browsing my fishing log I was surprised to find that I had only been to the River Ribble grayling fishing once this year. This needed correcting before the end of the year and thus, led to this grayling fishing session on Wigan Anglers beat near Grimsargh on 5th November.
After a recent spate, the Ribble had returned to its summer level (0.94m Samlesbury gauge), which was an ideal level for fishing the fast runs with either the wet-fly or Czech nymphs. It turned out to be a cool (9°C), dull, overcast day with a breeze blow from the southwest.
When I arrived there was already a car parked down by the river and there were three coarse anglers already fishing for chub and barbell; two of them fishing, one near point 3 and the other fishing near point 5.
River Ribble grayling fishing
I walked up river to just above the bridge (point 4) and started fishing the deep channel that runs under the bridge, with a team of wet flies (point: size 14, pheasant tail nymph; middle dropper: size 14, black hopper; top dropper: size 16 red-tag Treacle Parkin) spaced 3ft apart on 3lb copolymer leader.
Just below the bridge, the channel shallows and flows over a rock ridge into a deeper section. It was hear that I had my first take as the flies swung round to the dangle, with the fish taking off into the main current. Eventually, I got things under control and after a couple of minutes guided a lovely grayling to the net that had fallen for the black hopper.
Continuing down through the run until I reached the land drain didn’t produce anything else. Then I walked upriver to the fast run, point 7 on the map, where ate my lunch.
Afterwards, I started fishing my way down through the fast run with the wet flies, while keeping close to the bank. I’d only made a few casts into the fast run before my line tightened and lively brown trout shot into the air. Once under control, I safely guided it to the net and after removing the black hopper release it quickly. Fishing on to the end of the run just produced a small brown trout that had taken by the black hopper.
When I reached the end of the run, I decided to fish through it again with a team of Czech nymphs because I felt there were more fish to be had from this run (point: size 12, olive tungsten jig-back; middle dropper: size 16 brown nymph with 2mm tungsten bead; top dropper: size 16, hare’s ear with 2mm gold tungsten bead).
Progress was slow but about halfway down the run, the line stopped and the rod bent round into a nice fish. After a couple of minutes, a grayling slipped into the net, that had fallen for the brown nymph.
Fishing on towards the end the run produced a violent take and when I tightened into it, a brown trout went airborne. Once subdued, it was safely netted, unhooked from the hares ear and safely released.
As evening approached, the temperature had started to drop and I called it a day, heading off home before rush hour on the M6. On my way back to the car, I stopped to chat with the coarse anglers to see if they had anything. One of them had caught a 4lb chub but they had not had any action on the barbell front.
Overall, I’d enjoyed my short trip to the River Ribble again this year and I was pleased with the grayling and trout I had caught. Note to self – must make an effort to fish this beat again for grayling before the year is over.
Tight lines till next time, Andrew
PS. It would be great to hear from anyone who has been grayling fishing on the River Ribble recently; what techniques, flies have you found successful?
In addition, if you think any of your friends would like this post too, I’d love you to share it with them. Cheers.
Excellent post. I love fishing for Grayling if you can find them they never fail to give good sport either on fly or dare I say trotting with maggots. Never fished the Ribble for them or the Dee rather a long way to go for me. We’ve got some in the Clubs stretch of the Wye at Ross but my favourite place is the Irfon at Cefnllysgwynne.
Hi Trevor,
Thanks for the feedback on the post. I’ve never fished the River Irfon. Can you get day tickets to fish it at Cefnllysgwynne?
Cheers, Andrew
Hi Andrew, thank you for taking the time to write the Ribble blog as I have found the detailed content extremely helpful on my planned return into fly fishing. I have coarse fished that stretch of river on both sides, Wigan and Ribchester but never really did it any justice with regards to the fishing. Please continue to write your blogs with as much detail to fly selection, tackle set up and fishing tactics, it really is a font of knowledge for a newcomer like me to river fishing. The Ribble is not far from my home in Atherton and this river along with the Lancashire Calder are going to be my learning grounds during the forthcoming season.
Thanks again
I’m glad that you have found the blog interesting. I have fished there a few times so there will be a few more blogs in the archive that you should find interesting.
The techniques and flies I use on the Welsh Dee all work on the River Ribble and thus all those posts should help you. Especially, the series of post covering which flies to use for each month of the year.
Cheers, Andrew