The Complete Fisher Forum

[Charlie]

Last year Rib Valley moved the trout fishing to Millenium Lake, a deeper but smaller venue than the bigger lake, which is now a carp fishery. Millenium can sustain trout fishing in a wider variety of weather conditions because of its depth and needs a smaller head of fish to keep it fishing well.

The best thing about Rib is that they really have the balance of kill and C&R worked out right - all kill means that the fishing gets too easy and you have to "juggle your limit" at the many £30-40 four fish limit rip-off venues to the South and West of London "because it is too warm for C&R" (aka we want it to be easy and we want your money), all C&R like Halliford Mere means that the fish get very stale and hard to catch unless there is something actually hatching. At Rib, all tickets require at least one fish to be killed and then you can kill more or move to C&R, so there is a good turnover of fish with trickle stocking every week. For 20 quid you get 2 fish plus C&R which has to be the best value within 15 minutes of the M25, by some margin !

The venue is about 5 acres and is now well trimmed of trees whilst having plenty of vegetation and is ideal for beginners with fish normally quite close in. Floating lines work well most of the year, until it gets really cold from December to March when the fish go pretty deep. All methods work but the ubiquitous Cat's Whisker is a killer here most of the year and all lures work well for the first hour or two, but as it is a smaller venue, the fish do go off lures from midday onwards and you have to start thinking about more subtle tactics such as nymph or buzzer fishing after that. The bung works well with either buzzers or small lures under it and Apps bloodworms are good either on the bung or straightlined so long as the water is clear. In the autumn and spring, dries can work, especially daddies but you will see the fish showing on the top when that method is a goer.

Fish quality is excellent and has taken a huge leap up since Richard changed supplier to Bibury Fish Farm - they are all really well finned and terrific fighters. Stock size is mainly 2-3lbers with a smattering of bigger ones. I doubt you will catch a double but there are quite a lot of 6-8lb fish and I would normally expect at least one over 3lbs in a day's fishing.

There is a very good tackle shop on site, with a full range of coarse and game gear plus a selection of Fulling Mill flies covering all patterns most likely to work on the venue. The Lodge has free tea and coffee and enough room for 20+ anglers. There is a wheelyboat and a number of platforms so it can accomodate disabled anglers.

All in all, it's the best value venue within easy reach of London, ideal for starters and a still a challenge for the experienced angler. If you fish it regularly it is well worth joining Rib Valley Fly Fishers as you get 10% off a six hour ticket each visit and 10% off everything at the tackle shop see :

http://www.ribvalleyfishinglakes.co.uk/RVFF_Club

Charlie

[PitsfordPirate]

Very good write-up Charlie, you should do this for a living mate, you might even get in some of the trout mags!

I agree, it's pretty good for a puddle, nice little water, not easy yet not rock hard.

I like it even more after taking a hard fighting albeit pellet pig of 6lb 11oz today!

Stuck it in the Trout Masters then buried it in the freezer, so when am at the final on Grafham next year, I can thaw it out and have it weighed in

The Pirate.

[starsky]

As Stuart said excellent write up Charlie.

I have never fished the Millenium lake but as you know i used to visit Rib Valley and fish the main lake. You are correct in saying that the C&R policy has got just the right balance.

It's a pity though from a personal point of view that they moved it to the smaller lake as i had only just found out that they allowed tubing on the main lake.

It's a well run fishery though with friendly punters and staff.

[Grey Hackle]

Good wrie up Charlie.

Tis the only place I know where they fly fish sitting down on chairs.


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To be able to wing correctly a small dry fly is the height of attainment in trout fly dressing and is the most difficult part of the art... Roger Woolley

[Charlie]

Ha ha, they have actually made the platforms "Charlie proof" now.

For those who have no idea what this is about, there are some chairs in the Lodge which can be used in the spots nearest by. In a winter match last year, when the action was anything from hot, I used one of those chairs to fish a platform swim which seemed like a good idea until the legs of the chair slipped through the slats and dumped me upside down in 10 ft of freezing water.

It's a testament to modern waterproof clothing that both I and my Blackberry survived the incident, but it caused much hilarity in RVFF

Richard has now covered all the platforms with Astroturf which is brilliant. Non-slip, looks nice and doesn't snag your line unlike chicken wire.

Charlie

[Chris]

Astroturfing the platforms seems a good move, especially for when they are wet or icy. Good thinking!
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[starsky]

Ha,ha

I forgot you went "down" , just like your football team.

Mark

[Charlie]

Don't laugh too loud mate, I suspect they might be passing yours going in the other direction come May

[TroutStalker]

Great write-up Charlie

Haven't visited since they changed lakes but am keen to pay it a visit again now, and it's only 35 minutes from home on a good run...
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[PitsfordPirate]

They posted the photo of my pellet pig

http://www.ribvalleyfishinglakes.co.uk/News

The Pirate.

[starsky]

Jesus thats one ugly monster in that photo...the fish ain't far behind..

[PitsfordPirate]

I swear they have photo-shopped a tail onto that sack of pellet fat.

How's life at the bottom of the premiership you cockney retard?

The Pirate.

[starsky]

Ha,ha not to bad down here mate.

Hope you and Martha are both well.

Shame we all missed our annual p**s up and p**s take at Thornton. We will have to make up for it next year.

[PitsfordPirate]

Aye mate, missed you lot this year, been too long.

Come and spend a day on Rib this Winter

The Pirate.

[starsky]

Sounds like a plan Stewart.

I will talk to Gary when i see him to see if he is up for it.

Mark