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Practical how-to guides, rigs, baits and tackle advice from an angler sharing what he's learned on rivers, lakes and canals across the UK.

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New to coarse fishing? Browse guides on rigs, baits, floats and pole techniques written from hands-on experience.

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Setting Up a Running Ledger Rig for Chub in Winter Gales

Winter chub fishing is a test of control rather than complicated tackle. A running ledger lets a fish pick up bait without immediately feeling a fixed lead, while a quivertip shows the tremors, pulls and sudden lunges that can be missed in rough weather. The rig is especially useful when a float is being bullied by wind, surface drift and coloured water.

Chub are a British river species, so Australian anglers will need to treat this as a transferable method rather than a local species guide. The same approach can work for river bream, carp and some golden perch situations, provided the hook, bait and leader are matched to the fish and snags. In Victoria, New South Wales or Tasmania, winter conditions can still make a low, sheltered bank and a simple ledger rig the best option for a cold arvo session.

Find a Winter Chub Swim

Look for depth, cover and a reliable food supply. Chub often sit beneath trailing bushes, beside bridge supports, along crease lines or just downstream of an obstruction. In a gale, the most comfortable swim may be a slack pocket on the sheltered side of a bend, rather than the visually exciting main current.

Avoid casting straight into the strongest flow unless the rig requires it. A modest lead placed upstream or across the current can settle near cover while the bait wafts naturally. Keep the rod tip low and, if possible, angle it downstream so less line is exposed to the wind. These small adjustments reduce false knocks and help the lead hold without becoming an anchor.

Build The Running Ledger Rig

Start with an 11 or 12-foot feeder or ledger rod fitted with a sensitive quivertip. Spool the reel with around 4–6 lb breaking-strain mono for open water, increasing it where roots, rocks or bridgework are present. Thread a free-running link, leger stem or sliding bead onto the main line, then add a bead and a small swivel to protect the knot.

Attach a supple hooklink of roughly 2–4 lb, or a stronger version when fishing close to snags. A size 8–12 hook covers many chub baits, although bread flake often suits a larger gape and maggots may call for a smaller pattern. Use the lightest lead that holds bottom: a ¼–½ oz bomb is a useful starting point, while a gripper or flat pear may be needed in heavy flow.

The lead must travel freely enough for a chub to move off without dragging it immediately. Check this by pulling the hooklink gently through the swivel before casting. The line should run smoothly, but the rig should still be safe: use a setup that allows the lead to discharge if it becomes snagged.

Match Bait To Water Conditions

Bread is an excellent winter bait because it is visible, inexpensive and easy to soften or harden according to the current. Tear off a piece, compress it around the hook shank and leave enough loose fibres to move in the water. Luncheon meat, cheese paste, worms and maggots are also useful when chub are feeding confidently or bread has seen too much pressure.

Feed sparingly. A few free offerings near the hook bait can create interest without filling a fish in cold water. When the river is rising and carrying colour, a stronger-smelling bait may help; in clear, low conditions, reduce the feed and keep the hooklink unobtrusive. Notes from practical fishing advice can also be useful when comparing simple bait presentation with more elaborate approaches.

Cast smoothly rather than punching the lead hard into the far bank. After the rig lands, let the line settle, then tighten only until the quivertip bends slightly. Too much tension lifts the lead or anchors the bait unnaturally, while too little leaves a bow that the wind can push into the current.

Read Bites Through Wind And Rain

Use the lightest quivertip that will remain stable. In gusty weather, a heavily bent tip can hide a delicate take, while a tip that is too light will bounce constantly. A short bank stick or rest close to the water helps keep the rod steady, and placing the butt securely prevents a sudden chub run from pulling the outfit towards the river.

Watch for a series of taps followed by a steady pull, a drop-back, or a tip that slowly straightens. Do not strike at every twitch caused by weed or bottom debris. Once the movement becomes purposeful, lift the rod firmly and keep pressure on the fish. Chub often turn immediately for cover, so steer them away from roots before reducing pressure.

Adapt The Method For Australia

The terminology and tackle market differ across Australia. A UK 4 lb line rating may look surprisingly light beside local recommendations for carp or Murray cod, and hook sizes can vary between brands. Check actual breaking strain, wire strength and gape rather than relying on the number printed on the packet. A running ledger for a large carp in the Yarra or Murrumbidgee needs a very different margin of safety from one intended for a shy chub in a clear British stream.

Australian anglers can apply the method to yellowfin bream around tidal river edges, carp in irrigation channels, or golden perch in suitable freshwater systems. In Lake Eildon or along the Murray, wind can make a float awkward even when the water itself is calm. Online ordering is common outside major tackle centres, but imported UK quivertips and leads may involve postage delays, so a locally available feeder rod and a small selection of sliding sinkers are perfectly workable. A guide to recommended fishing poles may help when comparing rod actions, although a pole is not normally the first choice for this ledger approach.

Checks Before The First Cast

A running ledger works because it gives the fish confidence while keeping the angler in contact with the bait. In a British winter river, that means a quiet swim, a light lead and patient bite reading. In Australia, adapt the line strength and target species to local conditions, then keep the same practical priorities: minimise wind pressure, present the bait naturally and be ready to control the fish as soon as it moves.