THE River Ribble's barbel record has fallen.

The captor of the new record, weighing a magnificent 13lbs 10oz, is Accrington's Mark Halstead, holder of the previous biggest from what is now one of the nation's best barbel venues.

Mark used paste on the hook in conjunction with a feeder, full of pellets. He reckons the big fish, which beat his previous record by 10oz, has not finished growing and that a 15lb fish is sure to be seen soon.

I doubt that it will be this weekend, though the river might well be fishable. Check the water temperature, it may be too cold (below 40f).

If not, the best bait could well be lobworm.

Heavy overnight frosts have dampened down the enthusiasm of the fish somewhat, but they might be more co-operative by tomorrow.

Caster remains the top bait if you want the best catches of quality fish, but you might find bread-punch is more acceptable in the chilly conditions. It certainly was last weekend. Careful selection of your peg was, as always, significant for the pleasure man. The match angler has no choice, but knows the potential of the peg when he draws it.

As did Lancaster's Graham Kennerley, when he drew the boat basin in last weekend's Hyndburn and Blackburn AA Open at Clayton. Caster, fished with pole, produced a very nice mixed net of roach and skimmers totalling 13-8-0, to win the match.

It was much harder work at Cowling, for those fishing the Chorley Socials Open. Conditions were, like most other venues, appalling. Nevertheless catches were very disappointing, with only 2-1-15 of caster perch needed to win (just four of them).

Leigh's John Pearson was that successful angler, but evergreen Stan Ainscow (Chorley), using breadpunch, ran him close with 20 punch-caught roach weighing 1-8-0.

It was a bit better at both Abram and Adlington, where over five pounds was needed to win matches. There were decent back-up weights in both cases, with bread-punch on pole the top method.

It hasn't been plain sailing, by any means, at local commercial fishers. All seem to have been affected by the influx of fresh water, in large quantities, as catches diminish.

They have been using joker at Bradshaw Hall to attract and hold the fish, whilst fishing maggot on the hook. Nevertheless only 15lbs has been needed to win -- mainly roach.

Predicting the form of any water this weekend really is a mug's game -- impossible. You might be lucky -- but then again? It is worth a try though, choosing venues with good recent form -- like Burnley's Weavers Triangle for example.

If the high pressure stays with us we might be having to cope with bright skies. If that is the case then be very careful using the pole, if the canal has cleared at all. Do not cast a shadow with it, for you will surely frighten all the fish away.

You might want to consider dusting off that old rod and reel. These are the conditions when they really can come into their own -- you haven't forgotten how to use a rod have you?

An alternative venue for consideration might be Burnley's Rowley Lake which is, I understand, in decent form for both roach and bream. Most anglers are favouring quivertip, in rough conditions, but the waggler could score heavily this weekend.

Todmorden's Derek Greenwood might, after his nice match-winning net last week, recommend the Silsden Boatyard pegs on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

Derek had both skimmers and roach, to pole-fished caster, in his 8-10-8. The runner-up had over seven pounds close by.

A few of our top local match anglers found their way to Saltaire, West Yorks, last weekend for an open match fished on the Ellis Brighouse to Dock Field section.

Colne's Dave Wells is a whizz with breadpunch and used it to great effect, taking a one and a half pound bream and loads of small roach for a winning 5-2-0. Todmorden AS were well represented especially by Frank Szakerley who had both roach and skimmers in his 3-5-0.

Team-mate Ray Winterbottom was also in the money with 2-6-8 for third. The Yorkshire lads must be heartily sick of handing their money over to US week after week, without whingeing (well not much anyway)!