A Cold Day's Roving on some new areas!

After that enjoyable session with Henry the other day, I was dying to get back out after some more chub. The river was carrying a nice tinge of colour and despite the bright sunlight which I was up against, similar to the other day, I knew I would have my chances. I wandered on a new bit of this particular stretch and the aim was to try and opportunistically drop in on a fish. After fishing over a dozen swims without a single tap, I started to get a few taps in one particular zone. After some delicate taps, the tip pulled round vigorously and the first chub of the day was on the bank. It was great to have managed a fish from a new swim and continued on with a spring in my step.

A nice start to the day, a good chub from a new swim!

The next swim looked absolutely fantastic for a bite with plenty of features for large chub to skulk about. I knew it would be a question of waiting for a fish to trip up and take my freebie. Just as I was thinking of moving, my rod tip suddenly smacked over and I connected with a good fish which charged straight towards some nasty debris. I used the power of my substantial feeder rod to try and stop this stubborn culprit from regaining its sanctuary. I cupped the spool and managed to guide the fish out of the snag before that dreaded feeling of the line going slack and merely your rig coming into to view. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement, as to me this felt like a very good chub indeed, with all the tell-tale thumps and surges for the cover that ensued. I can't complain though, as so far this year I have had a decent start and 'the one that got away' often is something that keeps one motivated in their quarry and a reminder of what can lurk. After having a wander, I found myself in another likely looking area with a nice run of water to explore with the link leger. After a few minutes, whilst I quickly rehydrated myself with a bottle of water, the rod tip started to nudge. I waited, and sure enough the rod pulled round, and another nice chub was in the net.

A nice lean chub from another new area!

I decided on the last few hours of the day to head to a more familiar haunt to see whether any of the residents were up for a opportunistic feed. After roving a few more swims, I arrived at a nice area which looked perfect for the odd chub to skulk about. I gingerly crept into the spot and lowered my breadflake into position and awaited a response. I crouched down, my eyes glued to the tip. Within minutes, the quivertip whacked over in an aggressive fashion and another good fish was on. I knew it was another good fish, as it was taking line with a lot more ease and staying a lot deeper. This time, I was praying that the hook-hold would stand proud and thankfully after a few surging runs, a good mouth broke the surface. I could see that this fish was easily the best of the day as it's build was on a different level to the other fish I had managed in the day.

One powerful and stunning 5 pounder!

I was really happy, as the scales swung to 5lbs on the nose, teetering towards the ounce. Having not managed many fish of this cracking stamp, I was absolutely made up, especially since the fish I had lost earlier was at least round this stamp, if not larger. Either way, the fish was in absolutely fantastic nick and a fish I'd be happy to catch from any river, large or small. I rotated a few more swims as the light faded and decided to sit on my hands and knees, in a swim I had visited earlier on in the day. I casted out as the light faded and waited. The isotope nodded a few times, before the quivertip pulled over. Another nice fish was on. This fish swam straight towards me and adapted different tactics to the others as it was clearly intent on snagging me in the near bank foliage. After absorbing the final charges for cover, another nice chub graced the surface.

A nice 4 pounder to finish the day

Although the fish I lost will stay on my mind, the day was an overall success. The conditions were far from straight forward with the river dropping by the hour and the sun's rays beaming on the surface layer of the water as it did so. I look forward to heading out again for a rove for this fantastic species!

Tight Lines,

Tom

Just Like Old Times...

When I started making YouTube videos, they originally captured the enjoyable sessions I had with my friend Henry Howells. We used to get into the habit of filming every session trying to enscapsulate our highs and lows, coupled with the laughs along the way. This produced many hours of enjoyment, and it was a shame that, due to the stress of exams and various 'hiccups' along the way, we had lost touch in recent years. Recently though, we had gotten back in contact, and Henry was keen as ever to get back on the bank. We decided on this occasion to go for a day's roving on one of our favourite rivers, in search of a chub or two.

The river was certainly looking promising as the water was carrying some extra water, but fining down to the extent that the chub could well be on the prowl for an easy meal. Moreover, with the cold temperature I was also confident that a bite was on the cards. What was slightly against us though, was the bright sunshine, which I knew from previous experience was likely to put the chub in a finicky mood. With Henry having not been on the bank for a while, the plan was to start on a few banker swims in the hope that one of them would produce a bite. Our attack was fishing breadflake on the link leger to try and trigger quick responses in the swims. We both parked ourselves in a nice swim where we could both flick a line in and await a response. Within a few minutes, I was surprised to be getting a response lower down the swim where the flow was a bit more turbulent. After a few finicky taps, the rod pulled round steadily and I struck. The fish dug down deep and tried on multiple occasions to try and snag me up, but after keeping the rod low, I managed to guide the fish towards the net with Henry kindly doing the honours.

A nice way to start the day!

A 4 pounder was a great way to kickstart the day and it definitely got the juices flowing for potentially more action. After releasing the fish back to its home, we ventured downstream. I decided, that I'd bait up a few likely looking areas, as I had a feeling the fish would be a bit on edge. On the first swim we had given time after baiting up, Henry was soon getting indications on his rod tip. Following some rather vigorous taps from the culprit, Henry's tip whacked over and he struck. He hooked a decent fish which dived straight back towards its sanctuary. As soon as Henry started to guide the fish out of the snag, a gasp of disappointment followed as the hook 'pinged' out. We were both rather disappointed, but we knew there were potentially more chances ahead. A few minutes later, in a swim where I had never had a bite before, I also momentarily hooked something which pulled back. It seemed though, that luck wasn't on our side on this few metres of stretch we had in front of us.

We were pretty shocked how time was getting on, so decided to have a spot of lunch in a zone where I know a static approach can often lead to rewards. I was half way through my dessert and was shocked to see my motionless quivertip had been brought to life and was whacking over. I lifted into another fish. This chub certainly knew where the snags were and put up a very exciting battle indeed. At 4lbs 2oz, it was another nice result considering conditions not being perfect with the beaming sunlight.

A nice hard-fighting 4lbs 2oz Chub

We rotated a few more swims as the light started to fade. Henry parked himself in a swim which looked absolutely spot on. As soon as he casted out, taps on his rodtip were instant. When the rod did eventually go, Henry struck again into a decent fish. I don't know whether it was something to do with someone above frowning upon us on the given day, as yet again another hookpull ensued...  We rotated a few more swims before we went home, and it was nice that on the final bite of the day, Henry managed a healthy looking young chub to show for his efforts!

Despite it being a long while since we had caught up last, it felt as if we were picking up where we had left off last time with plenty of funny stories to relay. That's what made the session so enjoyable and we will certainly be pencilling in more trips yet before the season is out!

Tight Lines,

Tom

2017: A Testing Day in search of a Chub!

Our little friend that came to visit!

After a a poor session after pike the other day,  I was very much looking forward to getting back out. The original plan for this weekend was to fish on both days, but due to the weather plans were changed. As a result of this, the trip my good friend Mark Lindsay and I scheduled was rearranged for the Saturday. We considered various options and felt that we were due a visit to a particular southern river Mark had fished a few times.

I got up bright and early and arranged to meet Mark just after first light. We soon made our way down to the river and were shocked to see it so low. It was promising though, that the river was carrying a tinge of colour which does often go down well when targeting chub in particular. I started the day off on the link leger, trying to opportunistically tempt a few fish out of some likely looking areas, whilst Mark set up some trotting gear and had a few runs through. Both of us didn't receive any enquiries in these swims, so we headed up river to see if we could find some new areas. I always think that finding new areas on a river is always refreshing as it broadens your horizons on future visits, especially when the conditions are challenging. We both agreed that the various spots we did fish had very good potential to throw up some good fish and despite being unsuccessful on this occasion, we will be back to have a look in the warmer months when you can spot the fish. It was amazing that even on delicate float tackle, we could not buy a bite and as a result we were both beginning to lose confidence in our plan. Now I think about it, I think that the salt coming off the roads could have contributed to this, but, more so, the river desperately needed some more water.

We returned to a couple areas that Mark had caught from previously and decided to eat a spot of lunch, in the hope that it would reassert our confidence in getting a bite. After Mark had a run through on the float in one particular spot, with no joy, he pointed where he had managed bites on a few occasions. We both agreed that it was definitely worth chucking a small maggot feeder tight to the snags and wait for any potential inhabitant to trip up. It was certainly reassuring, that once I had cast out, I was getting indications on the tip. The bites were very finicky so I decided to lengthen my hooklength so the fish did not spook off the feeder. On the next cast, I decided to go a little way downstream, managing to get the cast tight to the far bank. After a few minutes, the line tightened, before the tip slowly pulled round. I connected with a dead weight which took line instantly and thumped in a very odd way. 'This weirdly feels like a bream' I said to Mark, as I kept the rod low and started to guide the fish upstream. Mark remarked how ridiculous the amount of silt the culprit I had hooked was kicking up, as the fish continued to hang low. Once it came close in, I was shocked to see the white mouth of a chub and the convex dorsal come into view. We both knew this could be our only chance of the day so were desperate to land it. After a few scary final surges for the near bank cover, Mark hastily scooped this chunky culprit into the net and we both gave a huge sigh of relief.

One Chubby Chub, the gut is ridiculous!

We were absolutely amazed by the gut on this fish and knew it could weigh considerably more than we initially thought. When Mark flipped round the scales, I was amazed to see them settling at dead on 6lbs. Mark kindly did the honours with the camera and took some lovely shots of this portly specimen. What I really love about this capture was that it was a true team effort and we certainly we felt that the rotation of tactics and baits is what made it feel like we had earned the capture between us.

Not a bad way to start 2017 at all, a cracking chub (6lb)

It was great to see the fish charge off towards the depths as its large back disappeared back into the shadows. I was hoping this change of tactic would trigger a response for Mark, but unfortunately the bangs he had on the tip were not quite strikable. Also time had drawn to a close, meaning it was time for us both to head home-bound...

Thanks goes to Mark for the invite and for being great company throughout the course of the day. Look forward to next time,

Tight Lines,

Tom