After returning to the river after going home for the weekend saw it dropping in height and colour. I was going to fish a swim that has been kind to me over the years. I had been fishing an area at the top of the swim where there was some slack water. I was using the feeder and short hooklink method and maggots on a size 20 hook. The biggest problem was that the minnows were in feeding mood. After every cast and retrieve there was one of the darlings on the hook. So I had to rethink. It was so windy it was impossible to float fish. I then saw a chub roll much further down the swim so I up sticks and moved to where the chub were. I had to use a 90g feeder to hold bottom in the fast flowing river. The great news was that there were no minnows in this part of the swim. First cast I had some action from chub pulling at the maggots so at least I had found them.

I soon caught 2 chub of about 4lbs. I had to play them gingerly in the very fast current however the shock absorbents worked a treat. The wind was so strong and going to get worst the next day. Paul and Harry were salmon fishing upstream from me and wandered down to see how I was doing. They just couldn’t believe all the bangs and pulls from the chub attacking the feeder. Paul said we have come to see you catch a 6lb chub. His words not mine. With that the rod belted over and an angry chub headed for the trees on the far bank. I managed to stop it from going into them. Once the chub is in mid stream you gently play them down stream where you can net them. Paul couldn’t believe how the size 20 hook and pressure would hold such a fish. Unfortunately it didn’t Paul had the net in his hand ready to net the chub when the hook popped out. They were disappointed so was I as it felt a good fish.

I decided to increase the hook to a size 18 to stand a better chance of landing them in the strong flow. Guest what the rod hooped over in no time again this time I played the chub away from the willow branches and down stream. It felt like a good fish again. Paul followed me down with the net and he did the honours. It looked a big 5lber. Paul weighed the fish for me and it turned out just over 6lbs. 6lbs 1oz and my task was complete.

Both Paul and Harry couldn’t believe how carefully you need to play these fish. They returned to salmon fishing whilst I continued feeder fishing. It was getting towards last light when I hooked one more chub that only just made it into to branches, I really thought it was out. The hooklink broke.

Well that was it I wandered up to tell Paul the sad news and call it a day. I have plenty of empathy for the salmon anglers as to date none have been caught from the estate this year so far. That will soon change and late March might be the time.

Well after that huge barbel the previous day you could forgive me for fishing the same swim. I arrived at opening hour and moved straight to the swim. Using the same boilie and pva bag approach in the slightly deeper part of the swim. The river hadn’t moved much in height and the colour had […]

I had planned to fish 6th to 8th March with Andy ( you should have been here yesterday) Cowley. Andy couldn’t make it early neither did I in the end. I had a few chores to resolve before I could set off on the 1hr 40 min journey time. Much rain had fallen over the […]

I had guided David last summer on the Dorset Stour where he so much enjoyed the day. David phoned me to say that he was being given the chance to join Somerley fishing syndicate. I was so delighted for him as he is a true gent and loves and cherishes the days he gets a […]

Some time ago now I was asked by Duncan Charman to help him with a feature on grayling fishing on the river Itchen. I don’t normally like these things as you expose venues and swims to others. It’s the other anglers who fish the venues I feel for. Lots of publicity which is not welcome […]

Well where has the year gone. I have just returned from a couple of weeks in Mexico. The weather was super with plenty of sun and a great breeze. The only negative was that the wind dislodged plenty of weed from the off shore reef. It was unpleasant to swim in the sea and impossible […]

So after a couple of days not fishing it was time to get on the Thames again. To be frank I’m disappointed with the size of the chub that I’m catching. On the H.Avon you would expect to land a 6lber amongst a few others. It’s just me having the 5lbers and Andy (you should […]

Well after a difficult time on the H.Avon on my last visit mainly through minnows decimating all the maggots that I could throw at them. Andy (you should have been here yesterday) Cowley and I decided on a perch trip to a commercial. We would ask mutual friend Ross along too. We arrived at first […]

I hadn’t fished the Avon for a while and it was time to try again. Andy (you should have been here yesterday) Cowley would be fishing with me. The weather had been dry with little rain and the river level had been dropping. I had it in the back of my mind about fishing a […]

I had been thinking of fishing the Thames for chub for a couple of years now. The upper river had been decimated by otters a good few years ago but now things were starting to improve again. I’m unsure of the reason why the river has rebounded. Perhaps the otter numbers has decreased, maybe the […]