21st September Bristol Avon and a gravel pit close by.

The next day we met near a wonderful gravel pit complex where there are some good tench up to just under 8lbs in weight. Colin had wanted to catch one of these, however I did advise him that late September was quite late in the year but we did have a small chance. Brian and I fished a swim feeder rig and only caught a small perch. Colin was persevering with a waggler
float approach and was catching some small rudd, roach and perch.

Since Brian and I were not getting too much action we decided to leave Colin and go and try for some chub on the river using crust. And perhaps try for a barbel or chub.

Soon Brain and I arrived to find the chub very obliging in taking crust after crust. Soon he had caught 2 chub and lost one.

Nice 3lbs plus chub

We then decided to try our luck with the barbel. We were soon admiring a few barbel starting to move up onto an area where we had baited with pellet and cast out before they arrived. I had a great view of the barbel feeding and gave Brian a running commentary of when the fish were on his bait.
It only took about 10 minutes before the rod arched over and he was playing a barbel.
It wasn’t the largest fish in the shoal but still at 5lbs 4oz it was very welcomed.

Brian and his 5lbs 4oz barbel

We went back to Colin to give him the news and if he was still struggling, get him to try and fish the small weir pool that holds some good chub and barbel.

After we had a brew we decamped to the river where Colin soon caught a small barbel of 4lbs 4oz.

4lbs 4oz barbel for Colin

Brian had a couple more chub on floating crust and Colin had another small chub. Brian wandered downstream and came back with a nice small rainbow trout of about 1.5 lbs which might just have supper.

Brian also caught a nice chub of 4lbs exactly on crust.

Brian and his 4lb chub

Colin missed a couple more bites on corn as dusk approached
and all to soon the day came to an end. At least we had achieved the goal of
barbel and chub however the tench would need to wait until next year.