A day on the H.Avon with Ross

I’ve known Ross for a long time now having guided him for barbel chub and perch. He is a good fly fisherman too having seen him fish Dever Springs earlier in the year for trout.

I had asked him to fish the H.Avon with me for a day to see if we could catch him one of the enormous chub or barbel that are present. We initially decided on a date in September as the days are still a reasonable length and it would be still warm. However Ross was unlucky as his car failed and broke down. I rebooked the guest ticket for early Oct.

Well the day arrived with us meeting at 7.30am and headed off to the river. The day was supposed to be warm and bright, I say warm 23c which is unbelievable for October. We started by baiting one swim with a few pellets and a few chub appeared and came out to feed. We left these and wandered off to fish another swim. We put some pellets in and nothing at all came out. This being a huge surprise.

There was a fly fisherman trying his luck for the grayling of which he had a couple.

We returned to the original swim and decided that this would be our starting point. As we started to tackle up a few inquisitive cows came by. Now one was particularly friendly and took a liking for Ross and it was love at first mooo.

What happens in fishing staying in fishing.

We started fishing with pellets and the long hooklink rig. Ross couldn’t believe the size of the chub coming out to feed. He was so excited to be able to see the chub pick up the bait and get hooked. His had was on the rod feeling for the chub to take the bait. He had the customary taps and pulls from chub picking up the bait but not hooking up.

After 30 mins a chub made a mistake as the rod hooped over and he did an excellent job of playing a big chub. It did get stuck in the weed a couple of times but by moving downstream he manoeuvred the chub out and into the net. It looked a good size and certainly a pb. He was excited for sure at seeing such a big fish at 5lbs 8oz.

Ross and 5lbs 8oz chub

With the chub still coming out to feed we stayed and tried for another. I don’t normally do this and move on returning later in the day. However Ross persuaded me to recast again. The chub were still moving around the swim taking the odd pellet so he had a chance. Sure enough one more made a mistake and Ross hooked up however only momentarily as the hook pulled out. Now it was time for a move. The sun was well up now and the temperature rising we discarded some of the outer clothing.

We moved to another swim way downstream. This is an island where there are normally plenty of chub. We fed the swim with pellets watching the chub devour the free offerings. There were possibly 12 chub ripping the bottom up.

We cast out and they disappeared for about 15 mins and then came out cautiously feeling for line. They were spooked by our line in the water. We fished for an hour waiting for them to feed well. Then again like a switch they began to feed. Ross said they looked small but I know that it’s an illusion because of the depth of the water. One came close to the hookbait and the next thing the rod arched over and Ross hooked an angry chub. The rod and line which is slightly heavy soon had the chub under control and in the net.

It wasn’t the size of the first chub but it was 4lb plus fish. So that’s normally that for the swim as they do get spooked and don’t come out to feed again in a hurry.

Now we had been told of some chub further downstream and so we wandered downstream to take a look. It was 23c now and very warm. It was a cloudless sky hardly idea conditions. We fished and took a look at several swims but decided to return to one we had baited. There were several huge chub feeding on the pellets. So we tried and tried to get them to take our hook bait but failed. This went on for about 1 hr. We then put some pellets right under our feet adjacent to some weed. Here they couldn’t see or feel the line as it was in the weed.

The chub kept coming in and out of the swim and weed and they were feeding hard the silver flanks could be seen in the bright sunlight glistening away as they twisted and turned. I kept a running commentary going for Ross as he stood by the rod. One chub though did make a mistake. I saw one come up around the hook bait. It shook it’s head the rod top nodded it them moved a little downstream the rod pulled around again. Ross said I got a bite the rod and line still slack he struck and I saw the chub shoot off downstream and the rod take on a lovely curve as the chub fought for freedom. There were few snags so the fight was over swiftly and the fish in the net looked like a 6lber. It had a huge frame and depth. I said to him it’s close to a 6lber.

I was very disappointed to find it went 5lbs 6oz. But never the less a beautiful chub and no where the largest one in the group.

Ross and his 5lbs 6oz chub

The afternoon was now turning into evening, the shadows were getting longer we returned to the very original swim and had 1 hr to try and catch another chub. The chub were feeding but nervously for sure. The evening was drawing to a close and the only excitement we had was were a barbel either almost hooked itself or picked the line up on it’s pectoral fine. Either way it exited the swim very quickly.

So a super day with Ross who is great company too. His pb was 5lbs 2oz so to beat it twice in a day was excellent.

Happy days.