Sunday 22 June 2014

At last a 5lb chub!

Decided to give the river a try today. When I got there I could see that the river was down to its bare bones and gravel bars were above the water line - the lowest I'd seen this particular stretch. I knew it wasn't going to be easy. 

I decided to set up with the drennan acolyte plus, 5lb drennan supplex, and a size 18 kamasan animal (in the hope of an animal!). I waded to one of the gravel bars and trotted maggot and caster against a tree lined bank. I'd brought 2 pints of each. It didn take long to get the first bite - a minnow. And about 20 more followed before something a little better in the shape of a dace.



A few more dace followed before I hooked a kamikaze trout, which went wild and destroyed everything before dislodging itself - time to move on. On the next swim, I could see the odd decent shape moving in the flow and thought to myself - chub. The problem was, they weren't interested in my crude tackle but took the freebies. I ended up stepping down my gear to 2lb drennan supplex and a size 20 kamasan b911F1 - this could be interesting I thought!

First trot through, a chub took the double maggot and the fight begun. I often find that fish respond like for like with the pressure being exerted - if that makes sense? Ie, if you pike the pressure on, they do the same. So I played it very softly, and for a couple of minutes it just sat in the flow. It then got bored and went for the far bank trees, making it underneath so I sunk the rod tip and hoped. It came back out, then dashed for my bank, near snagging me twice, before eventually netted. A good 4 I thought, and put it in the keepnet. It wasn't until I packed up and emptied the net, that I weighed it at 5lb 1oz, a new pb and my first 5. Happy!! It had a hollow belly, in prime winter condition I think 5 and a half at least.



A few more dace followed, and I went home with a smile. 

5 comments:

  1. Congratulations, a lovely Chub, really enjoy your blog, keep it up!
    A fellow Tees and Swale angler.

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    1. Thanks Tim! Hopefully bump into you on the bank some day

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  3. Very well done mate..especially on that light tackle! Got my first 5 back in January out the r.wear at 5lb 10 oz (raw steak sprinkled with garlic and curry powder) so know how your feeling! Great blog..keep them coming! Steve(r.wear angler).....now bring on them 6's!!

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    1. Thanks Steve and well done on a fantastic pb!

      I've been meaning to give the wear a good go but keep getting diverted elsewhere.

      Jim

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