Monday 25 July 2011

Trick Of The Light


Impromptu evening session on the Wandte, and they really have wised up to us fishermen. No bites until it was nearly dark, not even little rattle - we're here bites. As dusk took hold I had a great bite - which I missed... Don't know how... Next cast got repeated plucks, really little ones, then the meat was gone.

I watched this for a couple of casts before trying to hit one, little rattle, strike, fish! I saw it turn in the shallows and I shouted to Dan I'd hooked the fish we were after (and then some) I needed a net man. My giant barbel headed well downstream as I explained to Dan what I had hooked into. I inched it upstream until we got a good view - my 3 foot odd long barbel was in fact a chub wrapped in a long stream of weed... Ah.

Once it broke free of the weed it put up a good account of itself, cracking fish, 8lb 4oz 4lb 8oz, best chub so far this season... And with that we headed for a pint.

[Edit: Really sorry to anyone who read this last night, the chub was 4lb 8oz - not 8lb 4oz as I wrote. I was delighted with the fish but I didn't mean to nearly double its weight]

[Edit 2: I forgot to post this last night but we found a quivertip from a multi tip rod, near Enfield and as it's a fairly small Wandte world I wondered if anyone reading this had lost it, or knows who lost it - if so please leave a comment and I'll get it back to you]

14 comments:

  1. Cracking chub Brian!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Think you need to check your scales mate !

    ReplyDelete
  3. 8lb4oz??? Ive seen some big old chub swimming about in there but none of that size, if not a typo then fair play Brian, sorry for questioning it, i know you know what your doing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. 4lb 8oz - Sorry - I'll change it on the post. Was a good chub but not that good.

    ReplyDelete
  5. does the quiver tip have 3oz written on it? I was fishing on sunday and cannot remember sticking it back in the tube. Will check when home from work.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Doesn't have anything written on it, but double check when you get home - I know what a pain it is to get replacements

    ReplyDelete
  7. That's a lovely looking summer Chub Brian.
    You must be pretty happy about that.

    kind regards
    Mark

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ahhh Brian
    If wishes were fishes haha,
    It must be a strong ale you were drinking as its not like you to type a mistake in, Still a darn good catch though,
    Love the Popeye Shirt as well haha,
    Good Luck,
    ,,,Paddy,,,

    ReplyDelete
  9. It was only one pint, and I re-read the post once I'd published it. I think it must have been wishful thinking.

    8lb 4oz, best chub SO FAR this season... (like I was expecting a nine-pounder before the season's end).

    ReplyDelete
  10. Did you manage to return the tip to its owner?
    Paulos

    ReplyDelete
  11. No, I thought it was a long shot - the person who lost it reading this - but I thought I'd give it a try. It fits my rod so it won't go to waste!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Well at least you tried. That alone will bring you good Karma I'm sure.
    What is the current British Chub record?
    Paulos

    ReplyDelete
  13. Well I've still got it so if someone claims it I'll give it back to them.

    The British record is 9lb 5oz caught in 2007, I think, unless there's one pending. I've read about two 7lbers from the Wandle - but neither account had a photo. I think the realistic target is a 5lber. But I'm really happy with this fish, if it's the biggest all season I won't be disappointed.

    ReplyDelete