Valhalla

With the barbel on the munch and the chub becoming increasing shy I've been waiting for a storm - perhaps a bit of colour in the water would turn the tables in the chub's favour.

I was going to concentrate on two swims where I've seen chub and barbel recently - the first cast sat out for all of 2 minutes before the rod slammed over - a chub about 3lb - good old dirty water!

I added a few free samples and left the swim to rest while I fished the second swim. Again the cast sat out for about 2 minutes before slamming over - I struck and there was a loud BANG as the rod shattered and the line went slack.

The line pulled tight and I thought I was connected to a small barbel - until I saw a good chub turn in the dirty water - with my heart in my mouth I carefully played the chub in with what was left of the rod and breathed a sigh of relief when she slid over the net.

A fantastic 5lb 2oz chub, my best of the season so far and equalled my best from the river. And after less than 15 minutes of fishing and only 2 casts my session was done.


I'm not too gutted about the rod - the Rovex Lure Pro Quad - I use these in various lengths for about 90% of my fishing, virtually all my chub and barbel fishing, light lure fishing even a livebait or little deadbait.

Light, great action, four piece that makes it really easy to transport on the bus or tube and relatively inexpensive - I buy them and use them to destruction - this one must have landed hundreds of pounds of fish - I'm glad it had a Viking death!!

That's Not A Chub

A trip to The Stour in search of chub and bait & wait was the nature of the game. Spicy shrimp and black pepper boilies under a weed raft, tip pointed skyward and relax.

I did bring a pike rod, with a gravel bar in front of me I was going to have a cast at any pike that crossed it with either a wobbled deadbait or a freelined livebait.


I spotted 5 pike cross the gravels and tempted four of them - watching them hit the bait in the gin-clear water was spectacular. I weighed the biggest at 8lb 10oz - I'll have to return for a double.

I also got within inches of landing a pike on a bleak whip when one grabbed a small perch, letting go just before the net. And pike number four was a recapture of pike one - they were ravenous!


And the chub? Didn't see one, I think we need some rain to get them feeding but I caught almost everything else; minnows, bleak, gudgeon, dace, roach, perch - and of course pike - can't complain!

Really looking forward to the winter pike season but it's great to get a few summer pike on the scoreboard. And it's nice to have a few pike photos on Pike Blog!!

Bit Hectic

With the barbel on the feed I couldn't resist another afternoon mission to the river - to cut a short story even shorter - seven barbel, the best going 6lb 4oz.

It's been a slow start to the season so a bit of hectic action is just what the doctor ordered. Fourteen barbel in three smash-and-grab missions - now I just need to find some bigger ones...

Rat Attack!

I've been told if a rat is cornered it will fight. I startled one on the river earlier, it wasn't cornered, it had plenty of escape routes but started running towards me. I stamped my feet and banged the landing net on the floor, but it kept coming. I dropped the rod and started back tracking* but it was after me, I had no choice but to scoop it up in the net.

In the net it started screaming and trying to escape - I catapulted it well down the river - it landed with a splash but was fine and swam to the opposite bank. I had a scout about to see if I was standing near it's babies, but I don't think they are particularly protective.

I have no idea why it ran towards me, was it going to attack? Perhaps it had been poisoned or had rabies or just having a seriously bad day. I was wondering if any other anglers out there in blog-land have had a similar experience? I'd love to know. (Photo from Google).


I didn't have long today but decided to use up the rest of the tin of luncheon meat from yesterday, three barbel going 4lb 4oz, 5lb 2oz and 7lb 14oz. Great stuff!


*back tracking = running away!

Inspiration

I was writing cartoons for Total FlyFisher magazine, I needed a quick mission to the river - a couple of hours for inspiration...


The 60th comic strip will be published in the next issue - I've been doing them for 5 years - and long may it continue...


I landed 4 barbel and a couple of chub, no monsters but that wasn't the point - and check out the paddle on the mint fish above.

Blast From The Past (2012)

Catch Up

Well I've done a bit of fishing over the last couple of weeks - but there hasn't been a great deal to write home about...


Locally I'm catching a few chub and barbel but I did manage to loose two big chub in three casts - inexplicable hook pull followed by getting one weeded up - and both looked well over 5lb...


I've spent an hour or two on several rivers chucking a lure about for perch - lots of fish but maxing out just over a pound...


And an afternoon using the method on The Thames produced a bite a chuck - mostly roach and skimmers with the odd perch mixed in - I'll be back with a keepnet...