A few bars of gold on a Sunday morning

[mithrandir]

I had wimped out of the boat rip on Saturday as I had been away most of the week, so rested up, but decided I would have a Sunday early morning session, I grabbed a pint of maggots Saturday afternoon, had some old maggots that had gone to casters in the fridge so an early morning awaited me.

7-30am found me in the carpark at Britford, first man on the banks. I headed off to the old river section and decided to do some exploring, My plan was to fish a few different swims to see what was there. I was travelling light again, single rod and reel and a net, small rucksack for bait and pasties and a fold up chair.

I found my first swim and lightly baited up and watched as the float dived under oh so gently, no blank today, had a blank busting minnow, this was to be the first of many, it was a minnow plague in the first three swims I tried. I did manage some small grayling to about 12 oz, and some small chub and dace under 8 oz.

I was spending about 45 minutes in each swim before I moved on to explore the lower reaches of the old river. I finally found a real cracking looking swim, I had by this time changed over to the feeder as the river was running fast and coloured, I met Stuart, the bailiff, whilst he was on his way to open the sluices, this had dropped the level by about 6 inches.

Here is the swim



there is slack water behind the tree and the fast flow can be seen running along the line of the tree.

the plan was to cast the feeder into the slack water and draw it into the flow at the cut, this should be a good feeding area. I pre baited the swim by catapulting maggots and casters into the tree so the would drip feed into the swim as the tumbled down through the branches.

first cast into the slack water and as I began to draw back to the cut the rod tip exploded into life and the definite bounce of a chub take. I tightened up and thought " I must be snagged up!", the rod tip just bent round then I felt the kick of a good solid fish on the line. After what seemed an age I managed to draw the fish across the fast water and work it upstream to my net, I was a lovely bar of golden chub, And when i got it into the net it tipped the scales at smack on 4lb



I had got a new PB, so that was a good outcome for the day.

I continued to fish this swim for about 2 hours, watched by a very curious herd of cows



I had 8 more chub out varying from 3lb to 4lb 2 oz ( pushing that PB a bit higher)



This was a long lean fish and would not be surprised to see this being a seriously good fish in the autumn when it has some more weight on it.

I was nearly out of bait and it was just gone 2pm so made the decision to pack up and head home to get a Sunday roast in the oven, I had a lovely morning on the river and had some great fish out, a really successful trip, I really am getting my money's worth out of my ticket this year.

[Twiddler]

Well done to your PB chub Mike, Britford definitely has some hidden treasures.

I'm hoping to get a late afternoon/evening session in sometime this week.

[blackwater]

Great looking stretch, though the water looks quite high for this time of year most rivers around my part of the world are quite low. Great fish im very envious of the English rivers over in NI we only get rudd, roach, bream and perch but no barbel, chub, dace or Grayling

Well done

BW

[Vagabond]

Well done - a 4lb chub is good on any water.

[pingu]

nice one mike

i still want one over 4oz


dave

[fishypaul]

nice chub there mike,well done mate

[fullcreel]

Nice chub, lovely feeling when a P.B slides over the rim of the net.
Looks like that stretch of river will be on my to do list.

[Catfish Virgin (Still!)]

Congratulations Mike, an excellent PB (twice). The Avon was in a mess down lower but dropping back quickly. Stour was in the fields yesterday but well down today. Tough conditions all round.

Well done.

[ctwhitelaw]

well done mate

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Great read and well done on your PB