Mixed Fortunes From A Few Trips

[Catfish Virgin (Still!)]

I've had a few trips over the last several weeks but the rivers have proved to be very patchy. Been chasing some very big chub and a few barbel with singular lack of success! But one of the best blanks so far was a day out with Gary (alias "Grumpy Git" - he's far from it!). Gary had bid a tidy sum for charity for a day out with me on The Royalty Fishery with barbel the target. We fished a well known area around The Pipes but failed to find any whiskers. The nearest we came was in the Anglers Rest Room (full of history and interesting bits and bobs):





I had another enjoyable few hours when I decided to forget about the BIG chub on a certain stretch of the Stour and get the float rod out. I waggler fished the far bank of a quiet stretch and ended up with a fair bag of small roach, dace, bleak, minnows and perch. At least the bleak gained more points for The Hunt:







In amongst these river trips (and the frustration of the elusive BIG summer chub) I've also had a few fly fishing trips. Thankfully the rainbows are far more obliging and have put a bend in my rod. A couple of trips to Avington have put several big rainbows on the bank (and in my freezer):

Four fish limit for almost 30lb:



And a top quality double of just over 11lbs:



It's beginning to look as though I'll have to wait for Autumn and Winter before I start to catch on the rivers!

[Fishing Forum Admin]

great reprot mate thanks

[KABBYCHRIS]

well done nice fishnice stretch of river too

[paddy2k7_red4life]

a cracking report mate

[fullcreel]

That is one lovely perch. I am planning a few 'luxery' trips to some day ticket sections of either the Stour or Avon, can you make any suggestions? I'm not expecting huge catches or super specimens, just a good day out. Any tips would be gratefully apreciated.

[Norfolkboy]

Well done Neil, some great fish there

[liverpolcrew2020]

You always impress me when you have done a catch report always something new

[robbiep23uk]

great read, always enjoy catch reports from rivers as i never get chance to fish them myself

[Catfish Virgin (Still!)]

Originally Posted by fullcreel

That is one lovely perch. I am planning a few 'luxery' trips to some day ticket sections of either the Stour or Avon, can you make any suggestions? I'm not expecting huge catches or super specimens, just a good day out. Any tips would be gratefully apreciated.

Both Stour and Avon are usually quite tough during summer but the recent heavy rains will have done no harm at all. I prefer both rivers once autumn/winter has arrived but if you are going any time soon, I would go for the Avon and particularly The Royalty. Heavily fished but an excellent venue holding plenty of barbel, bream and perch. Davis Tackle is the place to start for up to date info and tickets.

Throop on the Stour is another good venue but tends to come into it's own a little later on in the season.

Both venues tend to fish better late on in the day, if you can, be prepared to fish on into the evening.

The following website will keep you informed with up to date and good info:

http://www.davistackle.co.uk/

Have a look at the "Fishing News" section for weekly reports from both venues.

[pingu]

nice one neil well done

dave