We crept up to the river

[fullcreel]

Having had no rain for what feels like an age, last weeks rain was such a relief, JP and I crept up to the club stretch of the Bristol Avon, upstream of Chippenham. We got as far as Westbury, when brain of west wilts here realised I had forgotton the coker and frying pan, so we headed back, seeing Ian and Rita for a wave as our cars passed.
Properly equiped we made it to the river, a brief chat with one of the farm hands to find out where to park without being in the way. JP and I headed into the jungle, JP fancied some of the swims, although I prefered the idea of the faster water, so I headed upstream. Stopping at a few likely spots to pop a bit of pellet into the water. The river was extremely weedy and also incredibly clear.

I put my gear down in a spot where I fancied a big chub might be lurking, along with a little bit of pepperami and some pellets. I made up a float rod, with a hand made avon float and crept up to the weir pool. This too was very weedy, like I had never seen it before. I could have been a still water on first look.

No water was comming over the spill way, only a trickle on the fish ladder.

Thankfully first cast produced this chub.

Nice hard fighter. Following that I lost another, bigger fish, maybe about 2lb, hard to stop it with the weed. I also managed a few species, a bleak and minnow. Roach and a supple of baby chub and a few sporting perch joined in.
JP arrived, having lsot someting early on in the jungle, and having had some small fish. There was some toppig for insects as the eveing wore on, so he set up a fly rod.

AS often happens the rises were of small fish, some very small indeed. These can be frustrating, esp when, striking they fly out of the water and smack the angler on the forhead. I'm not sure who was more shocked, JP or the fish, although I think the fish had more of a headache afterwards.

I returned to my 'chub' swim, setting things up about 10 feet away from the waters edge, to avoid spooking the fish.
I also got the garlic burgers going, which produced interest from Tommy dog, the monsterous but incredibly soft aslsation 'guard' dog having his eveing walk with the farmers. Whilst Tommy dog is inquistative, he found my garlic burgers a bit too strong for him.
The aroma of cooking brought JP in for some food and an ale.

Sadly no fish came from the 'chub' swim, maybe another time.

[BoldBear]

Geat report and nice pics, it looks like that river is suffering from the lack of rain like a lot of our streams and rivers but in spite of that it looks like you had a really enjoyable time and caught some good fish.
It looks like that river is capable of producing some really 1st class chub catches when in full flow.

[Simon N]

Well Done Matt And JP. Nice To See Some Members Making Use Of The Club Strech. Im Sure There Must Be Some Big Fish Up There Somewhere.

[BaggieRich]

Well done gents. It's not just the beaches that are suffering with the weed at the moment then.

Sounds like a cracking day.

[fullcreel]

It was a late afternoon evening session. Best chub I know of was 4lb 4oz. I have lost a decent barbel. Like every river I know, needs rain desperately. A good downpour would be most welcome.

[blackwater]

Well done, nice report. You can have some of the rain we are having over here at the minute, my local lake is 2 feet higher than it should be!!

Justin

[Maddison_Twatter]

Nice report and pics ,well done

[Greenheart]

Well done guys. Sorry I could'nt make it. I've got a lot of family issues at the moment...

[tjnorton]

Superb report guys looked like a super days fishing.

tj

[pingu]

nice one guys

dave