August 24th 2011
Well I wished for the rain and it came, and looks
like we are in for more by the end of the week if the met office
forecast is right. The river came up a foot and coloured up, but more
importantly cleaned a lot of the silk weed which was covering the bottom
in most swims. This opened up a little more of the river to fish, and
although the chub did not feed the barbel most certainly did, first of
all my fishing buddy Aidie had his first ever double at 11lb exactly,
then it was my turn with another barbel at 10lb 3oz, both fish fell to
3-B boilie link ledgered on chub gear good sport indeed.
During the afternoon with the fishing slow I decided
to go on the wander, the sun was up, and some good barbel were spotted,
but in dense weed, upstream of them was a clear gravel patch but after
baiting and watching for an hour or more it was obvious they would not
venture out into the open, only one thing for it I would have to go to
them. I rigged up the barbel rod with only a 2oz lead and began to
search for some clean gravel, much of the area was still covered with
silk weed but after half an hour I found what I was looking for, an
area perhaps no bigger than two feet square amongst the dense
ranunculus weed beds, perfect for the ambush, baiting the area with a
half kilo of 3-B I left for home. Roll on the weekend and with any luck
my homework will pay off.
Nairny
August 2nd 2011
The chub on the Stour are still playing hard to get,
a combination of low and clear river conditions and an abundance of
natural food means they are not willing to feed on anglers baits with
any gusto. I did manage to tempt a couple of chub a few weeks ago they
were very welcome although not huge at 5lb 2oz and 5lb 9oz both fell to
the 3-B.
A move to the Hants Avon turned out to be a breath
of fresh air; the fast flowing middle reaches looked a lot healthier
than the Stour. Initially caster and hemp were going to be the main
line of attack, fished in conjunction with a block end feeder. This
however turned out to be a bad move as the small fish were smashing the
casters to bits as soon as the feeder landed. I swapped over to a three
swan link; things looked a lot more promising as the small indications
on the tip showed me the chub were at home. Then without warning the
tip went round and kept going, not at all what I was used to on the
Stour. After a short scrap the chub was mine, my first Avon fish of the
season, weighing in at 5lb 3 oz and shortly followed by another of 5lb
13 oz, good fun indeed, a lot different from the moody old cow the
Stour has become of late. I should have had a few more trips up there
but I am a glutton for punishment and still have unfinished business
with a few Stour monsters.
Darren phoned me to say the Hook bait team were
coming for a couple of days fishing, I was not too hopeful they would
catch much, as I sat on the bank swimmers above me were pulling weed
out in clumps and the fishing was getting even more difficult, a few
strong words and they didn’t hang about too long, but by now the fish
were gone as well. I moved swims only to be confronted by more fish
killing polish on the far bank that was enough for me I was off.
Darren and his brother turned up on the Friday for
the Hook bait do, I was meant to be at work but managed a couple of
hours with my good friend Mic Foot we both caught but it was hard
going, Darren text me to say he had a 2 lb 2oz roach in the net, nice
one. that was the highlight of the day, followed closely by Mic showing
me his” towpath persuader” he has to carry on his “ghosting” trips to
the Thames to ward off unsavoury characters, I may have to get one of
those if things carry on the way they are going. I met up with Darren
on the Saturday afternoon, and showed him a couple of swims that held
fish, although I was not hopeful however given the way things were
going.
I fished a swim at the top of the stretch and although fish were there
they were not having it, changing my 3-B boilie to a 6 mm 3-B blue pop
up fished about 30 mm off the river bed gave me a lovely looking chub
of 5lb 15 oz, a slight change can help sometimes but they didn’t fall
for it again. I don’t like to say it but we desperately need some rain.
I just know I’m going to regret saying that!
17th 18th and 19th June 2011
The day started out a bit drier than the previous,
but still with some heavy showers, and the chub were still playing hard
to get. One solitary chub of 5lb 2oz on 3-B boilie was the only
reward. I was close to packing in, but on my way back to the van there
was one more swim to try, having baited it earlier I lowered a 3-B
boilie into a depression about a rod length out, standing behind the
sedges with rod in hand I felt a sharp jab then a steady pull on the
strike all hell broke loose a barbel had been enjoying the treats and
then found one with my hook in it, after a spirited battle it was in
the net 8lb 6oz of fighting machine, not huge but good sport all the
same. The sedges have since been flattened by some mindless idiot
posing as a perch angler. Cheers for that!!
The next day on the same stretch I went through my
usual baiting up routine, keeping bait going into swims on a regular
basis can really pay dividends when the fish actually decide to go on
the munch. Two chub had been landed so far over 4lbs followed by a
brace of 5’s at 5lb 2oz and 5lb 9oz. the last swim held quite a few fish
that could be seen gliding over the gravel stopping every so often to
pick up some freebies, every now and again the tip would show signs of
life that told me they were close to my hook bait, then one made a
mistake, the fish was bullied from between the dense weed beds and
guided into the waiting net, at 6lb 7oz it is my biggest of the season
so far, hopefully there will be more and larger one’s to come.
Cheers Nairny
JUNE 16th 2011
I was up at 6 am and keen to get to the river after
the pre-baiting campaign, until I opened the curtains, it was lashing
down, oh well it was not cold so I got on with it.
Arriving at the river, Aidie was waiting for me as
keen as ever, walking to the swims in three feet of soaking wet meadow
grass was a joy as my lightweight wet weather gear was as good as
useless. (it’s in the bin now)
Putting some bait into the swim fish soon appeared, it
was not long before three were landed all chub but none of the bigger
one’s. The bites were not that good mainly little plucks and pulls
which was surprising as they had been left alone for three months, so
it was strange when the tip went over and kept going, I struck and it
felt solid, then a bream came to the top, around seven and a half
pounds, Mic would have been proud of me.
The rain had eased a bit so a move was on the cards,
but first some more 3-B boilies were put into the swim, taking hold
of the rod again a small pluck on the tip, followed by another without
hesitation I struck, at first thoughts a barbel had been hooked, but
soon the golden flanks of a common carp were seen twisting in the
current, she was having none of it and powered off upstream into a
dense weed bed and kept going, putting on more pressure than I thought
the hook length could take, but it held firm now my main concern was
the alarming state of my medium feeder rod, it ws bent from the butt
and even the corks seemed to groan, the carp was stopped eventually,
and now I was beginning to win the fight, she was bullied downstream
and tried to get into the bushes upstream of me, more pressure and rod
creaking had her out and on the top, as quick as a flash Aidie had
the landing net under her and with a final heave the fish was in the
net before it could go on another powerful run, cheers mate. Five chub a
bream and a carp not a bad start, but none of the big chub we have
seen, they will have to wait for another day.
Cheers for now nairny
March 15th 2011
After the previous day, hopes were high for the final couple of days.
On my way to the river I travelled over
the Stour at Julien’s Bridge in Wimbourne, once the home of one of
the countries most famous barbel Henry. In the lay-bye local legend
Richard Graham was chatting to Alan Rawdon, so I stopped for a chin wag
and after about fifteen minutes, Alan dropped into the conversation and
with a large grin on his face that he had caught an 8lb 2oz chub the
evening before. He showed me some pictures and it looked absolutely
massive. He said that he tried to ring me as I was leaving the car park
to take some pictures but managed to ring some building firm in London
instead. Bless!!
Leaving them to it I got to the river
around 2 o'clock, the fishing was not easy to say the least, but a
couple were caught on trotted maggot at 4lb 14oz and 5lb 3oz, 3-B paste
was fished for an hour into dark and with no action on that I left for
home a little disappointed.
The final day was here so I headed to the
river a little earlier around 12 noon, my first choice venue was very
busy so after an hour or so a move was decided upon a couple of miles
upstream. Arriving at the car park I spotted “IT” oh my god it was the
Turnip's camper van, this would be fun! Not known for his stealth he
would have gone through every swim like a rampaging Ork on acid. I
caught up with him on the bank, he was trotting but had no joy as yet,
we always have a bit of banter, so I gave him as much verbal abuse as I
thought fitting, I left him to it and whilst walking away felt the
back of my head and neck being peppered with maggots from his catapult,
he will pay for that!!!
As expected the fishing was dire, and whilst packing
up around 4.30pm Mic Foot rang. He was having about as much fun as me
trying to avoid the numptys, but he is made of sterner stuff than me
and said he was going to stick it out, “I will let you know if it
hoops over” said Mic. I was watching the box when the mobile rang,
“how big” 15lb 11oz said Mic, well done that man for his sheer
tenacity.
The season may have ended on the rivers
for me, I do not fish in the close season, but my walks along the bank
fish spotting have already started. With my faithful Lurcher Stubble by
my side swims have already been sorted for the glorious 16th. A pale
looking chub which was spotted last season but never caught has
appeared again, I would dearly love to capture that one, it is HUGE!!!
All the best Nairny
March 12th 2011.
Just got back from day one of three. As planned some paste was baited into a few swims ready for the witching hour.
I went to see Adie, who had been there a couple of hours before I got there,
Speaking to him on the phone earlier he said it was
hard going, however he was playing a fish on my arrival which turned
out to be a 6 lb 11 oz chub, nice one.
I left him to it and went of to my swim, feeding
maggots while the rod was put together, half an hour later the five
swan loafer float buried half way down the swim, an immovable force was
hugging the river bed, after a long stalemate things started
improving, the fish was on the move, in what seemed an age the net was
lowered and in she went, a solid short fat chub was weighed again at 6
lb 11 oz, the swim was fished a little longer, the minnows had moved in
so I moved out.
No more on the float, so the baited swims were tried, a
bream bite in the weir was all that came of that. Looking forward to
tomorrow for another go, the same tactics on another stretch will be
the way I’m sure.
My next swim was baited and the float was out again,
half a dozen trots and down went the float another good fight resulted
in my second six at 6 lb 7 oz, things were looking good.
Cheers for now, Nairny.
March 11th 2011
This is it then, the last three days of my river
season. Just been out to my fishing den, sorted out the maggot after
their escape attempt in mid week, knocked up some 3-B paste for the
evening session, I shall leave for the river about 1.30 pm trot maggots
in a few likely looking swims and hopefully pick up a fish or two, then
I plan to touch ledger come dusk and an hour into dark in a couple of
swims that will have been pre-baited as I am walking to my trotting
swims.
Trotting rod, feeder rod, landing net, bank stick and
a bucket to sit on with all the gear I shall need inside have been
loaded in the van, a quick bite to eat and the hunt for an end of
season biggie will begin.
Cheers for now, Nairny.
March 1st 2011
Since my last contribution, the weather has warmed
up considerably and the fish have gone on the feed in a big way, just
in time for the season to end.
I made the most of it and in the middle of February
banked another huge chub of 7 lb 1 oz, caught touch ledgering paste on a
swan shot link.
The Stour is now running clear and trotting maggot
under a five swan loafer float , 4 lb main line 3.2 lb hook lengths to a
size 18 or 20 has accounted for many good fish including half a dozen
over 6 lb up to 6 lb 4 oz.
Over a couple of days last weekend things got really
hectic, starting around 2 pm on the Saturday on the float , then moving
into a large weir pool around 4 pm to fish link ledgered paste, my
fishing pal Adie and me landed nineteen chub including six five's and a
couple of sixes. The Sunday was much slower but in a few hours before
dark I managed three fish, 5 lb 13 oz and a 6 lb 4 oz being the
largest. I'm surprised I managed to hit the bites, so great was the
smell of weed being smoked about 20 meters away by the local tribe.
However things have not always been good, a trip to
the Great Ouse for a Chub Study Group AGM. saw the rain come to slow
the fishing up somewhat. The evening do was held in a pub that only
served real ale (yuk) so Darren, Adie and I took off to Wetherspoons in
Bedford on the Friday night that was an eye opener for a country boy
like me!!
Just been out to check on my maggots for the weekend,
the fridge is not working and six pints are crawling around every
surface of it, deep joy.
Enjoy the last few days of the season, I am fishing the last three so should have some news then.
cheers for now, Nairny.
Feb 18th 2011
Things have gone well for me so far this season, lots
of chub and a few barbel on the 3-B boilies, chub to 6 lb 11 oz and
barbel up to 12 lb 10 oz, and 3-B paste accounted for more when autumn
came, and gave me chub to 6 lb 6 oz.
November came and things got really messy weather
wise, so a change of tactics came into play, temperatures around this
time were mainly below freezing, so the float rod and maggots were put
to work, or as my fishing buddy Adie calls it "trotting for dogs". With
the temperature as cold as this and the river gin clear there is no
better method. A five swan loafer float, 4 lb main line and ready tied 3
lb 2 oz hook-lengths to size 18 or 20 hooks, sorts out some really good
fish. 6 lb 6 oz being the biggest to the method so far this season.
After this cold spell which seemed to last forever, we
were now subjected to long spells of heavy rain in the south, bringing
the river levels up and forcing it out over the banks for days on end,
the water was heavily coloured so link ledgered cheese paste was the new
approach, this also accounted for a few biggies the best being 6 lb 14
oz and a clonker of 7 lb 1 oz.
As I write this the Dorset Stour is again running
clear, so my approach over the weekend will be to trot for a few hours
in the afternoon, then link ledger 3-B paste as the light fades.
Adapting to the changing conditions will always put a few
more fish on the bank, and make for some rewarding trips even when the
going gets tough.
Feb 1st 2011
My early years chub fishing on the upper Dorset Stour
were a hit and miss affair to say the least,usually ledgering bread with
the aid of a cage feeder. Then one day I hooked and landed a chub of
19" long, a big fish for me in those days. It was from that point a
passion for chub fishing was ignited, I knew I had to capture more and
bigger ones at that. I turned my attention to the free stretches of the
river, and with some success. With ambition growing Throop was the next
challenge, and gave me my first six pound fish.
A few years later I was talking to a chap who seemed to
have the same drive as me, a keen river angler mainly fishing the
Hampshire Avon. His name was Rupert Morrall. A partnership was formed
that has lasted for many years. Throop was the starting point, fishing
the maggot feeder or float. The feeder after we had sorted out the rig,
was devastating. We also fished the Avon of which Rupert had boundless
knowledge.
Some huge chub were being caught from the middle
reaches of the Stour so this was the focus for our next challenge. Using
mainly boillies and paste we bagged huge fish , giving us both personal
bests, Rupert 7lb 11oz and me not far behind with a 7lb 10oz fish.
Great times indeed.
I went on to join the Chub Study Group.
Later on Darren joined the group, he was also using boillies and was
manufacturing his own. He asked me if I would like to field test some of
his baits,Trigga boillies from Nutrabaits were my choice at the time. I
was reluctant to change for fear my catch rate would suffer, How wrong
could I have been!!
Initially starting with River Secret the big chub
took a liking to them from the off, Darren then developed 3-b, this now
forms the mainstay of my chub fishing, turning to the same bait in paste
form come autumn and winter. The only time these are not used are in
prolonged cold spells like the arctic conditions we faced this winter,
trotted maggots are my choice then. When the river is in full flood with
loads of colour, cheese paste is then deployed, the 3-b would work in
these conditions I am sure, but I love trotting and making my own cheese
paste for these conditions.
I will keep you posted on how things progress.
all the best Iain
