River Aire Chub Feed With A Vengeance

When I found a small shoal of big chub on the River Aire near Kildwick during September I decided not to fish for them until the river had a good clean out, the blanket weed was terrible. Arriving back from the USA after a saltwater fly fishing trip I could see the River Ribble had been up a couple of feet. I realised the river Aire would also have had a lift of water.The first chance I had to get on the Aire was several days later, the river certainly looked good. I searched for my chub shoal without success.

A further hundred yards upstream I found a nice gravel run with some four feet of water and over hanging willows. Just the place for chub I thought. For three days I baited the swim on the Keighley AC water with half a kilo of Tock special boilies, and half a gallon of cooked hemp with some mashed bread. During those baiting sessions, I didn't see any signs of chub, but I felt the fish were in the swim and feeding, in fact on the third visit a boily suddenly disappeared as it dropped through the water. It had to be one of the chub.

I chose to fish a Friday afternoon / evening session, conditions were near perfect, muggy weather, light wind and thick cloud base. I was perspiring by the time I reached my chosen spot. Sitting down on a clump of straw coloured grass I made up my usual chub fishing gear an 11 foot Avon action rod, centre pin reel and 6lb breaking strain line to which I attached a size 4 barbless hook. Pinching on two LG shot about four inches from the hook I baited with a chunk of crust, then dropped the bait some twenty feet downstream and towards the far bank so the bait was on the edge of the over hanging willows.

Five minutes later the rod tip slowly pulled downstream, the perfect bite and one I shouldn't miss. The thumping on the end of the line told me I'd hooked my first fish of the session. A couple of minutes later a good chub probably weighing around four and a half pounds was in the net. It was released a few yards upstream. Baiting with another chunk of crust I dropped the bait downstream and under the far bank willows. The fish took on the drop, soon I had fish number two in the net another 4lb chub.

I was well pleased, two good chub in about ten minutes. I rebaited this time with a chunk of flake then took off one of the shot. I then dropped the bait a further ten feet down stream, thinking the fish might have drop downstream as they might have become a bit spooky. Again I had a take on the drop. After a better scrap I netted what I thought was a five pounder. It turned the scales to 5-10-0. In the next fifteen minutes or so I had three more fish including another five pounder at 5-6-0.

For the next thirty minute I couldn't buy a bite. The rod tip remained motionless. I decided on a move upstream some twenty yards. On the opposite bank stood a large alder tree with many of its branches spreading low over the water. Underneath the branches the water looked dark and secretive. A good place to fish for chub. Replacing the shot I had removed earlier, I baited with a big chunk of crust then dropped the bait under the far bank. Five minutes later I had a good pull I missed it. It looked the perfect bite, rebaiting with another chunk of crust I dropped the bait in the same spot.

I sat holding the rod willing the tip to pull round savagely. After ten minutes the tip shuddered then pulled round. My strike connected with an angry fish which shot off downstream, the clutch on my vintage 1953 Mitchell reel whined and screeched as line was taken. If I had been fishing a river holding barbel I would have thought I had hooked one. After some five or six minutes I started to gain some line a minute or so later I could see a large dark shadow. That's too big for a chub I thought then realised I hooked a pike. Soon the fish was wallowing on the surface sinking the landing net I pulled the fish over it then lifted. It weighed 11lbs hooked neatly in the scissors.

I then moved back downstream to my first swim. where I decided to use a hair rigged Tock special boily. Tying on a size 8 hook with a knotless knot I also tied in a small loop for the hair. When hair rigging for chub I find I get a better percentage of hook ups when I have a short hair, so the boily is close to the bend of the hook. Pinching on two LG shot about 12 inches from the hook, I baited with a boily then attached a pva bag of broken boilies which I attached to the hook. I cast the lot some twenty feet downstream, then put the rod in the rest. It was time for a fresh brew so on with the Jetboiler. This is a super bit of kit for the angler. Fifteen minutes later the rod tip whacked round, I was attached to a good fish which took a few yards of line from the reel. some minutes later I netted a good fish. It turned the scale pointer to 5-8-0. The boilies were working. I missed the next three takes then hooked and landed every other take. I ended the session with thirteen good chub with four of five pounds plus best at 5-10-0.

I was back the next day Saturday, while many watched or listened to the soccer I tried my hardest to catch a few chub I didn't get a single bite. The highlight of the day was seeing a huge flock of green plovers which had a small group of golden plover with them. I stayed on for an hour after dark but no bites or swirling fish. I even tried to raise some chub to the surface with some floating crust Nothing Where had they gone I thought Yes, fish are certainly strange creatures. with the sound of geese I trudged slowly back to the car and the welcoming lights of the local pub where I feel at ease in leaving my car.