A Brace of 5lb Chub to Start the Season

I had just sat down to dinner when I got a call from one of our members reporting we had thieves targeting our trout, which they probably sell to pay for their drink and drug habits. The police must be congratulated on their response; within ten minute of calling the local police station we had three police crews on the job. Sadly we didn't catch the cuprites. When they realised they had been seen they separated hiding their rods in the wood then slipped through the cordon. With lots of cover at this time of the year it’s easy to get away. It was about 10'oclock when I got back home. With only a few days to go before the start of a new season on June 16th it was a busy few days. Both cabins on the fishery were painted; new barbed wire was put up in the woods and along the top of some fences. I had a busy few hours on June 13th teaching a couple of pupils to cast which raised a hundred and thirty pound for the Army Benevolent Fund.

With the northern rivers in no fit state for any type of angling I planned to travel south and fish the Kennet, Loddon and Bristol Avon for the first week of the season, I spent Monday June 14th sorting out tackle, baits, food and clothing eventually I was ready for the 250 mile trip down to Berkshire. I was up and ready to go on Tuesday morning by 6 o'clock, I drove down too the fishery to meet up with two bailiffs for a brew and fill them in with descriptions of the local thieves. Saying my good byes I headed south. How I hate the M6 I had only travelled a few miles when the overhead gantry information told me of long traffic delays expected between junctions 18 and 20. Long delays were the operative words. Getting close to Birmingham I made the mistake of not taking the toll road getting stuck in long delays through heavy traffic and road works. I suppose it was about 4 'clock when I arrived in Newbury. Pulling into the car park alongside the delightful river Kennet I put the kettle on for a brew then relaxed alongside this delightful river.

I spent the evening roaming the banks of the Wasing fishery waters from Aldermaston through to Brimpton, at Aldermaston I spotted a couple of good barbel, which was nice to see, even more so as I had told member Danny Collins to fish this beat on the first day of the season. Hopefully Danny will catch. Tuesday morning I was on the River Kennet for a good look around, hoping to find some big perch that might take a lobworm when the season started.

Having spent several hours on the water, seeing nothing to get excited about, I went off to look at a couple of club waters on the Loddon. After walking both waters I moved off, especially after seeing a barbel angler complete with buzzers bivvy etc on the bank, no doubt a failed carp angler thinking the barbel would be an easier quarry.

I don't understand why river anglers need to bivvy up, probably it’s my age. I then drove off to a private length of the River where I have permission to fish. After putting in some bait. I went off to the shops to get some food, it was then back on the Loddon where I had a brew followed by scrambled eggs and tomatoes with fresh baked bread and butter. I certainly reckon my microwave oven that plugs into the car is well worth the money.

5 o'clock I made my way up river to my baited swim, on the apposite bank, A stream flowed into the river, this despite the lack of decent rainfall. I reckon it could be a good area for perch, I also felt the bottom of the river at the stream mouth would be scoured out, probably leaving some nice clean gravel. The stream was overhung by a large oak tree I could see the roots plunging down into the water. It was a magnificent looking oak; just downstream for about thirty yards the river bank had a thicket of alder and willows making the water dark and secretive.

It looked a good area for all species of fish. I made up a rod then attached a two ounce bomb which I plastered in Vaseline. If I had gravel on the river bed some pieces would stick to the coating of Vaseline. Casting across to the stream mouth I found six feet of water was which slowly shelved to about nine feet. On every retrieve I found bits of gravel stuck in the Vaseline. The swim was big enough to accommodate two anglers and my mate Will Carter planned to join me later. Its always nice fishing near a good companion especially on the first day of the season.

Having made up two 12 foot rods with centre pin reels one with 12lb Gamma and size 4 Pallatrax barbless hook for barbel chub and tench as all three species can often be seen in the water. My other outfit was 6lb Gamma with a size 8 Pallatrax hook which I intended to use for perch and chub, my baits were paste bread and lobworms. At the start of a season I find lobworms can produce a fish when nothing else works. Lets be honest the fishing on the first few days never ever turns out as expected. Often it’s tough going. I then went off to my car and collected the brewing gear and some warm clothing; I expected it to be a cold night. Having got everything sorted out I sat back enjoying the peaceful countryside and the bird song, occasionally a kingfisher would be seen flying up and down river. After reading both the Daily Telegraph, latest issue of Coarse Angling Today magazine and Anglers Mail, it was time for another brew.

Big Eel on Paste

Will turned up about 10 o'clock, after sorting out his gear and getting everything sorted out, we sat together talking and drinking, Will coffee, and as usual it was tea for me. At five minutes to midnight we both baited our rods, and then on the stroke of midnight we made our first casts of the season. I fished paste on one rod, crust on the other one. Will chose paste on both rods. Within a minute certainly no more than a minute and a half Will was hooked up to a tough fighter. I went down to see what help I could offer. We soon realised it might be a big eel, so it proved when eventually fine river specimen was on the bank estimated at around three and a half pounds. Taking out the barbless hook we watched the fine specimen swim off safely.
Brace of 5lb Chub
We fished on until dawn without any more takes; occasionally an inch or so of line would get taken off the reel, but nothing that really wanted to grab hold. In between dozing off the night turned out very quiet but extremely cold or it was for this old pensioner. An hour after dawn I had a good pull on paste which after s brief struggle I had a nice chub in the net. It weighed in at 5-2-0. Rebaiting with paste I cast out into the area of the stream mouth, While Will went off for his camera, Minutes later I was hooked up to another fine fish, this time a fine chub of 5-14-0. In fact we both thought it would be a six pound plus fish. After shooting a couple of pictures we watched both fish swim off strongly. Later in the morning Will had a small pike, before he had to leave for work. I carried on fishing catching two barbel between 7 and 8lbs and a pike about 5lbs all three fish on lobworms. I left the river about 9 o'clock with a shoal of bream in residence.

Thursday 17th I travelled down to the Bristol Avon with Will Carter and Lyndon Barrett to have a good look at a syndicate stretch of the river we have joined, we slowly walked the length and we were impressed in what we could see, on our next visit we would map and accurately plumb several of the more interesting areas. I can't wait for the autumn after the river has had a good flush through. I reckon then it could offer some exciting roach and perch fishing.

I was pleasantly surprised to see three nice carp two commons and a mirror averaging around 15lbs, we spotted a fish about 2lbs roll on the surface, Lyndon and I thought it could have been a big roach. After spending a few hours on the Avon we headed back to Berkshire Will and Lyndon for home while I went off too the Kennet. Arriving in the car park I found only one vehicle so I had plenty of swims to choose from. After cooking some food, I sat back enjoying a well deserved brew and a meal.

After a nice rest I collected my made up rods and tackle bag then headed off downstream choosing small gravel run with over hanging willows. I suppose it was around 9 o'clock when I made my first cast choosing lobworm as bait. In the next hour I had two perch around 2lbs each and three chub the best about 3lbs. I then fished on until three in the morning with no more bites. Feeling quite cold and fed up I called it a day then headed back to my car for a brew and some sleep. Next day Friday after bailiffing all the beats on the Wasing fishery which ensured I got plenty of exercise, I then headed off for home my 250 mile journey lasting nearly seven hours. Looking back I reckon it had been a successful trip. I would now spend a few days finishing off the text for my new book At the Waters Edge with Martin James