More Big Chub

I've just had some good fishing on the Rivers Kennet, Loddon, Hampshire Avon and River Wye, Despite the low water levels the fishing was excellent on the Loddon for chub. I had one evening session between 7pm and 2am taking 5 chub over 5lbs and one of 6lbs all on crust. That same evening my mate David Foster hooked a good barbel, as he tried to bring the fish to the net he slipped in the river filling his boots with water. Sadly the barbel was lost, it could have been his first double.Though he did catch some nice chub.

Moving on to the Kennet we both caught barbel, on one occasion I had 12 fish on crust or sausage meat, nothing big averaged about 5lbs. The next day I had three good fish of 10-6-0 9-4-0 and 9-2-0 all on sausage meat. I first started using meat in the 1950's as I did bread both baits have stood the test of time. My mate David Foster of Wigan lost a big barbel on the Kennet from his description, I get the feeling it was the big one which is estimated around 14lbs. He did catch a personal best fish of 8-12-0 which was pleasing. The Kennet desperately needs water its about two feet down on normal level. Hopefully we will get lots of rain this autumn with bank high rivers, in fact it would be nice to see the our rivers in flood conditions for a few weeks. This of course will help fill the aquifers which will help our rivers next spring.

We had a great day on the Avon at Britford LAA water where I had a brace of 5lb chub, despite the river keeper saying they were un catch able. I also some nice pound plus roach and the odd good perch about 2lbs. I used lobs for the perch, bread for chub and sweet corn for the roach. We stopped at a cafe on the way down where David had a breakfast big enough to feed a regiment, he can eat. On Friday we fished the River Wye at Ross, David had the best chub at 4lbs, we also found a delightful cafe The Hunky Dory in Broad Street, which we will certainly use on future visits, the food was excellent. I made a programme about the Avon trip which will be broadcast on Thursday 16th September on BBC Radio Lancashire www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire click on to listen again then At The Water's Edge the programme can be heard for 7 days.