Chub Went on a Feeding Spree

My friend Dave Foster and myself have just returned from what can only be described as some excellent angling, on the River Kennet Wasing fishery, River Test at Broadlands and River Wye on the Ross AC water. I had a total of 29 chub from the River Kennet best fish at 6-1-0 also another fish of 5-14-0 in 2 casts. I had a total of 7 chub over 5lbs, 9 barbel best at 8-12-0. It was some of the best fishing I've had for some time. Tackle was 12 foot Avon action rod, Mitchell 300 reel, 6lb line size 4 hook fishing crust, Palatrax cheese paste or sausage paste baits, most fish were caught on crust including 6-1-0 and 5-14-0 chub. Having said that in one session, all I had was one barbel about 6lbs. Sadly when Jeff fished with David and myself on the Sunday we didn't get a touch, in fact David and myself fished for 11 hours. The next day in the same area I got David a PB chub of 5lb 4 ounces I had barbel to 8lb 12 ounces followed by a chub of 5lb 4 ounces a different fish to David's and several other good chub. I also recorded an interesting interview with Martin Salter about his involvement with the Angling Trust. The next day David had 9 chub and 2 barbel his best barbel weighed in at 9lb 2 ounces. I had 4 chub over 5lbs the best at 5lb 7 ounces and five barbel averaging 6lbs

On the River Test where I was making a programme for my At The Water's Edge series I had a short session taking 8 good roach all over the pound mark on small pieces of bread flake on a size 12 hook. I just love catching roach. David fishing a well known chub swim caught 11 chub on legered crust

For our last days fishing on this trip we fished the River Wye Ross AC water, having baited my first choice swim with flavoured mash bread with chopped Palltrax multiworm boilies. I left the swim alone for about 3 hours, returning every thirty minutes or so to give the swim another top up. I then walked to the top of the beat to fish a delightful swim where a large oak tree over hung the water with many of its branches and root plunging into the water. Fishing with crust on a size 4 hook to 6lb line with just 2 LG shot lightly pinched on the line about 6 inches from the hook. During this morning session I caught 8 chub averaging 3lbs. After a nice lunch of eggs and bacon with some freshly baked wholemeal bread followed by a big mug of tea, I was ready for the second half. David had chosen to fish a swim about a mile downstream of myself where he had 11 good chub with a couple of four pounders all on legered crust. Returning to my first choice swim I had 2 barbel about 7lbs, quickly followed by a chub about 3lbs in the first thirty minutes. I then had a fishless hour with no sign of action. As I was thinking of going off to the car for a brew I spotted a slight movement on the rod tip, Picking up the rod I pushed it forward to create a bow in the line. Five minutes later as the bow started to tighten I set the hook into a good fish which turned out to be my first double figure barbel from River Wye weighing 11-6-0 . Just as the sun was starting to sink I hooked a very heavy fish which plodded around about five minutes before shedding the hook. I reckon it was a big barbel or carp. I will never know. What a great few days fishing.