11/12/2025 - A Good Days Angling

I found the river to my liking this morning high, fast, coloured with a water temperature 46 degrees F. Robin last week cleared some branches so I could get in a tight area that I have wanted to fish for some time. I also used extra-large bits of meat roughly the size of an old match box, hoping I would not be bothered by trout. My first bite come within 15 minutes of casting out, I had also decided not to fish an anchored bait but bounce down the water flow, hoping this way, I could cover a lot more water. I missed the first bite; the fish had bitten off big bit of the meat close to the hook. I had a second take some fifteen minutes later, which turned out to be a chub I estimated around 4lbs plus, I don't usually take photographs of fish under 5lbs.

Some twenty minutes later, I had a savage take where the rod was nearly pulled from my hand, all I could do was keep the power on as the fish move d off downstream, even taking line off the reel, even though I had my finger on the spool adding further pressure. This fish was the boss at this time all I could do was exert as much pressure as I though was possible, After several minutes I felt the fish was slowing up a bit, slowly I was able to gain back some line by lowering the rod, then pulling the fish upstream a bit before the head shaking started again, I was a long slow process of lowering the rod tip then lifting the rod at the same time getting line back on the reel, then come the danger of this fish getting in the tree roots or rushes to my left, I decided to move down to my right, this worked as I was able to keep the fish away from danger.

It wasn't easy as I was now standing on a slippery sloping bank. I then moved down a bit on a flat bit of bank where I was standing in about six inches of water. Some five minutes later, I got my first glimpse of the fish, as I had its head partially out of the water, also I'd got it into some slower water. I pushed the landing net out but had to bring it in closer to the bank as the force of the water was dragging the net downstream. Somehow by a lot of luck I was able to draw the fish in closer to the bank, then over the net. As I lifted the net I realised immediately it was a good chub by the length and weight. Before I started my day, I had laid out my weigh mat scales and weight bag, in case I got a good fish.

As the fish lay in the net I could see the size 4 hook in its bottom lip, being barbless, it was easy to take out the hook. Moving up the bank to where the scales where, I was soon able to get a weight of my adversary it weighed 5 lb 10 ounces, my best so far this winter, I reckon come late February it could well go 6lbs plus. In the next three hours I had three more chubs around the 4lbs mark, I also missed two good bites. I then had an hour with no sign of a bite; I decided that I would go off home well satisfied with my effort. I will be back again tomorrow.

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