Monday 14 January 2013

It was worth it

Overnight snow was forecast and the weathergirls got it spot on. Two extremely excited children running around the house woke us up early and they insisted on making a snowman before school. I did the right thing and obliged, after a coffee!
The next delay in my mission to get to the river bank came in the form of a family friend in need of a jump start, luckily he lives in the next village to the stretch of river I had in mind so I loaded the gear and set off on a rescue mission.
When I finally made it water side it had started to rain, heavily-also forecast. Now rain does not bother me but snow melt bothers fish so I cast out knowing that the chance of sport would be now and it would dwindle as the day went on and the river filled up.
Chub were the target, what else in these conditions? and I had a batch of freshly made cheese paste to tempt them with. Simple running rig, 4lb line and size 10 paste hook.
Cheese paste can be a hit and miss bait, Chub love it if it stays on the hook but the bites can be lightning fast and missable. I missed a few before finally connecting and a slow, dogged determined fight ensued. I was sitting atop a steep bank with the main part of the flow directly below meaning that when I got the fish to the net it wasn't easy to guide it in, I managed at the second attempt. As I peeked into the net I could see an old warrior of a Chub, it had been round the block several times but it was a big fish. I let her recover while I sorted out the scales. My personal best was a 5lb 8oz fish caught over twenty years ago from the River Ure in Yorkshire.
Floppy haired teenager catches big Chub
I never thought I would beat that mark with a fish from the Warwickshire Avon. I have caught plenty of 'fours' and some small 'fives' but I was elated when the scales pulled down to 5lb 12oz. I was cold, wet through but couldn't care less, new pb.
It would have been a 'six' in it's heyday but that was definitely some time ago!
Nothing more came from the swim so I went for a wander to warm up more than anything else. I tried several more swims without success, the snow melt was killing sport and to make it worse the sun came out to melt some more.
I fished on but only because it was a lovely change to have the sun on my back but the pb Chub remained the only fish caught today.

17 comments:

  1. Excellent Joe, well done mate. That's a right old warrior of a chub, love those old characters

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  2. Well done Joe, nice to get a new pb and sound reward for your effort!

    The story is very interesting for me as I have been thinking of targeting the chub this year myself. Having not fished for them for years I want to have a crack at them again. Interestingly my pb chub came from the Ure as a teenager too and that was around five and a half pound. I'm going to go back this year but this time armed with my lures! If I can get anywhere near my pb I'll be happy.

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  3. Thanks Rob, looked better in the flesh
    Wow small world Paul, whereabouts did you catch your pb, mine was just above North bridge in Ripon, about where the new by pass crosses, guess the swim is not there now, daren't look!
    good luck with the lures, looking forward to seeing the results

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  4. Well done Joe, that looks a real bruiser of a Chub, congratulations on the new pb mate.

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  5. Thanks Mark, I see your pic everywhere I look at the moment, Facebook, blogger, angling times, Bfw, nice one.

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  6. Well done Joe that does look like a proper Chub and always nice to see a 5lb pluser on the bank, congrats on your new PB!

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    1. Thanks James, not a common occurrence from our Avon so am well pleased

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  7. A superb chub! Congratulations!

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  8. Can't beat the old Stanley flask Joe. Mine's a bit more beat up than yours though. A good £5's-worth from a car boot.

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    1. Christmas present David, my old one has gone smelly

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  9. Sorry if you thought I meant yours Joe. Mine was a car boot buy.

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  10. Congratulations Joe, Great result in difficult conditions

    Darren

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