Monday 31 December 2018

A Tough 'Test' of Tackle


I have definitely lost my fishing mojo this year having only been out on a handful of sessions but, Martin and Andy persuaded me that the annual end of year trip to the wonderful chalk streams of Hampshire was an absolute must. I'm glad they succeeded.


This year we changed venue but we were still on the famous river Test, the Godfather of all the chalk streams. Much lower downstream than last year so as well as the Grayling and Trout there was the chance of some good coarse fish. 
I plonked myself into the first likely looking swim, dispatched a few handfuls of mashed bread and when the float dipped on the second trot through I struck in almost misbelief. I expected bottom as I was still working out the various depths but the rod bucked and a powerful fish in the strong flow gave me quite a scrap. As it is a new venue I had no idea what I was attached to but when it made several bids for the nearside snags the culprit could only be a Chub.


What a start to the day, 5lb 1oz of chunky Chub, I collared Martin in the next peg for photo duties.


The big man was soon back in my swim with a large Brownie worthy of a mugshot, out of season so it went back unweighed.


What followed was a fabulous day's sport with four more Chub all over four pounds...


A surprising amount of river Bream the biggest of which I weighed at 4lb 4oz...


The unavoidable Trout, all Brownies and a pb which I shouldn't have weighed but it was over four pounds


A couple of deer grazed nonchalantly over the far side...


when the float dipped and I struck into something completely different from anything previously hooked during the day.



My first thoughts were Salmon but it stayed low so I changed my mind to Barbel....


Martin went click-happy with the camera taking plenty of shots of the fight...


and finally after more than twenty minutes I slipped the net under a stunning Carp. Not what I suspected in this fast flowing river, they really are everywhere!

The smile hides the relief



Not the biggest Carp I have ever caught but a stunner in all her winter glory and she 'test'ed all my skills on three pound line, a trotting rod and fast water. 


One of New Years resolution is definitely more Angling like this!!

4 comments:

  1. A cracking day by the looks of it Joe !!!

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  2. What a stunning carp too Joe, find that mojo. Be good to see you back amongst them. Tight lines.

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