Chubber

Well just in case...... the title is about the fish

not the angler!!

Saturday gave me Phil and Mike a chance to

visit some new water.
It was a bit of a drive but on reflection

once I had recovered from the drive

worth the effort. Phil often says I have

a knowledge of Chub, I take that as a

complement, because they are spooky

fish and even though they " as the name

suggests" have a reputation for being

greedy they can take some fooling at

times.

I say the tip was worth it on reflection for

several reasons. The first it makes me more

appreciative of the good rivers we have close

to home. The second is that on my first visit

I can take a 5lb Chub on the float, my as I

called it in the last post " Faith" in spotting

a decent swim improves on each visit to a

new river. I think that the skill is only acquired

after years on or in the water, I truly hope I

have the time to learn much much more.

My thoughts as I left seemed to be

"It's a long way"

"Is it worth it?"

Today I sort of think another visit with a

longer time to spend would be nice. After

all a few Chub one of 5lb on the first visit

in low water may just show the potential.

On the Friday I took my total to 21

thanks to a little Stickle Back

Faith

You can read a more detailed account of

Sundays outing on Phils blog .................

http://flyandclassiccoarse.blogspot.com/

My summary goes a little like this.

I visited this part of the river over

our very cold winter period. I only

had a few fish but the ones I did get

seemed to be of a better stamp than

lower down. I put this down in the

end to the very cold weather, although

I had concerns about the amount of

predatory birds. I now still have the

concerns. While the odd big Grayling

can be found, fish of under a pound are

sadly scarce. A complete absence of

Dace in water that should hold them

in high numbers and no small Chub

either is a worry.

We fished the first pool, I have had

a couple of fish one of which pushed 2lb.

Also I have lost a couple of good fish.

I had told Phil this and I think he wanted

to get a good Grayling. Although we had

a few Trout we struggled a little.

I had spotted a good ripply glide in

winter, which had a barbed wire fence

in the middle of it making it un fish-able.

So I took Phil and it looked spot on.........

after one trout, I think he was loosing faith

in the water I had targeted, but he stuck with

it and reaped the rewards with a 1lb12oz fish.

I managed a few Trout and also got Chub taking

Crust although I somehow managed not to hook

one. I will give this area another try but I'm a little

worried. A family of Goosander as we left only added

to my concern.

The list

The list, we have a little list going of the fish

we can catch this year it's a sort of laugh tinged

with "micky taking" You get a new species it's

just dropped into conversation!!

My chances would seem limited as I mostly

fish rivers. This still brings me a few fish

though and a couple of the harder ones.

The hardest was my lucky Salmon!!

So the running waters brought me

Salmon

Sea Trout

Brown Trout

Grayling

Roach

Chub

Dace

Barbel

Minnow

Stone Loach

Bull Head

While my few visits to the still waters

Brought me .........

Perch

Gudgeon

Bream

Tench

Crucian

Rudd.

So I needed to make the most of yesterdays visit

with my Dad to Beacon view a stocked still water.

I added Ide and also caught a golden orfe the

ornamental variety of the same fish.

The king carp sorted with Mirror and Common

again just one on the list.

Also a Brown Goldfish so another three.

It may get hard now as the remaining species

I don't really fish for. So for the moment

I will bask in the the fact I have caught 20

species of fish.

Forget Me Not

I first visited the river Dane as a little

lad. I remember walking down to the

river with my Dad, on reaching it saying

"How do we get over the stream Dad, to

reach the river?" When we saw someone

fishing we could not believe it!! What was

even harder to believe was the quality fish

we went on to catch over the following years.

The little river has taught me so much

about fishing and rivers in general.

When the Dane is low and clear it's

like your own wild aquarium. Time

spent on her banks allows you the

privileged glimpse of river life.
I had took Phil on the Dane a few years back,

the promise of a Grayling and also knowledge

that he would appreciate this little gem.

It was with the same thoughts as I approached

the river with Pete. For us a new river or swim

is like being a kid again, It's not just about what

we catch but what we may catch, the challenge

of reading the water. The bend on the rod is

just the icing on the cake. It's been great to see

the faces of my fishing mates when they have

seen these little treasures, and when the first

run has brought the promised fish the gift has

more than been repaid by the big smiles.
The weather was warm and the river low

and clear, still sparkling though and full of

promise. Even though less than a mile away

from the every day bustle of man. We felt

we were in our own wilderness I'm sure the

last float to run down that glide would have

been my own last year. So we fished I think

Pete would have watched his float run down

that first glide quite happily all night.

After a couple of fish and a lot of coaxing

I did get him to wander a little. It was worth it

as he caught a good Grayling of a pound or so.
We had the most lovely evening even the battle

through the scrub is part of the adventure.

The final yards before you burst through

to the river is still full of wonder.

The Dane changes so much a glide that

held fish last year may not this, even worse

the glide may not even exist. The upside

that many new ones are created.
The plague of Minnows did not hamper

us much, the cold winter may have hit

the numbers?? It makes 16 on the list!!
I promised myself a couple of years back, that

I would take in more my fishing and the rivers

that I visit. I may of wrote this before, I sort

of was thinking of the good times with my

Dad, and it struck me that the last time

we made our way back to the car some years

ago he probably would have thought he would

be back, some weeks later, maybe months

but life's not like that. Every time I leave now

I say my own little thanks ,

"I'm appreciative of the Time"

I finished the evening with the perfect

fish for this water the Lady of the stream!!

Two happy anglers ready for next time .....

"God willing!!"

Fast Water Faster Fish

We could not resist another visit to the river.

Fast water is a must in these low conditions.

Several reasons better oxygen levels, meaning

more fish and in better condition once landed.

It also makes for an exciting fast fight on the rod.

Mike had wanted a Barbel and with not another

angler in sight we went on and had a cracking

evenings sport. Mike was set up in a flash and

his first run brought a Chub over 4lb and in

great nick.

A string of Chub, Dace, Trout and Barbel

followed. I left Mike to enjoy his fishing

and explored a little. I was soon glad I did

for I found some great float water and a string

of Chub all over 3lb and a couple pushing 5lb.

The best fish was a great Dace which I lost at

the net, or should that be I should have netted it.
After some of the best fishing in years the swim

died. So another bit of water which I had noted

was fished.
I think it could be a glide that holds some big fish,

half an hour brought me a decent Grayling, a good

Chub and another Barbel. Another great outing.

You wouldn't Salmon n Eve it!!

I could go on and tell you how me and Pete

ended up with an hour or so on the Ribble.

I could then tell you how he hooked a Salmon

(looked a big one) and how I landed the one

above. If I did though you would think I had

been drinking or the sun had got to me!!!

For the ones who know Pete I would ask

him, still can't believe it my self.

Anyway cross another off the list Mike.

That Special Time Again

As a lad I can remember, that feeling of

going to bed knowing the day after we

could fish the rivers. I thought that I

would not sleep. It was like Christmas

for me the 16th . The thing is now I'm

older Christmas is more a time for my

kids, yes I still love it but that magic

feeling is not the same as in youth.

Not to worry though because the truth

is the night before the river opens to run

a float down every pool and glide fills me

with childhood dreams.
So it was off to the river, a glorious day

no rain for weeks and every word seemed

to point out that we stood little chance of

a fish. Well I have listened before and

to be honest I think although harder you

can have some great sport on the stick that

other methods don't bring.
I think roaming the river wading, watching

and of coarse the odd cast learns you so much.

When you mix in the fly fishing, pre coarse season,

the river gives up just a glimpse of her many secrets,

enough for you to understand the likely spots that bring

the occasional bending of the rod.

It was great to see Phil find a good spod of

fish. I had weighed a few places up while out

on the fly and this was one, I did not need to

tell him though, which shows how at home he

is on a river. This is a swim that many would

walk past and think "no chance" well he's one

up on those. I would say the mix of the long trot

and fly makes for a more complete river angler.

I do know it brings us more than enough to keep

us very happy.

It was Chub, Trout, Barbel and Trout

for most of the day the best an 8lb Barbel

to Phil I took one over 6 and some good

Chub the best over 5lb
I had walked off to fish with Mike who's

day was cut short by work commitments.

He had fished earlier and had a lot of trout

he moved to avoid them and at one point

became duck rescuer. While I was down

river Phil had his biggest fish but no trophy

shot. He soon put it rite though.

A great day and happy anglers.