Big Chub - Attempt No 3 (River Dane)

A mate of mine has been asking to do some winter chub fishing and we finally found a free slot to get together on the River Dane, which has been kind to me over the time of the Big Fish Diaries....

Although my mate Damian is an experienced angler, there was just no need to over complicate matters and medium feeder rods, 6lbs braided line, DIY SSG link ledgers and fluoro hooklengths to either size 4 or size 6 Kamasan hooks were our weapons of choice.  I have no doubt fishing smaller baits on the Dane would bring more bites/fish but much like a big pie draws in a fat lass passing Greggs, I have found that a massive chunk of Mighty White bread or Spam is just irresistable to big river chub.

Under strict instructions to only spend 40 mins max in each swim, my man started at one end of the beat while I kicked off in the pool at the upstream limit of the stretch.  I'd had quite a few plucks but nothing solid enough to strike at when we met in the pool at the middle of the beat.  I've never had even a bite in that pool over the years but would you believe after making my first cast after sitting down for a coffee and a catch up; the rod is ripped round with a violent take and I'm into a huge chub.

I'd just added a lump of plasticine to the link ledger in the hope of creating a bolt effect to convert one of the surprisingly nervous twitches that I've been getting all morning and we're away.  It's a nerve jangling and fierce scrap with the rod bent double and the drag giving line a few times before Damian slips the net under a very long lean chub that looks massive and easily over the magic 5lbs barrier....

It's a great fish and another chub PB but at 4lbs 14oz I'm a smidgeon short of 5lbs.  No matter, I'm chuffed to bits anyway though because it's a great fish and this tiny river keeps delivering quality fish time after time.

Damian has a grueler though, with no fish and with last failing and the winter cold really starting to bite he suggests that we pack up to meet some shooting mates at the "Battle Cruiser".  I've a final bar of gluten/dairy free chocolate to munch though so suggest one final cast into the pool that produced the biggie earlier on.

I'm a firm believer that it's not over till the fat lady sings in everything we do and so it proves again today with the belter below making his day as you can see from the grin!  His first chub ever at 4lbs 12oz - not a bad starter for ten...

Tight lines.

Mr Fish

Big Chub - Attempt No 2 (River Dane, Middlewich)

Had a few hours spare today so thought I'd grab some time with a roving rod on the River Dane at Middlewich on the Lymm card, to see if I could add to my PB of 4lbs 4oz; which also came from the Dane, a great small river chub venue.  There's been quite a bit of rain lately but the Dane seems to run off and clear quickly so I chance it...

Unfortunately, by rushing out of the door, I manage to leave all my bait in the garage so armed only with a loaf of thick cut white bread from the BP garage on the way to the stretch my tactics are decided by my incompetence.  It's mashed bread and a REALLY big chunk on the hook bounced around each swim, with only a swan shot and some plasticine to hold bottom, for only 20-40 mins max to try to tempt a big lump that normally sees boilies, luncheon meat or maggots fished static and/or next to feeders for hours on end.

There's some mad action in the second swim I try, with a 4 foot twitch of a bite and a 5 minute merry dance (with my 1.5lb test curve rod making no impression whatsoever) around a tree root strewn swim until the hook pulls out of what was either the British record chub or a decent barbel...

Not much point in staying in that swim, so I switch to a pool on a bend where my previous PB was caught and after only 10 mins there's some sharp plucks before a big drop back and the rod slamming over.  The big chub fight like crazy in the Dane, particularly on braided line and I'm both relieved and pleased after a strong fight to slide the net under a big fat fish that looks close to my PB.  Although I've no camera (in with the bait boxes sadly) luckily I do have a Salter spring balance that confirms a nice fish of 4lbs 6oz and a another new PB!

Great stuff, 3 hours of easy fishing, a PB and home for tea, medals and brownie points...

Cheers all

Mr Fish    


    

Big Chub Attempt No 1 (River Ribble)

My mate Andy from Yorkshire has arranged for us to do a day on the Ribble. I met him when horrendously pished one night in Harrogate - he had the misfortune of cabbing me back to my mates gaff in Ripon. Stroke of luck though, as he's a top river coarse angler and swapping a bigger fare for a day's barbel fishing a few years back produced by first barbel and still my pb of 8lbs 3oz from the River Swale.

I've only fished the Ribble once before and lost a couple of Barbel in the jagged bedrock on the bottom in the Tickled Trout section. It's a very cold day but lovely and bright when I get there - looks great to have a good chance of cracking my chub pb of 4lbs 4oz from the Dane.....and then in comes the 50 year storm. Rain, rain and more rain....

One proper pull on cheese paste all day and a few tiny knocks. The fish are just not having it, which isn't surprising after the river turned from gin clear to chocolate in the first hour. Another blankety blank and a cold no doubt on the way. Think I need an easy day in the sun to get the enthusiasm going again.

Cheers

Mr Fish