The Dorset Stour at Wimborne June 2018
After my last session I had some time away from the river to recharge my mind and body as the early season manoeuvres had taken their toll. After a good rest, I set off fresh and ready after a late lunch to tackle a stretch that I’d blanked on two days earlier. The weather was overcast with a nice breeze from the south west and not too hot, although the cloud was going to clear later that day. The area I started in was last year’s banker on the stretch and I’d been trickling bait in for a couple of weeks whenever I’d been walking the bank. I hadn’t fished it on the last outing, as I’d been beaten to it by a friend while I was resting it. Although he didn’t catch anything on that occasion, I knew they were about because I’d seen the shoal. Today the swim was empty of fish when I had a look, although I had spotted one chub when it drifted down from the above weed beds while I walked between swims baiting some other spots.
I made my cast down toward the cover which the chub usually sit under and waited for a response. When the bite did come, it was a tentative one and I struck into thin air! Confident of a fish willing to feed in the middle of the day, I made another cast this time focused, it had only been in the water for 5 minutes before I had a much more positive take when the tip pulled twice before I connected. The chub used the current to its advantage: it kitted toward the tangle of branches that it called home, applying side strain I kept it from finding sanctuary in the snags. Soon enough it was resting in the net. I’d not caught anything over 4 lb 14 oz from this swim in the past and this felt that little bit heavier. Luckily I’ve brought some new scales that weigh in half ounces and it came in handy for confirming this chub’s weight.
Half an ounce over 5 lb June 2018
The swim has only ever done a brace once for me in the past, so I decided to move as soon as that fish had been returned. My next spot is an area I’d also been trickling bait in over the last few weeks and today was the first time I was fishing it this season. It has rarely produced any chub to my rod, although it had a good track record for concealing the odd lump. I was happy to be in the shade of a willow on my bank as the sun was getting warm and decided that although I’d only baited it 30 minutes ago I’d give it a bash. I cast the rig toward a deep hole mid-river with some bait over the top, the rod was placed in the rests. While I was getting a drink I saw the tip twitch, at first I thought that I’d missed my chance. The rod top started to bounce violently as the fish practically hooked itself. The fish swam toward me but it didn’t actually ‘kick’ until it was right under my bank, it felt like I was playing a dead weight before it rolled dangerously close to a clump of reeds. I kept it from harm’s way while it plodded around in the shallow water under my bank before being netted. When I lifted it onto the mat I knew it was a good fish, but being so early in the season I wasn’t sure if it would be over the magical number.
A summer beauty June 2018
I organised the scales with the wet sling before a reading of 6 lb 4 oz was noted. After pictures she swam off strongly. I carried on fishing for a couple more hours in a few other swims upstream without another touch to my rod, so I decided to pack in well before sunset happy with my return for an afternoon spent on the bank.
Fish Tales From The Riverbank 