I had a week booked off for the second week of September which I had been looking forward to after a busy summer at work. I was hoping that with the school holidays over that perhaps the banks would be that little bit quieter for my planned sessions. The first couple of short sessions before and after days out with Corli were not productive as only a few fish around the 1 lb mark graced the net.
I had to return to work for a day before a few planned sessions back on Beat 2. In one particular swim I discovered a decent group of chub; since finding them I’d been spending most of my time while on the stretch sight fishing for them when conditions were suitable. When I arrived at opening time, I peered into the swim and the chub were in the usual area. I dropped a few baits onto the gravel depression a rod length out along with my hook bait noting its position among the freebies. The game of cat and mouse began when the chub started grazing over the bait, an opportunity came within 30 minutes as a chub picked up the bait. Although on this occasion the strike was met with nothing as I pulled the bait out of its mouth! This style of fishing can be frustrating when you mess up your chance! The game was restarted as a few more baits along with the hook bait were repositioned in an area the fish seemed to be more confident in taking the baits, which was just on the edge of the polished gravel. Another hour passed while the chub nipped in and out of the swim before a fish slowly moved up to my hook bait. I made no mistakes this time, as soon as the bait disappeared I struck and before long a chub was resting in the net.
5 lb 5 oz – September 2018
Once a fish is hooked or lost, it can take quite some time for the shoal to return, usually in fewer numbers and they become much more cautious. I fed a few baits while I rested the chub in the net as I sorted the camera and scales before returning it upstream.
On this outing the capture of a shoal mate didn’t spook them and soon they were back grubbing around searching out the boilies. Every now and then a bream would nip in with them and take the baits, so when my hook bait disappeared into its mouth I could not resist striking. After a slightly feistier fight than I was expecting, I realised it was a battle scarred hybrid.
4 lb 12 oz hybrid – September 2018
I managed another chub from the same swim, although this was a recapture of a upper four. After that the rest of the shoal finally disappeared, so I called an end to the session.
The following morning I was back in the same swim, hoping to trick one of the better fish in the shoal which I’d found. During a conversation with a friend, he mentioned trying only the hook bait in the spot with no freebies. On arrival there were chub knocking about, so after waiting for the swim to be devoid of fish, I dropped my hook bait onto a darker patch above the polished gravel and waited. Several times fish approached the bait, but they were very suspicious and when one did pick it up I messed up my strike! Not to be beaten, I started the process again, this time I made no mistakes as a fish approached slowly before devouring its meal. The strike was met with the unmistakable head shake of an angry chub and after some attempts trying to find sanctuary in the remaining weed beds the fish was safely in the net.
5 lbs 12 oz – September 2018
I decided to move to another area of the stretch after that capture, to a swim I’d been fishing on occasion over the last two seasons. I baited with some freebies before casting my light link ledger down and across. The rig had settled for less than 20 minutes before a tentative bite was met with a swift strike. The culprit turned out to be a one for the future. I decided it may not be alone, so I hooked on a fresh bait before casting onto the spot and as the rig landed a few more baits went over the top. With the rod resting on my knee I watched the tip like a hawk and as it flickered. I followed the first sign of the pick up with the rod before setting the hook. This fish felt better and after some bullying my third chub of the morning was on the mat.
4 lbs 5 oz – September 2018
My next swim had been baited and rested, but I missed my chance as the strike was met with nothing and the fish got away with its meal. After that I had an early finish.
The following day I had a social with a friend on the Royalty and although we saw a few fish we both scored a blank so when the banks became busier we packed in at lunchtime.
My final session of my break was another short one back on Beat 2 again out to sight fish. The first to slip up was a 4 lbs 10 oz chub. After another hour gaining the few of the remaining chubs confidence another nice fish made its mistake and was soon resting on the mat.
5 lbs 12 oz – September 2018
Refreshed after having four days away from the river, I decided on a late start on my next outing. With my banker spot taken, it was about time I had a look elsewhere on the stretch for some new shoals to target. The area I chose had a varied selection of swims fairly close, so with that it in mind I trickled some bait into all but one because it was occupied. I settled into my first spot, although the presence of a couple of jack pike ruined my chances of getting the few chub to feed confidently. I moved to my second spot and on the first cast I hooked and landed another hybrid, which after closer inspection of the photos turned out to be the same fish I caught the week before. Although, I it had some fresh battle scars. With the the other angler leaving the stretch, I looked at the swim that he had fished knowing that he’d caught a 5 lbs 7 oz fish earlier on. I wasn’t confident of extracting another, even though there were still some chub, again there were pike in the swim which did not help. With it approaching prime time, I moved back to my second spot and I had two chub in quick succession before packing up.
Biggest of two 4 lbs 6 oz – September 2018
Two days later I was back for a late morning till dusk session in the same area. It was hard work again, although I could locate the chub the jack pike were spoiling the party. I did hook one chub during the afternoon, which piled through the mass of bulrushes mid river snapping the hook link in the process. It wasn’t until gone 6 pm, when I had a chub from an area I’d spent quite a while trying to entice a bite. This fish went 3 lbs 5 oz. I decided to move back to the swim where I’d been done over, this time fishing straight through on 8 lb line. I had a few knocks before finally hooking another powerful chub. This fish really fought well in the tight swim trying to bury itself in the mid river bulrush beds again, but having beefed up the gear I managed to turn it before it could really get embedded. Soon I had a pristine chub on the mat. After returning the fish to fight another day, I headed home.
5 lbs 9 oz – September 2018
The following week I had my second blank of the season on Throop. I wasn’t that surprised, because the temperature had plummeted overnight to a chilly 2°C. I did have one chance late morning which I lost. My second outing that week on another stretch also ended in another blank despite fishing the prime swims into dark.
My final short session after work into dark produced one bite on the first cast at the end of the week on the a stretch closer to home.
4 lbs 13 oz one bite, first cast – September 2018
Fish Tales From The Riverbank 