Rupe's chub

This post is not about Rupe putting on weight, or indeed going to the gym or making some kind of protein milkshake concoction in my special beer glass. It's about him trying to catch a chub as I guaranteed him I could help him....

Its been a few trips in the making, starting some years ago (sept 2021) when we went to the Swale with my dad. Rupe caught a crayfish that day and declared that was a fish - Fishin' Impossible: Tired out

Then all subsequent Swale trips that were masked by grayling, trout or pike were actually chub trips too! There have been 4 blanks on the chub front. 

Fishin' Impossible: Junior anglers

Fishin' Impossible: Minn-ho ho ho

Fishin' Impossible: Dork hat

Fishin' Impossible: Catching salad

12/7/2025 - 90 mins

A hot day and evening meant we could not be arsed with driving to the Swale. 

Trying to buy a local day ticket was 'awkward' but we managed to visit the Tyne. 

Rupe fished meat and bread flake alternating for an hour and a half in the evening. It was certainly pleasant sat in the shade as the paddle boarders went up and down. No chub though!

A trip to the Swale end of July and it happened - 27/7 - 7am until 1pm

Well, it would of if it wasn't for dad to muck it up.  

We fished the Swale again, all three of us. Two rods. Meat and worm - the worm just got attacked by small stuff and the meat just sat. Eventually some local advice arrived and put us on the potential for a pull. Rupe crept into position and cast mid river, the flow took the bait under the tree and we waited. It wasn't long and the rod began to twitch, I was so excited I shouted at Rupe to strike. He obliged, but far too early and the chub was gone. I mean, it might have been a barbel - who knows. 

We kept on but nothing came back, another blank on the chub front, but a minnow, called Gary (obvs) got impaled on our hook. He went back strongly though. I swear, I will get Rupe to catch his chub this calendar year!

1/11/2025

7am until 10am

I woke Rupe up by switching his bedroom light on. We had agreed a gentle shake does not work and he usually goes back to sleep. Cup of tea, homemade sausage muffin and we were off. Wanting to put everything 'down by my feet' said rupe, I let him pack the car. 

We had not left Hexham and he was fiddling with the radio. November must mean one thing. Heart Xmas! Over an hour of nonsense, but we did get a spaceman and a fairytale! 

Travelling light it was a quick scamper to the river. It was high but fishable and looked good. We started in the swim we ended in last time and started to fish. The cheesepaste we made last night was ledgered on the crease towards the over hanging willows. 

Nothing here, we moved on. 

The sun was warm but blinding. we moved on. 

We came to my usual spot. I helped my dad and Tom catch their first Swale chubs from a particular peg. I tackled up a 7ft rod and shepherded Rupe to the swim. He has fished it before, but would today be different? 

"I've got one dad!" I heard, as I checked the photos on my phone. 

I scrambled down behind him, with a near useless net and scooped up his prize. For a first ever Chub, it looked a beauty! 

At 5lb exactly, we were both over the moon. We rested it and watched it slowly swim down and through the weed. 

Was there time for me to try in the first swim again, if I could only pry the rod out his hands!!??

Not a chance! 

Close to home

Date fished 1/12/2024

8am until 1:30pm

Man flu and Man City (visiting Anfield) today meant I was limited with my fishing options. I decided to stay close to home, closer than the lake at Ryton, I was going to fish the Tyne. 

I put some feelers out and was given a particular location, this worked well as given I walk along that river a lot, it was the swim I was going to fish anyway. I bought myself a day ticket from the council website, a random £10.19. I was going to target the chub so took meat, cheese paste and bread and the 7ft ledger rod. Scared I might need a minnow as the blank saver, I took the float rod, closed face and frozen maggots as back up. 

I left the house at 7.45am and walked the mile to the river. It was just getting light and looked so perfect when I arrived. So perfect in fact, that I didn't waste time to take a pic, but cast straight in. This was later and you can see it still looked lovely. 

First cast and nothing happened, I tried again. Second cast and the rod pulled round, I struck and played the fish. On the little rod, its sometimes difficult. I cursed this small rod as the fish got off. It's perfect in tight swims behind a bush, maybe not so on the wide river Tyne!

I cast again. Over the next hour I missed 7 bites. they ranged from savage pulls that I missed to smaller plucks that I hit and played the fish. None resulted in a capture. 

Frustrated, I changed the hook from a hair rigged cork ball to a plain hook. I moulded the cheese paste to the hook and cast it back into the zone. As sure as eggs are eggs, the rod pulled round and I was in. This time, I connected and played the rubber lips to the waiting net. Success!

2lb 11oz, so not massive but immaculate. My first ever Tyne fish, I was buzzing. I cast back in and waited, this is where the blog could end, but I will keep writing even if you don't keep reading. 

I trotted with maggots but the float remained above the water. I did move downstream to ledger in some likely looking spots behind bushes and the like, but nothing else happened. I had caught a Tyne chub, success!!, is that not enough!??!

Four legged and two legged visitors came down the steps to see what "fishing" was. They mostly left disappointed and bored without full tummies of my bait. A slice of pizza keeping me going just long enough till home time. 

I walked home happy with a stinky net, lets hope Liverpool will do the business later and make the net bulge!