A good feed

Date fished 30/07/2024

8am until 11am

You didn't think I was just talking about the fish getting the feed!? They did though, when we packed up, a fair bit of left over bait went in. What the swans didn't eat would be putting pounds on the chub. 

When we woke up, I told Ellis I was tired after yesterday's excursions in the heat. He replied with, "yeah, those of us that battled barbel have a sore arm too!!" 

An early breakfast, Ellis got his clothes from 'the wardrobe' and we headed back to the town stretch. Starting where we ended on Sunday, I caught 4 small chub in a few casts. 

Ellis headed downstream and waded out to the middle. It was actually shallower mid river than some of the margins. I joined him and he started catching, I must be his lucky poacher! 

We fed hard and soon he was catching chublets, dace and bleak a plenty. I caught a few more but didn't trouble the score board. 

As we walked back to the car over the bridge, we spotted 20 chub cruising in the sun. A few were 4lb plus. 

A great end to 3 days away. We have talked about 'next time', just need to get it booked. Shotgun the bridge swim!! (At both venues)

Too hot, too sunny, Two barbel

Date fished 29/07/2024

8am until 8pm 

A day at Aramstone today. High twenties forecast with bright sunshine. We got our excuses in early. 

Not as early as breakfast though. A full cooked breakfast at 7am in the pub and we were ready to go around 7.30. A stop to buy lunch and we were at the fishery by 8am. The fishery is a quick Google if you want to know more, but most people know as this........

I have many more like this! 

We (carefully) drove the entire length of the beat. Only stopping when I saw three chub swimming past. By the time Ellis stopped the car, I had counted 14. By the time we got out the car, we spotted over 25 chub circling around an overhanging tree. They might be targeted later, we thought! 

Ellis was unpacking his gear. I was already cast in and ledgering a 15mm Robin red pellet. The rod hooped over and I played the fish towards me. Annoyingly it dislodged the barbless number 10. When Ellis was ready we waded across the fast water and targeted the fish from above. It was very fast and I didn't quite get the angle right, Ellis preserved and landed two of three hooked chub. All whilst I lost another on the ledger!! It was going to be one of those days for me when the excuses are needed. 

As the day got hotter and brighter, I wondered about those 25 chub. Could they be my blank saver? 

We liked the scenery 

We walked up to them and they were still just hanging out. A float fished piece of meat soon disappeared and I had my fish!! Deeply hooked, I tried to unhook it with my finger. The bugger bit me!! It's pharyngeal teeth crushing my pinkie and drawing blood. I guess that was fair!? 

Deciding to wade to another area, I had already removed my waders. Not to worry on a day like this. I waded in my socks and they were soon dry! 

Walking back to the car, it was now boiling. We decided to sit in the shade, away from the river and just chat. We went through all the baits I had brought and finally realised we should be making rigs. So we drank a beer and tied some hooks! 

At 4pm we carried on fishing. We were feeding the area quite heavily, which definitely got the fish responding. Plenty of crashing about on their behalf. Plenty of snagged gear for us! The area was so rocky. We both lost gear but were getting bites, so we persisted. 

Ellis was rewarded at 5pm as his rod hooped over and his first Wye barbel lay in the net. 

5lb 10oz

He lost another one, but at 7pm he was rewarded again. This time 7lb 6oz. A new pb. Well done mate!!! 

The pb was met with a refreshing reward. 

I jumped in Ellis's swim and even used his rod as I had been snagged and lost my gear. I gave it 45 mins but nothing. As I reeled in, I was snagged again. A broken hooklink my reward!! 

Probably

Date fished 28/07/2024

12.30 until 7pm 

280 miles from home to todays venue. The mighty River Wye. 

A 4.30 alarm and I met Ellis outside his house at 6.30am. An impromptu wee spot for me (obvs) and we were soon in Ross on Wye. Our accommodation for the next two nights being the White Lion. 

A quick trip to the shops to buy (liquid) lunch and we were  soon on the river. We walked most of the stretch and found a peg we could both fish in.  First cast for Ellis and he was in. A bleak, followed by a million more. I cast in, my first bleak, so a pb. Followed by a million more. Maybe some dace, but I think mostly bleak. 

We watched some perch chasing silvers around, they didnt want maggots though. Ellis decided to change to meat to avoid them. He fished hard for a while with a few bites but with no luck. The sun and heat were relentless. Ellis decided to go and get some bits from the car. I switched to meat and caught a small chub second cast, I wont relay the message Ellis replied!! 

We fished on with no luck. A local came to chat to us and told us about a different swim where "100lb of chub" was possible. We moved there!! 

Hemp, casters, meat, sweetcorn and maggots all fired in on the perfect line. I followed this up with float fished meat. The float buried three times and three more chub were added to my tally. 

Ellis caught a chub too. We had a successful day, probably....

Four of these, I consumed. 

No Words, just pics. Arty Farty and best of the rest

No words, just pics. Barbel