After the rain of Sunday where we had a welcomed 12mm but no where near enough to help us out for the spring and summer.

I looked at the river after the rain on Sunday and it hadn’t risen much and was quite clear. So I was shocked to find a very coloured river when arriving for a short afternoon session. I had wanted to trot maggots through for the chub, but with the conditions as they were it was going to be difficult. I met Clive (who is an excellent barbel angler) and his dog on my walk back to the car. He too was surprised by the height and colour of the river. My guess was that the water temperature had dropped too otherwise I would have fished for barbel.

So I jumped into the car and drove the 10 miles or so upstream to the upper river where I hoped the river was slightly clearer. Sure enough it was, but only just. A friend Bob was just packing up as I arrived and all he had caught was one chub on worm. So at least they are feeding.

Not only were the river conditions difficult there was a tricky gusty wind blowing upstream which made float presentation problematical. Never mind it was a case of getting out on the river and doing the best I could.

So not a bad session and at least I had my string pulled a good few times.

Having just returned from a holiday in Mexico where the temperatures were 28c it wasn’t so bad to go fishing today at a warm and pleasant 13c. A trip to Keynsham Angling centre and two pints of red maggots I was ready for a short afternoon session on the river. We had no appreciable rain […]

Well I should be fishing in the surf on the beach in Cape Verde today, however after two days somewhere in the Midlands hanging around waiting for the green light for the flight the holiday has been cancelled. Sand Storms from Africa has caused the problems. Oh Bugger. Wasting little time I decided to fish the Bristol […]

The night was not as cold as I expected. I woke to -0.5c and clear skies. Well I woke at 6.45am then the next thing it was 7.15am and time to see Martine for some maggots. Later after a new batch of 6 pints I was off down to the Stour again. My thoughts were […]

The plan was to fish for two days this week however the forecast was for sub-zero temperatures. As I set off down the Bristol, Wylye  then the H.Avon valley the outside temperatures read -3c on the car display. I pulled into the car park where I met Mike another angler who was down for the […]

Well after another good nights sleep in Ringwood I was around to see Martine in Avon Angling to pick up another 6 pints of red maggots. I had decided to try the Throop beat two stretch again today. The weather was a perfect overcast and dull with little wind. I decide to fish one of […]

I feel terrible about not fishing Willow lake for those huge roach but the chub fishing conditions have been perfect on the D.Stour and H.Avon for the last month. Low clear. I have a saying in winter“low and clear chub are here, up and brown the barbel are around”. Well it’s been low and clear […]

I had guided David on several occasions in the past mainly during the summer. He had caught tench over 6lbs and a barbel over 8lbs on his last visits and now wanted to catch some chub. The stretch I was taking him to doesn’t hold huge fish but can produce them over 5lbs. Just a […]

I’ve been thinking for quite sometime about fishing for the chub on the lower Bristol Avon. Earlier in the week I walked a section which does hold some good fish. Last year a 6lbs 14oz chub was caught in a match so I do know that they are there. With the river being low and […]

I was still planning for my campaign to Willow lake in Oxfordshire in search of those gigantic roach that live there. However some feedback was proving that they haven’t started to feed properly just yet. With the conditions being just spot on for the chub on the Dorset Stour it was here that I decided to […]