A difficult day on the H.Avon, however a couple of 4’s and 5’s save the day.

I had almost forgot this post.

Monday I arrived to strong winds and difficult conditions. The less to be said about the day the better. Two grayling was the end result.

Tuesday wasn’t going to be much better as the day saw plenty of other anglers on the water. I felt uncomfortable as it was impossible to move around the fishery. I caught a couple chub on the float first thing however not much else. Mark Woodage was down fishing with Martin a mate of his.

Feeling not “in the mood” for some reason, you know when things don’t look right, although they were perfect. I was in two minds and then another two minds then again another. So my head was full of stuff however I couldn’t sort it out. Sometimes it happens, but not often. I wandered trying several different swim and the wind and conditions confused me for sure.

Martin and Mark settled in one swim which would protect them from the north winds. Martin like to fish for pike and sure enough he was in the right swim.

I went down and talked to the both of them. Martin caught a few pike while Mark fished a swim that held some good chub. It was difficult for him.

Martin was the first to get a pike which looked like a small jack. I talked to Mark as my mind wasn’t made up where to fish.

I wandered off and in the distance I saw Martin hook another pike, play and land. He was happy as I think it was his third pike of the day.

I returned and took a photo for Martin, not the best but he was happy enough.

I couldn’t settle so headed upstream to another stretch on another club ticket. I wanted to fish for a while after dark with cheese paste.

I arrived just in time for Mark to phone me to say I had left my landing net behind. Gurrr!!

 

Returning with my landing net a few free offerings were introduced as I set up the tackle. The rod was my favorite Korum two piece river rod with a 1oz quiver tip and 6lb line straight through. with a 6g weight. I was using a hair hooking the paste on a cork ball to help with balancing the paste so that it would be taken confidently.

The predicted rain and wind had started to arrive and I had to put up a brolly to keep me warm and dry. There was a huge crease in the river in front of me and it looked so chubby. I was taken by surprise as soon after casting out the tip pulled around however I missed the bite. Casting out again it wasn’t long before the tip flew around again and I was playing a strong fighting chub. The fish put up a great fight taking line from the reel a few times. I wasn’t bullying the fish as I had a size 12 hook and there were few snags so I could relax until it came close to the bank. Here there were a few bits of weed and debris close by so I tried to keep it away from these.

The fish was tiring now and and it went into the net first time. It looked to be a good fish. On the unhooking mat it looked close to 6lbs.

After unhooking the chub I rested it in the landing net in the margins while I prepared the camera and weighing equipment.

Out the fish came onto the mat once more, and the rain was pouring now. On the scales it weighed 5lbs 12oz and it looked splendid.

 

A few quick snaps and I moved the fish upstream and released it back into the river. Feeling rather pleased as this is yet another swim I had not fished before. A few more pieces of paste were introduced into the swim once more.

I settled again under the brolly with the wind and rain still falling. Then as darkness approached Martin and Mark arrived to ask how things were going. No bad I said and told them about the chub I had just caught.

Mark had struggled to settle like myself however Martin I think caught 3 pike and was well pleased. We had a quick chat and while this was happening the rod tip remained motionless.

Not long after they left me I had another chub of about 5lbs. The tip normally pulls round and then the chub take off. This bite had the whole rod taking off such was the intensity of the bite. Reminiscent of a barbel bite really.

Mark and Martin returned to the hotel and I continued fishing for an hour or so after dark however not another bite came along. So 4 chub in total was not a bad result, however if I had fished all day rather then walked and talked I might have caught more.

The rain and wind was to continue throughout the night. Sure enough it did. The wind speed was to be 70mph and it was at about 7.30 am when Mark phoned me to ask whether I was fishing or not. With the wind gusting against the window and rain pouring I suggested that I wasn’t. It didn’t look good.

Returning home and driving pass the river, it was up and very brown and not at all fishy.