Diary of an average angler

Following the success at the Trout Stream the previous Friday, when I lost a big fish, I decided to return only four days later. The choice of date was influenced by the forecast of more turbulent weather towards the end of the week. I basically repeated what I had done on the previous occasion, visiting the same spots. I also looked further downstream to where the stream merges with another channel. Quite a long walk, which I regretted!

As before, I started about midway along the stretch at a spot where I had taken two chub in November, and lost the big one on the previous visit. This time I had taken a barbel rod. A bit overkill, maybe, but I didn't want to lose another fish in the same snag. I was a bit concerned that the tip wouldn't be sensitive enough for the chub, the bites on the previous occasion being quite tentative. But I needn't have worried as the top pulled round almost immediately on my first cast. It wasn't a big fish but it fought well and put quite a bend in the heavier rod. Although I continued fishing the swim for about 20 minutes, I didn't expect another bite and sure enough I didn't get one.

As before, I moved next to a wide glide that had given me a fish last time. But on this occasion I didn't get a touch despite trying for about 30 minutes. Next was the spot with the large raft across the stream, where I had caught my chub PB for the stream back in November. It didn't produce on my last visit and neither did it on this occasion.

I had met the club chairman while walking down the lane to the stretch and during quite a long chat he had mentioned some good swims further downstream near its confluence with another channel. I was a bit worried about the walking involved but in the end decided to have a look. In fact the banks of the stream were quite over grown, with small trees and shrubs making access difficult. I decided to give it a miss. But there was another channel with a spot that looked interesting. I gave it a go, casting to a small raft on the far side of what was a narrow channel, about the same width as the stream. With my 2SSG setup I couldn't hold the bait in position under the raft and there was no indication of anything being interested as the bait swung round in the current. I didn't stay long.

It was now time to walk back to the first spot, where I hoped that I may stand a chance after having rested it for quite a while. It was a long walk and I found it very challenging - thus the reason for not going that far in the past.

There was no immediate bite this time and I was starting to feel that there wouldn't be one. But after only a few casts a slight tap on the rod top developed into something a bit more positive, although still in no way a typical chub pull. This fish fought even harder and showed the benefit of the stronger tackle as I could hold it clear of any snags. It wasn't that big, possibly a couple of pounds or so, but it gave a good account of itself and was in fine condition. I was sure that I wouldn't get a third fish there so made my way to the top of the stretch to the last spot.

I had caught in that spot before but my hopes were diminished when I saw a woman with two labradors throwing balls into the stream for them to retrieve. However, I thought that perhaps the chub were used to swimming dogs as the footpath is used regularly by dog walkers. There was no early bite but I stuck it out, only to miss the one and only bite I did get. With bites so hard to come by in this sort of fishing it's really annoying when one is missed. More annoying was that the same thing had happened on the previous visit. But there it was, and it was time to pack up.

A lot of walking and the only two fish were from the same spot. But I wasn't complaining since small stream fishing is very challenging and one fish during a session is more than acceptable, let alone two.