Arrival time: circa 10.50 at swim.
Weather: Bright start then clouded over. Mild but very windy.
Tackle: 9' Shimano Aero X1 with 1oz quiver, simple SSG link, 5lb line, 8 hook.
Changed to 3lb flourocarbon hook length and 12 hook at one point.
Baits: Bread flake.
Fish: 2 chub

I had a plan today but like on many previous occasions nature and the fish conspired to render the plan useless. But, as things turned out, good fortune rescued the day.

The idea was to dip into four or five swims and, on the basis that all previous chub caught on this stream took within minutes of the cast, to not stop in any one spot more than 10-15 minutes. I then planned to fish a bay where I had previously had bites from possibly roach, scaling down the terminal tackle to suit.

Part one of the plan soon started to go wrong. I fished a new swim at the top of the stretch before moving to where I had caught a chub previously. Neither spot produced the desired chub bite. I then moved on to two more spots where I had caught before, but again nothing obliged. So it was time to go to the bay and try for the roach.

Before changing the terminal tackle, however, there was one more chance for a chub. I had spoken to another angler - a rare sight on this stretch - who, quite amazingly, had viewed the video of my first non-fishing visit to the venue. This had led to him and a friend starting to fish there. So 'Bob Goes Fishing' had truly influenced somebody. Anyway, he mentioned that he had caught a chub by the small tree just upstream of the bay.

I had fished by this tree before, but downstream of it. Fishing from upstream was more difficult, especially with the 9' rod. After a bad start, where I got snagged in the dying vegetation, the second attempt, although becoming slightly snagged, was pounced on immediately by a chub, the rod starting to go round while I was still trying to unsnag the line from some dead nettle stalks.

The fight was spirited and I was sure I was hooked into a PB for the stream. But, after some worrying moments, with my little rod probably at maximum curvature, I was weighing a fat fish of 2½lb. Not a PB but a lovely conditioned chub that gave a really good account of itself. So the blank was avoided.

My roach fishing plans in the bay were, however, less successful. I didn't have a touch and after about 30 minutes made my way back upstream. I dipped in a couple of spots without success, still on the lighter terminal tackle, then lost it in a tree when trying to be a bit too clever placing the bait.

After this I returned to the second spot I had fished earlier, where I caught a good chub last year. I really didn't expect to catch anything and planned to stay there until packing up time, just on the off chance.

I had retackled back to 5lb line and an 8 hook and had reduced the link leger to two SSG, to allow the bait to move around a bit with the flow. I cast in and almost immediately the rod top went round and I was into a good fish. Quite amazing.

The swim was more open than where I had taken the first fish and the only real danger was when it tried to get into the margin vegetation. But the tackle held and the little light rod provided enough power to net the fish. At 3lb 10oz this was my PB for the stream. The hook was literally just through the flesh on the inside of the mouth and it was amazing that it didn't pull out. I think I must thank the light flexible rod for absorbing all the shocks.

And so ended the session. The original plan may have fell through but, as is often the case, the surprises thrown up when fishing a natural waterway can often turn what seemed to be a disappointing day into something special.