Arrival time: 09.00
Weather: Breezy with a bit of light drizzle.
Tackle: 10ft Fishtec Compact Float, link leger, 6lb line.
Baits: Fox Spikey lure. Cheese paste.
Fish: One chub

After limited success with chub recently, today I decided to try lure fishing for perch. Unfortunately this was less successful than my efforts after chub. But it was an interesting diversion.

On Tuesday I had had a good look around the fishery with a view to trying some lure fishing for perch. So today (Thursday) I tried the various swims that I had identified, with some degree of confidence that I would at least pick up some small perch, even if I didn't tempt any big ones. But it wasn't to be. I had one snatch that could have been a fish, but equally it could have been that I snagged on the retrieve.

I was lucky not to lose the lure on a number of occasions as I tried to cast close to reeds but I did lose it in the end, although only after trying all the spots that I had previously identified. It was, however, an interesting couple of hours or so and I shall certainly try again. Having lost the lure, and exhausted my ideas, I moved to the mill stream to try my luck for chub.

The mill stream level was up from that of Tuesday and I was hopeful that this would bode well after my relative lack of success on that occasion. I set up in what is probably one of the favoured chub swims and waited to see if any interest would be taken in my cheese paste.

I missed an early pull on the rod top so was pleased that after casting again I had another bite and this time connected. After a spirited fight a beautifully conditioned chub of 2lb 7oz was in the net.

To let the swim recover I tried a few other spots but there were no takes. Returning to the original swim after a while I had another good bite and connected but the fish came off after only a short while. I guessed that this would spook any other fish in the swim and sure enough I didn't get another bite.

I tried the bridge pool before packing up for the day but it didn't yield anything. But I was happy with my one chub and although I didn't manage to catch any perch, I enjoyed trying with the lure as it's a type of fishing that I haven't done since I was a young lad.