I’ve been promising myself a trip back to the Welland since the season opened on 16 June. I went today, over a month later . I had the stretch to myself with only a couple of other anglers arriving later in the afternoon. I started in the swim where I caught two nice chub last July but not a touch today.

After about 20 minutes I moved up to the pool below the footbridge where chub can often be seen cruising, and where I managed to catch one last August. I touch-legered with luncheon meat holding the rod with the line hooked over my finger. After a short while a tap developed into a pull and I hooked a fish. It didn’t actually fight that hard and I was surprised at the size of it, weighing in at 4¼lb. (Caught at 12.30)

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As is often the case, after taking a fish things went dead. I tried upstream of the footbridge where I hadn’t fished previously. The banks were very difficult but a short way along I found a gap that had obviously been created by another chub angler. It involved sliding down a steep bank and bracing ones feet to avoid slipping in the water. To the right (downstream) there were trees on both banks so a gentle flick placed my luncheon meat under them. I had a tap but missed it. Another cast to the same spot produced another tap and then a firm pull, and a 3lb 13oz chub gave a spirited fight before being netted. (Caught at 14.05)

Again, the swim died after this, so I tried a couple of more spots between the footbridge and the weir. There was somebody already fishing the weir pool. Having rested the swim where I caught the second fish I thought I would have another go there. I fed in a few free offerings of luncheon meat and was just about to cast when a dog came splashing down stream; very annoying. At this point I gave in and went back to the bridge pool. Again there was nothing doing, probably because dogs had been in there too.

Making my way downstream I found another interesting little spot. Casting the luncheon meat to the edge of some exposed reeds a got a tap but I didn’t connect. I cast again to the same spot and this time got a positive pull and hooked another lively fish. This one weighed 2lb 9oz (the scales in the photo show 3.51lb but this includes the net) and although smaller than the others it was a nice looking fish. (Caught at 16.10)

Carrying on downstream I tried a number of likely spots and in one case missed a firm pull. I did find a group of chub under a tree on the opposite bank but couldn’t temp them. I chap in a rowing boat (who told me there were 2lb perch in the stretch) put paid to any further chances. As it was now getting on for 19.00 I packed up.

It was hard work in the hot conditions, with the river being clear and a bit low, but three reasonable chub made it all worthwhile.