AnglingDays&Ways
22-08-2010, 21:10
Had a quick session on my local stretch of the Ivel this afternoon at Biggleswade Mill. Water clarity is still quite clear but with a touch of colour. Went roaming around a little to see if I could see some fish and saw 2-3 medium size chub in a right snaggy little swim tucked away behind a tree. Decided to link ledger with bread. Conditions at first were quite bright but as soon as the sun went in and the sky clouded over things improved a little around 4pm. In the first swim with the tree I spooked the chub after hooking it behind the tree and it managed to throw the hook so introduced a few free offerings of paste and bread and returned later.
Fished a few more likely looking swims for around two hours but without so much as a nibble so decided to stalk the chub in the original tree swim.
By now the chub were very wary and it took me almost an hour to coax them out from behind the tree and even then they were just darting out for small periods but at the same time their confidence was being elevated by the freebies.
I had no luck on the paste so reverted back to the bread on a large size 6 hook. After around ten minutes I had a short sharp knock on the quiver followed by a wrap around on the quiver. This chub certainly wasn't going to come off! Almost immediately it rushed into its snaggy lair so I had to rush down the bank, all the time I was keeping an eye on the fish and I could see it shaking its head trying to throw the hook. After a short while I managed to get out and I was lucky to managed to turn it so that it couldn't get its head down in the streamer weed which festoons the river at this time of year. After what seemed like an age I finally got it into the net.
I quickly weighed the fish and it took the scales round to 3lb 12oz. After a few pictures I slipped her back to her watery home.
Although not considered big by many people, to me it was certainly one of my most rewarding after all the effort I had put in to get it.
Tackle -
6lb Trilene XT
Size 6 Jack Hilton Partridge Carp Hook
Free Spirit Specialist 1.75lb tc rod
Richard Carter Merlin Centrepin
Method -
Link ledgered bread flake and Quest Chubby Chops paste
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs371.snc4/45423_420021216446_534526446_5317241_2964881_n.jpg
Fished a few more likely looking swims for around two hours but without so much as a nibble so decided to stalk the chub in the original tree swim.
By now the chub were very wary and it took me almost an hour to coax them out from behind the tree and even then they were just darting out for small periods but at the same time their confidence was being elevated by the freebies.
I had no luck on the paste so reverted back to the bread on a large size 6 hook. After around ten minutes I had a short sharp knock on the quiver followed by a wrap around on the quiver. This chub certainly wasn't going to come off! Almost immediately it rushed into its snaggy lair so I had to rush down the bank, all the time I was keeping an eye on the fish and I could see it shaking its head trying to throw the hook. After a short while I managed to get out and I was lucky to managed to turn it so that it couldn't get its head down in the streamer weed which festoons the river at this time of year. After what seemed like an age I finally got it into the net.
I quickly weighed the fish and it took the scales round to 3lb 12oz. After a few pictures I slipped her back to her watery home.
Although not considered big by many people, to me it was certainly one of my most rewarding after all the effort I had put in to get it.
Tackle -
6lb Trilene XT
Size 6 Jack Hilton Partridge Carp Hook
Free Spirit Specialist 1.75lb tc rod
Richard Carter Merlin Centrepin
Method -
Link ledgered bread flake and Quest Chubby Chops paste
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs371.snc4/45423_420021216446_534526446_5317241_2964881_n.jpg