What a last day of the season. First I forgot my chair, not a problem I think, often go without one. Then I setup to feeder fish a spot I have fancied all winter but never got round to, first cast, wrapround bite, Chub(I think) on, just try to steer it away from the far side willow and the hooklength gives. Ok try again, 1/2 oz lead this time, no feeder, may have been the feeder got caught up, b****r me the same thing happens, my usual 5lb hooklength gives again on what I think was a good Chub, so I leave that swim thinking that maybe its an underwater snag. Move to a stretch up river I am used to in an attempt to calm my nerves, bait a few swims with mashed bread/hemp, sit down (on the ground, no chair) and have a cuppa. Karma is returning to normal. First chuck in to a lovelly little far bank crease, tip goes roung within 10 seconds and a lovelly little Chub of about 2.5lbs graces my net,<u> I don't bother weighing it</u>, a quick photo and I slip him back further upstream as I confident of another from the same spot, and then these apear in front of me:
A cracking view of a group of Red Deer on the opposite bank, they mill about above the crease I am fishing, so I take a little video of the rare opportunity, and then one or two of them sense/smell me and proceed to destroy any further chances in that swim, See video Ok I think thats no problem I have another spot prepped and that was a rare sight.On to the next swim and another handfull of mash/hemp goes in, quick cuppa, this swim has always been kind to me, near bank raft created by an over hanging willow, cast just upstream with 2 ssg's and let it swing under, the cast is spot on, everthing is right and I know I am gonna get a bite and I do, the strike meets a good resistance and the usual battle begins with the fish playing stalemate under the raft then ducking and diving to get under the near bank, it's soon under my feet and I see the best Chub I have hooked all winter, got to be a 5+ I think, in the net she goes and I am thinking I have just broke my modest PB of 5.2 on the last day of the season.Up on to the bank, unscrew the landing handle, ready to weigh, right hand holding the net with Chub in, left hand feeling around in the bag for the scales, oh b******s. Scales are left on the kitchen table from last night, after weighing various household items to verify them! I could have cried, I have the camera and take a couple of pictures of each side.Bitter sweet moment, maybe a PB, no scales, but it was a cracking Chub, absolutely pristine condition, a full belly and I estimated a low 5 but recorded it as a high 4 in my log.
I decide to call it a day there and then. What a day, and to top it all off, as I am packing up I use a bank stick to help me get up (back ache, no chair) and snap, the top falls off in my hand. ROLL ON JUNE 16thScott.
A cracking view of a group of Red Deer on the opposite bank, they mill about above the crease I am fishing, so I take a little video of the rare opportunity, and then one or two of them sense/smell me and proceed to destroy any further chances in that swim, See video Ok I think thats no problem I have another spot prepped and that was a rare sight.On to the next swim and another handfull of mash/hemp goes in, quick cuppa, this swim has always been kind to me, near bank raft created by an over hanging willow, cast just upstream with 2 ssg's and let it swing under, the cast is spot on, everthing is right and I know I am gonna get a bite and I do, the strike meets a good resistance and the usual battle begins with the fish playing stalemate under the raft then ducking and diving to get under the near bank, it's soon under my feet and I see the best Chub I have hooked all winter, got to be a 5+ I think, in the net she goes and I am thinking I have just broke my modest PB of 5.2 on the last day of the season.Up on to the bank, unscrew the landing handle, ready to weigh, right hand holding the net with Chub in, left hand feeling around in the bag for the scales, oh b******s. Scales are left on the kitchen table from last night, after weighing various household items to verify them! I could have cried, I have the camera and take a couple of pictures of each side.Bitter sweet moment, maybe a PB, no scales, but it was a cracking Chub, absolutely pristine condition, a full belly and I estimated a low 5 but recorded it as a high 4 in my log.
I decide to call it a day there and then. What a day, and to top it all off, as I am packing up I use a bank stick to help me get up (back ache, no chair) and snap, the top falls off in my hand. ROLL ON JUNE 16thScott.
