Dave Slater
Well-known member
I am so happy. I caught my long awaited Avon "Seven" yesterday evening. I honestly thought I would have to wait a long time and was prepared to spend a couple of seasons not fishing anywhere else.
I spent opening morning on the Stour just in case my 8-8 was still around and hadn't spawned yet. After that I have spent all season on the Avon, apart from one day on the Upper Ouse in June. I had previously caught a stillwater "seven" and several from the Stour so I wanted one from the Avon to make up a full set from local waters. Despite having caught several Avon sixes my best was 6lb 7oz. I have been fishing about five evenings a week this season, all short sessions on two different stretches. I have a few swims on each stretch so that I can switch them around. Summer was to be spent learning the swims so that I could catch some big chub in the winter. My baits were kept very basic as most people were using pellets for the barbel so I figured cheese and bread would avoid these.
Quite a few chub were caught in June topped off by a new Avon best at 6lb 8oz caught on cheese. The chub was 23.5" long and had a 16.5" girth so would have weighed at leat a pound more in the winter. All of the chub were very lean so I think they had spawned early and very hard.
I continued to catch several good chub in July including another 3 "sixes" to 6lb 5oz, again all of the sixes were very lean and should have weighed more. There were some encouraging signs later in the month as some of the "fours" and "fives" were more solid and seemed to be gaining weight. Despite the fish not being at top weights they all seem to fight very well this year and the bites are very positive.
I had a gig with the band on Saturday 1st August so did not fish. I did not really fancy going the next evening but the kicking off times on the Avon were due to become earlier from Monday (the following day) so I decided to go. The signs were not good as I had to opt for my second choice swim as there was somebody was in the swim I fancied fishing. They went soon after I arrived but I decided to stay put. I caught a couple of big eels, which fought very well which I thought would kill the swim. About an hour later I had a very slow bite, similar to the eels, so I struck with some reluctance. Fortunately this turned out to be a big chub. A huge pike followed it so I bullied it to the net quickly. I could see that the chub had a very big frame and was more solid than the "sixes" I had been catching and was delighted when the scales read 7lb 1oz. The fish My target fish so early in the season. The chub was just over 23" long and had a 16" girth. Just before chucking off time I caught one which was almost it's twin at 6lb 14oz. As it was so late I didn't even photograph it and had to run to the car. I just got away in time. On the Avon they are very strict on leaving times and it wouldn't have been worth risking loosing my club book, especially as I had already taken a few photos of my 7lb 1oz fish (I have put a photo in the album for viewing).
I could go back on the Stour but I am enjoying myself so much that I will probably stay on the Avon all season.
I spent opening morning on the Stour just in case my 8-8 was still around and hadn't spawned yet. After that I have spent all season on the Avon, apart from one day on the Upper Ouse in June. I had previously caught a stillwater "seven" and several from the Stour so I wanted one from the Avon to make up a full set from local waters. Despite having caught several Avon sixes my best was 6lb 7oz. I have been fishing about five evenings a week this season, all short sessions on two different stretches. I have a few swims on each stretch so that I can switch them around. Summer was to be spent learning the swims so that I could catch some big chub in the winter. My baits were kept very basic as most people were using pellets for the barbel so I figured cheese and bread would avoid these.
Quite a few chub were caught in June topped off by a new Avon best at 6lb 8oz caught on cheese. The chub was 23.5" long and had a 16.5" girth so would have weighed at leat a pound more in the winter. All of the chub were very lean so I think they had spawned early and very hard.
I continued to catch several good chub in July including another 3 "sixes" to 6lb 5oz, again all of the sixes were very lean and should have weighed more. There were some encouraging signs later in the month as some of the "fours" and "fives" were more solid and seemed to be gaining weight. Despite the fish not being at top weights they all seem to fight very well this year and the bites are very positive.
I had a gig with the band on Saturday 1st August so did not fish. I did not really fancy going the next evening but the kicking off times on the Avon were due to become earlier from Monday (the following day) so I decided to go. The signs were not good as I had to opt for my second choice swim as there was somebody was in the swim I fancied fishing. They went soon after I arrived but I decided to stay put. I caught a couple of big eels, which fought very well which I thought would kill the swim. About an hour later I had a very slow bite, similar to the eels, so I struck with some reluctance. Fortunately this turned out to be a big chub. A huge pike followed it so I bullied it to the net quickly. I could see that the chub had a very big frame and was more solid than the "sixes" I had been catching and was delighted when the scales read 7lb 1oz. The fish My target fish so early in the season. The chub was just over 23" long and had a 16" girth. Just before chucking off time I caught one which was almost it's twin at 6lb 14oz. As it was so late I didn't even photograph it and had to run to the car. I just got away in time. On the Avon they are very strict on leaving times and it wouldn't have been worth risking loosing my club book, especially as I had already taken a few photos of my 7lb 1oz fish (I have put a photo in the album for viewing).
I could go back on the Stour but I am enjoying myself so much that I will probably stay on the Avon all season.
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