AM I MAD?
Why feed the Ducks when you can feed the Chub?
I love to watch the Chub, even when out shopping with my wife and kidds they have nuff trouble getting me off the Bridge.
Often take a bit of bread or sarny for them. Even when i pop into mark 11's angling for my bait, I always feed a bit to the Chub before going to the Buss stop.
Sort of religious offering.
people ask "why are you feeding the ducks when there arnt any"?
"Im not, im feeding the Chub"
"Chub? whats a Chub"?
"Its a Fish"
"What fish?, there are no fish in this river".
And so it goes on like that almost every time.
Then the Carp lads.
" carp mate"?
"Not any more mate"
"Was thinking of comming down for the weekend and having the carp out mate ".
"Naa, dont waste your time mate".
They all mine, all the fish are mine, the rivers mine.
R U SURE IM NOT MAD?
The wife seems to thinks so.
Spent today walking the Cray and watching the chub,seen some of the biggest chub that i've ever seen in the cray.
Used to be average 2-3lb, last week and this week some have got to be 4lb + pushing 5 lb.
Its only a small river ,and yes they proberly could get wedged between the banks in places too.
I love the way you can stalk a Chub in clear water, present a bait and watch as the bait is carried in the current or trundles along the bottom, then the Chub moves in slow but steady, takes the bait, pauses then turns away, rod tip up and a nice curve develops along the blank and all hell breaks loose.
In the summer months i tend to use a 6lb main line and 4lb hook length with a size 12, 10, 8 or 6 depending on the bait or size of chub i may be targeting.
Some say this is too heavy, but most of the swims are weedy, full of debri and brickwork .
In winter i go much lighter, 4 lb main and 2.5 lb hook length and 18, 14 or 12 hook.
Baits tend to be Mega Bread flake, Lob worm or chopped worm, sometimes several sections on a hook. Works very quick.
Or i may use double caster or maggot, slug or a bunch of about 8 mixed maggots tied to a loop and pulled tight to form a bunch, then hair riged on feeder, link with a few BB, rolling or lofa crystal, even free line have all worked without fail, even if its just the one fish then im happy.
nuff said.