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Sunday 14th August, Splash!


AddictedToScopex

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Well today saw me heading off after a nice lie in to a really great little river not all that far from my native Preston. The target for the day was dace and chub using the good old trotting gear.

 

I loaded up the car and made my way down to the river with the hope that it would be at a satisfactory level to send a float down. As I arrived I hopped straight out of the car and made my way to the bridge that runs over it and peered down. Straight away I could see the level was lower than expected and certainly fishable. I could even see a large shoal of 2-3 inch dace maintaining position in the flow under the arch.

 

I went back to the car and began tackling up. Travelling light was the order of the day after the previous time out where I had been made to suffer for carrying to much gear and wearing too many clothes.

 

I got the rod tackled up, strapped on the waistcoat style bag, filled my maggot bag up and hopped over the fence.

 

The first swim of the day was to be under the arch of the bridge. I began by taking 10 minutes to build the swim a little by trickling 10 or so maggots at regular intervals. I instanly saw a response with the small dace rising and flashing as they went crackers for the maggots. I dropped in with a small hook and a double maggot hook bait to an instant reply with a small fin perfect dace. This conitinued for quite some time until I could see that they were not going to be fed off any time soon. I decided to give the swim a rest and moved off to find another peg.

 

I walked some way down the bank to where I could see some trees protruding over the waters edge. I knew they would have to be chub holding areas. I found the peg that looked like it would give me a great run towards the trees and around a corner.

 

I set up on a larger hook and stuffed it with maggots after feeding the swim for 20 minutes. I wasnt disappointed. On the third trot down after having a few lightning quick bites the float just buried. Just as it got in line with the trees which was what I had expected. As I lifted into the fish I felt a solid resistance. I thought I had hooked a bank of weed weed but as I held the line firm I felt the telltale pulse coming back up the line. There was something on and it was bigger than anything I had caught on this river so far being quite new to it.

 

I worked the light tackle to its limit as the fish would dive for the weed and the line would go solid. It was a very strange fight and I was almost certain I had hit a barbel which were rare but not unheard of for this tiny little river. Time after time the rod would go solid as if the fish was hugging the bottom as barbel do. Time after time I felt that I had been snagged but patience won through in the end. It was truly the most enjoyable fight I had had in a very long time.

 

As I lifted the fishes head above the weed I felt that elation that only an angler knows when you have won the fight and can see the reward for your watercraft, feeding pattern and well thought out presentation.

 

I had done it. A beautiful specimen of a small river chub at 3lbs! I can't describe the feeling of satisfaction I had and the smile on my face was from ear to ear. All I can say is thankyou to Ian for bringing this great little river to my attention and for taking the time to meet up with me and show me where to go.

 

Here it is:

 

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Apologies to all the pin fanatics for not having a pin next to it as would usually be the norm for me but I have become fed up with the cortesi as the rod just doesnt suit it so I opted for a fixed spool reel instead. Incidentally it was the one I got free after months of waiting for my free gift from 'improve your coarse fishing' magazine.

 

After this fantastic achievement I was then gifted a really fat dace from the same swim. That was not all I got though as the situation was soon to turn for the worst.

 

As I put the dace back and began to rebait I felt a shifting around my feet. It was as though I was sinking and I had to stop for a minute to see what was going on. I looked down to see the whole foot square of earth I was standing on being reclaimed by the river. As I stood motionless the earth just slid into the river taking me with it. In a heartbeat I threw the rod up the bank and made a quick turn to jump up the bank. My left leg was a lost cause being up to the knee in river water and my right lef was soon to follow. I held onto the bank for dear life to avoid slipping all the way into the water. Luckily I managed to hold on and scrambled up the bank feeling like a proper tool. That is what I got for not wearing waders.

 

I will certainly be remember them next time as I had to leave my swim as it was no longer properly accessible. I was gutted as I knew that if I could have stayed there would definetly have been more big fish to follow.

 

I guess as they say that is just how the cookie/bankside crumbles!!!

 

I fished on for another hour until the wet feet bugged me too much and caught another load of dace and some smaller chub but I couldnt help but think of the what ifs had I been able to stay in that swim. Maybe I could have gone better than three pounds. I will certainly be returning to it armed with waders next time. :D

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