
0430 - 1100
Cool with sunny spells. AT 10º - 15º. River with good flow for June and quite clear.
7 Chub: all over a lb. Best 3; 6lb 10oz (New PB), 4lb 9oz, 4lb 2oz - the others all 1½-2½lb. 2 Perch: 3lb 4oz and a tiddler. 3 Grayling: 1lb 14oz, 1lb 6oz & 1lb 4oz (!!!). 1 Pike 3lb. 4 Roach & 3 Dace - all small. 1 Gudgeon. 7 Brownies - a couple of 'pounders' all the others 6-8oz.
Blimey - never had a start to the season quite like that! I usually consider the 16th June as a day for just being by the river again and not worrying too much about the size of fish - providing you catch of course! Today set a couple of marks I probably won't better all season. I haven't started my river campaign here since 2017 but plumped for it this year as it was inaccessible due to flooding for the last 2 months of last season and my fav spot on the wierpool of my syndicate stretch is untrottable as they have the 'wrong' sluice open.
On arrival my first swim was a frenzy of jumping fry and I was hopeful of a nice perch first cast - though of course one of the schooly chub got in first and it was a full hour before the big stripey switched from chasing minnows to my maggots - though why it was still hungry is anyone's guess - its gullet was stuffed with fry! Bites were fairly slow to start - though trotting the fastest water brought the bonus grayling, my biggest ever from Hambridge and the pike, a flukey capture - I didn't actually hook it - but it wouldn't let go of my dace and allowed itself to be guided into my landing net where - too late, it spat it out!
After a stop for brekkie I moved downstream to the fast water - where, as in previous years, I was hopeful I'd find some more chub - they seem to like the faster water early in the summer. Pretty much first trot through I connected with and absolute lump - which at first thought was a barbel. Teasing it across the current I could see it was a decent chub but didn't realise how big until it was in the net and I could see its girth. I new instantly it had to be a PB (my previous best was 6-07) though my guess of 7lb wasn't confirmed by the scales! A flurry of chub followed this capture until clearing skies bathed the swim in bright sunshine and the action stopped - though there was still time to return to my initial spot and winkle out another 1lb+ lady. A great end to a memorable session!
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