With the last week of the river season upon us I was keen to make the most of it. I planned to fish every evening in the hope that a big fish would put in an appearance and I had been priming a couple of swims with Sonubaits 4mm halibut pellets and Super Scent hemp most evenings in the hope that one or two fish might settle over the feed I had been introducing.

The temperatures dropped on Monday and certainly affected the fishing.  One bite after dark produced a chub weighing 5lb 15oz.  This had a knock on effect and Tuesday brought just one small chub weighing around 4lbs.  The temperatures where still dropping after dark and the fish were not responding how I had hoped.  The weather looked good for the end of the week and I hoped these mild temperatures might encourage the fish to feed.  Wednesday drew a blank and I was starting to worry that my plan wasn’t coming together. 

However, Thursday evening things looked good and the mild temperatures that I had been hoping for seemed to make the river come alive.  After arriving at my first choice of swim I introduced a tin of hemp and a couple of bait droppers of 4mm halibut pellets with a few maggots mixed in.  On dusk the line bites started and a couple of good chub rolled over the bait.  Things where looking on the up.  The rod pulled over just after dark and saw me hook a fish, which stayed deep.  I was convinced it was a good chub and wasn’t disappointed when a big chub surfaced and was bundled into the waiting net.  It looked big in the light and when I placed the fish on the mat I was in for a shock.  A very fat chub that had been clearly feeding on the bait I had been introducing.  I didn’t dare put a weight on it as I put her into the sling.  The scales read 7lb 9oz. 

After I had calmed down and got the pictures sorted I recast the rod and seconds late the tip went over again.  Another chub was brought over the net and it looked another good one.  I wasn’t disappointed when it weighed 6lb 12oz.  Shortly after another fish was hooked and a barbel weighing around 8lbs was soon being retuned to the river.  I went home a very happy that evening knowing all the preparation work had been worth the effort. 

I had just one bite on Friday evening from a chub around 3lb 8oz.  Saturday was the last evening and I arrived just before dark in the hope of another big chub would round the season of nicely.  The bite I hoped for came and another nice chub was the culprit.  This one weighing 6lb 2oz.  Another fish was hooked soon after recasting but unfortunately came off.

Pleased wit the week’s efforts I’m looking for a couple of weeks off, I’m certainly in need of a break.