The month started off similar to last month with plenty of rain, not ideal for getting out Chubbing. With all the local rivers experiencing flood water options were limited, but I did happen to notice the river Aire wasn’t carrying much water with about 8-10in above normal winter level. It had to be worth a look. A few years ago I put a bit of time in on a stretch and did ok consistently getting amongst fish with Chub to just over 6lb. I got down to the river about 7pm leaving me 3 hours fishing which in reality is usually enough time to catch a few chub. Upon arrival I noticed straight away the river was carrying a hell of a lot of colour, not sure why but one thing I do know is it isn’t good for the Chub fishing. I walked the bank down to an area I had fished before, it’s been probably 4 years since I last visited this stretch and was shocked to see that all the far bank vegetation had been cut away. The once over hanging trees used to create a brilliant crease running down just off the far bank and you could always rely on a shoal of chub been present. With this gone the only option was going to be a near side crease, I was here now so might aswell have a go. I fished light and opted for lump of my homemade Boilie paste. Once flicked out it was only a matter of minutes before I had my first indication, a series of small plucks and taps, not the usual indication you would expect from a Chub. I lifted in to nothing which was strange, so I rebaited and flicked back out. The lead bounced out a couple of times before it settled and instantly the tip plucked and a similar series of indications happened, only this time I decided to leave it till it fully pulled over and I connected with a substantial fish. It took off pretty well leaving me to think had I hooked a barbel? After a decent battle it was up ready to be netted and to my suprise it was a huge Brown Trout. It was in incredible condition and so think set. I know it was out of season but it was such a nice fish I gave it a quick weigh and a couple of quick shots. Weighing in at 5lb 12oz it was also the biggest Brown Trout I had ever caught, an at night ? Crazy. She was soon slipped back and I got on with the rest of my fishing. The evening passed pretty uneventful without a single touch after that but it was still enjoyable to be out.

The following week the rivers were again running high but with a cold snap weren’t looking favourable, but still with the season running away from us fast you have to take every opportunity. First session of the week was a short evening trip to the Swale for a look for a barbel, some slightly warmer rain had entered the river and I was hoping it was enough to spark a reaction. I struck a blank but in my defence I only fished for 3 hours but if a fish was held up on the crease I fished I feel I’d have had a bite. As the week progressed the rain just kept coming and now the Trent looked like it was going to be topping the bank, so with that an afternoon session at the weekend was in order. I dropped in to two decent creases that have been kind to me over the winter, with these conditions I was quietly confident of a fish or two. But 7 hours fishing in the two areas produced sweet nothing not even a tap. The drive home left me wondering why? Have they moved ?

The following week and the rain had eased off, with watching the river levels like a hawk I decided a trip to Scotland at the weekend looked promising the river had run off and a very cold spell had set in, not ideal for fishing but the temperatures down to -7 would keep any remaining moisture locked in the land till things warmed up and fingers crossed the Grayling are willing to feed. Arriving at the river first light it was evident fishing was going to be difficult until the temps got closer to zero, it’s hard work when your guides are freezing up on the rod hindering casting and a smooth trot. I battled on working my way down a good glide all morning without a touch, when I stopped for dinner I mentioned to Chris about having a look else where and we both decided on the top beat an area we hadn’t seen before. 5miles up stream the characteristics of the river are totally different up here with great steep wooded hill sides running down to the river on the far bank, it’s such a picturesque place and a nice setting to spend your day. After a short walk down stream I came across a decent gravel run just down from a Salmons pool, it wasn’t overly deep but at 3ft it was more than deep enough to hold grayling couple that with the over hanging trees that lined the far bank offering cover it looked a good bet. Chris was further down stream where the glide dropped in to a deeper trough at the start of a big bend. The fishing that afternoon was a lot better with quite a few fish hooked. I think I managed to land 8 fish in the couple of hours we had, but loosing two that were definitely a lot bigger than the ones I managed to land.

One said fish when I hooked it just stayed put in the flow and wouldn’t budge, normally I hook them and swing my rod downstream and keep it low and slowly bring the fish across the current. But this particular fish just held its ground with the odd head shake it was stale mate for a couple of minutes before one of the head shakes dislodged the hook and it was over. I suppose you only have limited purchase in pacey flow and a size 16 hook. As the afternoon wore on and the light faded I called it a day, but just as I was wading back out the river I heard Chris shout up he had a decent one on so I walked down to help net it for him. It was giving him the right run around in the deeper water and after a good 5 minute battle it was safely in the net, it was smaller than we expected after seeing twisting and turning down in the clear water. I had called it at 3lb plus but once safe in the net we weighed her and the need spun round to 2lb 5oz a new PB for Chris and the biggest of the trip for us. Well done that man he’s worked hard the last couple of trips to push the 2lb barrier and he’s accomplished that now !

On the drive home we decided we need to get up at least once more before the season end and hopefully the big 3s come out to play.

The beginning of the following week saw my local river levels drop in to the realms of been favourable for Chub fishing , so a short evening session on the “Uknown Stretch” was in order, the night was very slow with just one bite and a small Chub about 3lb. There seems to be a distinct lack of better stamp fish about down there which was surprising as I had high hopes for the area.

After my evenings Chubbing the conditions truly did A 180 as a warm low pressure front came in bringing double figure day and night temperatures with lots of rain. I bet the barbel anglers will be coming out of hiding now and rubbing their hands together. For me it meant one last push on a small local river for a big Roach this season, time is running out fast. My fist trip down I decided to have a few chucks for Perch on lobworms and landed 4 in 4 chucks which was nice before getting settled in to my winter Roach swim. Big perch seem to be non existent on this river never hearing of anything of any size. So these chunky fish around the pound and a half mark are decent stamp for this river.

Once settled in for the Roach I opted to fish Bread, my go to bait on a heavily coloured river for some reason it just out fishes anything else this time of year. The session was very slow with only one pull in 4 hours, but I did manage to connect with it and it turned out to be the biggest Roach of the season for me coming in at 1lb 7oz I know not a monster but one I’m more than happy with. It’s been incredibly hard this year on the river for the big Roach.

Most of the day was bite-less I’m not sure if it was Pike as it’s one of the very few proper crease line slacks on the river so would be an ideal resting place for the Pike.
The following week I was working 12hour nights so that didn’t leave anytime for fishing. So once I had finished my weeks shifts I was back down my local river for Roach, but over the course of the last week the temps had stayed mild but no rain and the river had run off a good two foot and starting to show a good 12in visibility, to me this only means one thing ‘Maggots!’ they really take some beating for Roach in these conditions. I swung by the tackle shop and bought 2 pints of reds for the days session, the river looked good to be fair and confidence was high. The session started the usual way with maggots a few Minnows and Gudgeon for the first half an hour. But soon as the better fish rock up the bites stop and then it’s game on. About an hour in I hooked a decent fish that battled deep all the way in taking line a few times before throwing the hook after I applied a little to much pressure to try and keep it out of a submerged tree. It dint feel like a Roach more like a big Perch but after I went on to catch quite a few chunky Perch over the next couple of hours I was more than happy to say I’d just lost a Perch. I did manage to catch one half decent Roach in amongst the Perch.

But stealing the show was a loverly Perch of 2lb 2oz and only my fourth 2lb plus fish from this river in the many years I’ve fished it and brought the month to a close. We’ve only got two weeks left of the season it seemed to go no where this year and slipped away from me without getting half the adventures done I had planned.

But all isn’t lost as when one door closes another opens and it’s only a matter of weeks till the trout season starts again in Yorkshire and I’ll be out fly fishing for wild Browns up in the dales again. Also the summer species will be starting to make an appearance on the coast and a Spring Tench campaign is also on the cards…