This is my first instalment and I’ll be operating it as a monthly round up type blog which makes it a bit easier to keep on top of things. So October was a tale of one stretch really, I’ve been working away from home lately over near Derby which lent its self nicely to a couple of evenings a week on the River Trent. The Stretch i spent my time on was on the upper limits of the middle Trent a stretch with not so many fish but the possibility of something special which in all fairness suit’s my type of angling. I’ve caught thousands of fish over the years so don’t really see it as a need to catch every session but I like to work towards a special capture.
The first couple of weeks of the month I found myself targeting the Chub, and hit the ground running with a nice string of fish most evenings picking a couple of swims that had the main flow close in and I just fished over the back to a steady crease. I kept the bait going in after the sessions with at least two good handfuls after each session. This resulted in about 30 chub with the majority of the fish over 5lb which was an incredible stamp, I’m pretty sure there were a few recaptures amongst them. Nice simple boilie tactics were employed and to good effect I recall one evening I managed 9 chub from about 5lb to 6lb 1oz and a surprise visit from an Eel which turned out to be a new Pb at 3lb 11oz a lovely fish from a river. I do find Eels fascinating and they are definitely worth a future campaign one spring/summer I’d love to push 5lb with one.  

As the chub sessions carried on I managed to bank 3 more over 6lb in amongst the regular stamp I’d been having. One evening I had dropped in an area I had fished earlier that week and managed to keep the bait going in, it seemed a very slow evening with not even a tap but I sat on my hands and stuck it out. When out of the blue the rod snatched over literally stripping line from the off, bites can be savage when you fish braid as a mainline. After a few minutes of battle and steering away from a few downstream snags it was laid in the bottom of my net. Upon first inspection I realised pretty quick this was a special fish and looked all of 7lb, I got a bit giddy as we are still pretty early in the season so was definitely one of the major players on the stretch. Once unhooked and scales zeroed she was lifted and the needle settled on 6lb 15oz not quite the magic 7 but still a very impressive Chub nonetheless and my biggest from this river to date and made joining the club worth while even just from these two weeks of angling. 

Speaking to a few of the club members on the stretch they all seemed to mention to big elusive barbel that resided here, this is what they had been targeting. All the time I’d been Chub fishing I kept hearing big fish roll out in the dark, thinking these were either big Barbel or big Trent Carp I always put a few baits over them when I packe up just priming them incase the situation arose. The following week I decided to have a go for the Barbel, those that know me know I don’t often fish for them as fish like Chub, Roach and Perch tend to get my attention, more traditional fish. But on this night I thought I’d have a go seen as the rumours of such big fish were worth investigating. Like clockwork about 8pm I started to hear big fish roll then another, I thought to myself if one more rolls I’ll pack the Chub gear away this didn’t take long and a third roll in 20mins in the same area sealed the deal. Again simple tactics were employed single boile on the hair and a little bag of 2 squashed and two whole baits in a small Pva mesh bag attached to the lead and fished about 10yards upstream of the shows, this was followed by about five free offerings catapulted in the immediate area. With the trap set it was time to sit on my hands and wait, it didn’t take long as about 90 minutes later the tip dropped a fish had dislodged the lead. I wound down in to the fish and the fight commenced, it stayed deep and heavy using the flow to its advantage but I took my time and kept an even amount of pressure on the fish and it was soon in the safety of the net. I flicked my head torch on and was met with a pretty substantial fish, once sorted and lifted up on the Reuben’s the needle spun round to 14lb 10oz and a proper one!

The following week I was back down again after work and after the success from the week before it was only right to have another crack at the barbel. Same tactics as before around 8pm I heard fish rolling across the far side so again I positioned the bait slightly up stream of the shows and a few freebies around it. This time it didn’t take as long as about half an hour later the rod pulled over and didn’t stop. This was a heavy fish a slow and steady fight ensued and just like before it was soon in the net. This fish was something else, the biggest barbel I had seen before it was huge, with the fish secured in the edge resting I set about getting the mat and sling zeroed on the scales ready for the weigh in, I was pretty sure this was going to be a PB this thing was huge. I had to put a bank stick through the loop on the scales and rest one side on my shoulder to hold it steady. The needle spun straight past 16lb and settled at 16.2 I was blown away a serious fish but the next problem was trying to get some photos. I managed a few self takes they were substandard but the best I could manage in the situation but you can still see it’s true scale. Whilst still buzzing I baited again with about half a kilo and called it a night.

After last nights action I wanted to try and get back in the same area and to my luck the stretch was empty so I dropped back in. Again same tactics limited bait in the swim just a small bag and few freebies. I’m not one for committing myself to an area with bait because if I heard fish further up the stretch I’d happily move on to them, I’d much rather bait at the end of the session priming for a return which pays far more advantages. It wasn’t long before the rod was away with another decent fish this one came in it at 12.6 a couple of pics and back it went.
Fresh rig tied and the trap was set again and a light baiting, it was back to sitting on my hands but over the next hour I heard at least 6 shows over my spot these seemed like big big fish I wasn’t sure if it was the same fish or multiple fish but it was definitely kicking off over there. It wasn’t long before my rod signalled a drop back and began to bounce out with a small pull in between each bounce, definitely a fish on! I wound down to make contact with what was very heavy, slow and just wanted to head down stream this was a serious battle it seemed to last for ages but in hindsight was probably 10mins. I managed to bundle it in the net first time of asking, I couldn’t believe my eyes this was another serious fish one that could definitely give the 16.2 from the night before a good run for its money and maybe another PB. Again leaving the fish to rest in the margins whilst I sorted out the sling and scales ect, once ready she was lifted and the Reuben’s bounced round past 17lb I couldn’t believe my eyes and held my breath whilst the fish settled down and stopped thrashing.The rest in the margin meant she was full of beans but once settled the scales read 16lb 14oz so I lowered the sling to the mat and lifted again and the needle settled in the same place 16.14. Another new PB and two 16plus fish from two consecutive evenings I couldn’t believe it, two of the biggest fish on the stretch in 5 hours angling. Luckily there was another angler further upstream. I popped up to see him about a few pics of my prize. After that I called it a night and retreated floating on cloud nine.

The last few sessions of the month resulted in a few more doubles and some more Chub but nothing like what had just happened the week before but as the month came to an end as did the job in Derby. The adventure this month has given me some memorable captures ones I won’t forget but as we move in to November I’ll be back local targeting the rivers of my home county, hope you’ve enjoyed the journey…