Back by popular demand is my mate "Fordy on the Telly" with the story of his final day on the River Kennet for this season. It's become something of a tradition for me to end my river fishing season with a bit of chub bashing. With the rivers 'sock on' after fining down from the rain of January and February, I decided on a trip to the River Kennet, west of Newbury to complete what's been a patchy 2007/08 campaign for me.
Sadly, I seem to have spent more time writing and talking about fishing than getting out on the bank in the past 12 months. I suppose that goes with the territory these days and I'm not complaining!!!
So on a warmish, still, overcast March morning, I arrived at the river in great anticipation. It look absolutely perfect.
I was joined by Phil Stone (AKA Pebisit) and his mate Barry. I'd promised them a day 'chub bashing' and given it the big sell, describing what I considered to be the 'perfect' chub swim.
Barnett's Hatch is on the upper reaches of Suttons Estate, a stretch of the Kennet I'm privileged to be allowed to fish by the gamekeeper.
The 'Hatch' is used to dictate the flow on a three-mile stretch of the Kennet. By opening and closing gates, it's possible for rainwater to be run off to control the water levels on a prime fishery, where trout anglers pay a small fortune to ensure the ''perfect'' day's sport.
There was no need to worry about high water this time though. The current was trundling through wide open hatches, showing a little colour - but not too much. Here the flow swirls arounds into a massive slack on the far bank, a 40 yard chuck into shallow water. Effectively, the hatch looks like a weir pool - but without the pace.
At the end of the pool is a large overhanging tree. Here, the pace dies off almost totally as the torrent from the hatch eases. It's this spot I told Pebs and Bazza the chub would be found.
I'd set up my gear days before and had been thinking about that first chuck for hours. You all know what it's like. The anticipation of seeing your float settle, then drift perfectly downstream......
My 14' Drennan DRX Ultralight was equipped with a closed-faced reel, loaded with 4lb Korum waggler line. I opted for a 10x no 4 wire-stemmed stick with a domed top, with a bulk shot 4'' above an 0.11 Powerline hooklength. Hook sized was a 16 Drennan Carp Maggot - the red ones. Bait was good old double maggot, fished between 5-7'.
''How do we fish it then Fordy?'' said Pebs, as I stood overlooking the swim, rod in hand, ready, no doubt, to make a total tit of myself.
I sprayed a few pouchfuls of maggot at the head of the run, then cast into the water at the extreme edge of the hatch to allow it to swing round.
''The flow brings it round perfectly, you just hold the line off the water until the float slows down when it reaches the tree. That's where the chub will be sitting,'' I said to Pebs.
It almost sounded like I knew what I was talking about. The float swung round on the current, and slowed. Then it stopped.....and dived under at 200mph. I lifted into the bite...and the familiar ''thud, thud, thud'' fight of a decent sized Kennet chub was underway.
''Fish on Pebs,'' I said.
''What?. First bung. You jammy b*astard.'' Well..he is a Chelsea fan.
A few minutes later, and we slipped the landing net under a beautiful, broze-flanked fin and scale perfect Kennet chub, which weighted around 3.5lbs.
''How did you do that then,'' Pebs said.
''I'll show you - just to prove it wasn't a fluke. Just feed a pouchful (twang....) cast to the edge of the flow (hissss......splosh) , let the float swing round like this....and as it reaches the line of the tree (gadoosh) the float goes under.''
I was grinning from ear to ear. Another fish dived and thudded, testing the tackle to it's limit. This time a fish of closer to 4lb made it into the landing net. I'd been fishing all of 10 minutes and had caught two fish in two bungs. Pebs had only just finished setting up, so had Bazza.
I took a step back and allowed Mr Stone to replace me on the concrete rampart overlooking the hatch pool. Being a decent sort, I thought it was only fair to let him have a go. I even fed the swim for him as he figuring out his attack.
In went his float, which settled in the flow and headed off towards the kill zone, surrounded by a pouchful of maggot. Sure enough 'gaddoosh', and under it went. The chub were feeding so voraciously it barely even needed a strike.
Pebs laughed like a machine gun (we've all heard it....) and he was in. Another chub in the net - and our red letter day was well and truly underway.
Barry had his turn on the run next. It took him a couple of casts to get the float into the right position - but one he did, he too was into a fish.
We spent the next 90 minutes taking it in turns to cast and catch. It was almost a fish a chuck. None of them were under 3lbs - and they all fought like tigers! Fantastic stuff.
After a while, I wandered off upstream for an hour in search of another challenge (and some peace and quiet!!), leaving Pebs and Bazza to enjoy their session. They carried on catching with joyous regularity. I too found another productive swim where I managed to tempt a chub from a snagpit.
On my return, it was clear everyone was having a brilliant day. We'd either caught the majority of a spectacular chub shoal - or spooked them, as the bites had dried up. Then the Kennet's psycho trout population started to show up. I managed to play and land one which I initially thought was a salmon. It tipped the scales in excess of 4.5lbs - but looks like it would go 6-7 in summer condition.
Pebs and Barry both caught trout too - before we decided it was time for a move.
From the picture, you can see our superb net of 24 River Kennet chub. The smallest went 3lbs - the biggest weighed in at over 5lbs.
We returned all the fish safely into the hatch pool - and headed off elsewhere to sample more chub action.
A had a couple more, so did Pebs and Barry, as we wandered around enjoying our last day on the river for three months.
It does seem odd that we as anglers walk away from the rivers when they enter what appears to be the time when they are in prime condition. But I've never minded...and here's why.
One of the chub from the pool was dripping with spawn. Tiny little eggs falling from her belly. The next generation of Kennet monsters on the way. It's time to leave the rivers in peace for a while and let nature take it's course.
Now I'm off to a commercial to see if I can remember how to fish pole and pellet. Roll on June 16th.......
