There’s no more effective or enjoyable way to target chub at this bountiful time of year than with a trotting set-up. Not only does it keep you active, its such a fantastic and rewarding way of fishing as you know when that float buries, you have got everything right.
So grab your rod, landing net and a bucket of bait, and hit one of these hand-picked, easily-accessed venues for a memorable day on the bank.
River Wye, Bartonsham, Herefordshire
For huge bags of chub between 6oz and 2lb on the float – along with plenty of chunky dace and roach – head to the town stretch in Hereford, but for larger specimens the best bet among Hereford and District AA’s many waters is Bartonsham, where fish to over 7lb have been taken. Use waggler tactics, feeding plenty of maggots and hemp, with the former on the hook. Day tickets an be bought in advance from Woody’s Angling Centre, where the proprietor will tell you the best swims to head for.
Contact: 01432 344644 (Woody’s)
Bristol Avon, Chippenham, Wiltshire
As Martin Bowler showed in his column recently, there are good numbers of chub in this town stretch, with some really good sport if you put some effort in. It responds well to trotting a stick float with the larger fish generally feeding as the light begins to fade. Chippenham Angling club controls six miles of the Avon upstream of Chippenham Weir, and the shallower, streamy stretches at the top – around Kellaways and Peckingell – are also brimming with chub.
Contact: www.chippenhamanglingclub.com
TROTTING IS ALL ABOUT CONTROL AND THE BEST FLOAT RODS WILL AID YOU IN PERFECTLY PRESENTING A BAIT.
Throop Fishery, Dorset Stour, Dorset
A classic big-chub venue that is in top form this winter, with multiple hits of big fish over 8lb on trotting tactics. The three beats cover five miles. Beat 2 is the shallowest and by far the busiest. Alternating between maggot and bread baits, action tends to come in pockets, with biteless hours turning into several fish in a row, just keep working likely looking swims and you'll be rewarded. Day tickets are available in advance from tackle shops or the Ringwood DAA website.
Contact: 01425 475155 (Ringwood Tackle) or www.ringwoodfishing.co.uk
USING ONE OF THE BEST FISHING REELS WILL MAKE CASTING AND HOLDING BACK A FLOAT FAR EASIER.
River Trent, Power Station stretch, Farndon, Nottinghamshire
Run by Newark Picatorial Federation, there’s good mixed sport throughout this easily accessed stretch. There are 36 comfortable pegs, those in the teens being among the best for the chub, which will take maggots, bread and worms. Although day tickets are available on the bank, it’s recommended to get them in advance from the club’s website, or local tackle shops.
Contact: www.newarkpiscatorial.co.uk
River Nene, Peterborough, Cambs
Alwalton and Castor are popular with barbel anglers, and so the chub, which reach over 6lb, are largely ignored. Lots of water to go at, including backwaters at both venues, so keep moving to locate the chub. Fishing is from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Day tickets are available in advance from the website, with free fishing for juniors.
Contact: www.fishinginpeterborough.co.uk
CHUB FISHING CAN BE GREAT IN THE COLDER MONTHS, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE BEST WINTER WATERPROOFS TO STAY COMFORTABLE ON THE BANK.
River Lea Navigation, Towpath Fishery, Herts
Ware AC’s mile-long stretch of the Lea Navigation, on the east bank between Carthagena Lock and the end of Crown Meadow, comes into its own for big chub right now. Try the area below Nazeing New Road bridge known as The Conkers. The big Lea chub from Carthagena Weir move down here in winter, and a waggler to the far bank has accounted for fish to an eye-popping 8lb. Parking at Old Nazeing Road.
Contact: www.wareanglingclub.co.uk
Warks Avon, Evesham
Manor Farm Leisure controls two stretches of this resurgent Midlands river which, along with some increasingly big barbel, has also been producing some cracking chub bags. Unless it’s waterlogged, cars can be driven to most pegs. On the first section, the first field is great for waggler tactics, while the bottom two fields have a little extra depth and are perhaps better suited to the stick float. The second section (called Lock Cut) is a good bet when the river is carrying extra water. Try trotting banded pellets if smaller fish become a nuisance.
Contact: www.manorfarmleisure.co.uk
SOME RIVERS RESPOND WELL TO POLE TACTICS, READ OUR BUYERS GUIDE TO FIND A PERFCT POLE FOR FLOWING WATER.
Great Ouse, Whitings, Milton Keynes, Bucks
Around Wolverton, any of the club’s stretches are worth a go, but Whitings, which runs from the Galleon canal aqueduct down to the Haversham railway viaduct, is hard to beat, with fast, shallow areas and slower, deeper runs. Trotted breadflake sorts out the better chub. Watch out, too, for the bream that go to 8lb-plus! Parking is by the Galleon pub or Stone Park.
Contact: www.mkaa.co.uk
River Blackwater, Mill Bridge, Hampshire
Also known as ‘The Cattery’, this stretch is run by Hartley Wintney AS and can be found a mile from Yateley town centre. It offers great rewards for anglers adopting a roving approach, and begins at a weir pool (Mill Bridge), where the first three swims have form for chub to well over 6lb, plus double-figure barbel and roach to 1lb-plus. Head downstream for quieter fishing and a big surprise or two. The club’s stretches at Hawley Meadow and Shepherd’s Meadow are also brimming with fish that will respond well to plenty of loosefed maggots.
Contact: 01252 861955 (Yateley Angling Centre)
River Don, Sprotbrough, South Yorkshire
Try beaking out the stick float gear and tackling Doncaster and District’s stretch running downstream of Sprotbrough Weir to the A1 bridge, which holds big chub and can offer great roach sport as well under the right conditions. The pegs with overhanging trees and other features – creating classic ‘creases’ in the flow – are particularly suitable for a hemp and caster approach. The club’s stretch at Crimpsall Sluice is also well worth a look. Day tickets are available on the bank but the book is great value too.
Contact: www.ddaa.co.uk
DO YOU LIKE CATCHING CHUB ON A VARIETY OF METHODS? OUR WHERE TO FISH GUIDE HAS SOME MORE GREAT STRETCHES TO TRY!
Hampshire Avon, Royalty Fishery, Christchurch, Dorset
One of the most infamous stretches of river in the country is also home to some huge hub, with more and more fish over 7lb being caught each season. Bigger Avon style floats are generally required due to the pace of the river, with the chub tending to favour the slightly slower areas such as the Railway or the Waters Meet area. Maggots, pellets and bread all seem to be favourites of the chub down here.
Contact: Davis Tackle 01202 485169 or www.swlakestrust.org.uk
River Tone, Taunton Somerset
The section of river running from Firepool Lock to Bridgwater Road at Bathpool, otherwise known as The Fast Stretch, is run by Taunton AA and offers exceptional winter chub fishing. Individual fish to over 6lb, and nets of 50lb-plus, are not uncommon, and trotting with a stick or Avon float with a loading of between 2g and 4g (depending on conditions), and maggots on the hook, is as complicated as it gets. Prime a few spots with grubs or mashed bread before fishing, then visit them in rotation.
Contact: www.tauntonanglingassociation.co.uk
River Severn, Bewdley Meadows, Worcs
The Kiddermister DAA day-ticket water at Winterdyne is well worth a go, but we’ve picked the Meadows stretch at Bewdley, as it offers relaxed fishing with loads of bites on the float. There are 20 pegs, although only 12 tickets are sold each day to ensure everyone has plenty of space which are available in advance only, from Bewdley Tackle and Leisure. Free secure parking is right next to the river.
Contact: www.kdaafishing.co.uk
SO YOU KNOW WHERE TO CATCH THEM, CHECK OUT THIS TIPS & TACTICS ARTICLE ON HOW TO CATCH THEM.
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