THE BIGGEST-EVER chub taken on a float has topped a remarkable array of catches as the curtain came down on the river season.
Southern specimen angler Simon Baker was fishing the River Lea in Hertfordshire when he landed fish of 8lb 6oz, 7lb 5oz and 7lb during a spectacular weekend’s sport.
After contacting the Chub Study Group, Simon discovered that the biggest of his trio is the largest example of the species ever taken on the float, beating an 8lb 1oz fish landed by Terry Theobold in 2014.
“For the past three seasons I’ve been targeting the Lea’s chub and trying to catch an eight-pounder on the float,” said Simon.
“Although paste and boilie tactics are more popular, I prefer to be active.”
While he normally favours maggots with small hooks and fine lines, on this occasion Simon chose to fish with bread after finding the river carrying a tinge of colour.
“I fed small balls of liquidised bread, with a big lump of flake for hookbait on a size 8,” he said.
“When I hooked the ‘eight’, I had a couple of fishery bailiffs sat behind me. We were chatting about the 7lb 5oz fish I’d landed when the float sailed away and I struck into another heavy fish. Immediately, I turned to them and said, ‘It’s an eight’.”
“Thankfully, the fish avoided the snags and swam straight into the net! After landing it, I sat down in a daze. A couple of hours on the float with two enormous chub for a combined weight of 15lb 11oz is something I’ll never forget.
“The next day I returned and had another three chub, topped by another seven-pounder. What an end to the season!”