Huge canal chub landed

AN ANGLER has this week landed one of the biggest chub ever to come from a canal, smashing his personal best in the process.

Steven Brady, from Wolverhampton, made the impressive catch from his local stretch of the Shropshire Union Canal, where he adopted a stalking approach to tempt the impressive 7lb specimen.

The 29-year-old targeted a number of areas on the far bank towards a group of snags and after waiting almost an hour without a bite, his perseverance finally paid off when the fish took his freelined luncheon meat hookbait.

“I’d been watching a particular spot on the far bank for a while and had already seen some decent fish moving in and out of the snags when I saw this specific one. I cast towards it with a large piece of meat and it took the bait instantly – almost on the drop,” explained the carpet fitter.

“It charged straight towards some sunken branches on the left hand side of the swim and I thought I was going to lose it. Luckily I managed to turn the fish, which then charged towards me and safely into the net.”

Steven used 8lb ESP Mono mainline straight through to a size 6 Drennan Super Specialist hook to catch the fish on what was his first session targeting canal chub.

“Over the winter period I’d been concentrating on the canal’s big carp. I caught a 26lb 12oz pb just a few weeks ago, so I’m absolutely blown away to have landed another pb so soon - my previous best chub was only 4lb 6oz. I’ll be going back soon to try for an even bigger fish as I’m sure they’re in there,” he added.

Other canal venues to try for a big chub:
Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, Monmouthshire
Bridge 106 Ffynnon-Yr-Eirin to Bridge 107 Dan-Y-Graig; Bridge 110 Pen-Pedair-Heol to Ashford Tunnel; Bridge 96 Govilon turn to Bridge 102 Ty-Gwynn.
Tickets: Part of the £20 a year Waterways Scheme (See Canal & River Trust website.)
Kennet & Avon Canal, Reading
Padworth Rota and East Towney sections.
Tickets: Reading & District AA; go to www.wordpress.rdaa.co.uk for details.
Staffordshire/Worcestershire Canal, Wombourne
Botterham Lock to Awbridge Lock
Tickets: £15 a year or £2.50 day ticket; Wolverhampton AA - 01922 413491.
Grand Union Canal, Watford
Park Pound stretch
Tickets: £4.50 on the bank; Watford Piscators - 07956 385241
Coventry Canal, between Nuneaton and Bedworth
Bridges 10a to 34 (particularly good between bridges 17 and 18)
Tickets: £10 a season for permit; Royal Leamington Spa AA - 01926 312319