Angler lands huge haul of chub from the River Lea
CHUB hauls don’t come much better than the one taken by Tony Spencer who managed to catch three fish over 5lb including a giant 6lb 2oz specimen while fishing on the middle reaches of the River Lea.
Tony's huge River Lea chub haul included three fish over 5lb.
The amazing catch, which was made using wag and mag tactics, saw the London angler set a new personal best for the species no fewer than three times during a hectic session on the Hertfordshire venue.
Tony netted specimens weighing 5lb 8oz and 5lb 10oz, and followed them up withthe biggest fish to cap what he called 'a session of dreams'.
Tony, who is a regular to the waterway, picked a swim with a nice glide and plenty of cover and began by feeding hemp and white maggots, baiting his hook with two maggots to land severalsmaller fish, including two over 4lb. He said: “The session got better as it went on. In the end I was extremely hectic, but I loved every minute of it” he added.
River Nene chub record smashed
The biggest chub ever caught from the River Nene has been banked.
The giant 7lb 8oz specimen was caught by Peterborough & District AA bailiff Andy Bell when he fished a tiny feeder with a piece of breadflake nicked on to the hook.
It’s believed to be more than 1lb heavier than any chub previously reported from the waterway, and comes hot on the heels of the HGV driver’s capture of a 29lb 12oz pike from the same river.
“I’ve fished this river for more than 35 years and the quality of the specimen angling has never been better,” said Andy.
“This chub is incredible and is the biggest I’ve ever heard of from the Nene. It beats my personal best that stood at 6lb 8oz.”
Andy’s rig was made from 6lb line tied straight through to a
size 8 hook, and it fooled three other chub to 4lb 8oz on the day.
The only bait that he constantly introduced into his swim was via his feeder.
“It’s vital not to overfeed when the water temperatures are low, so I used a tiny feeder about the same size as my thumbnail and packed it with liquidised bread,” Andy continued.
“This, coupled with the huge pike I caught recently, has made for an incredible tail end to the season so far.
“It proves once again what astonishing potential the Nene has as a big-fish venue.”
Andy Bell's River Nene record chub was tempted on a piece of breadflake.
Huge chub on a lure from the River Thames
Justin Beale took this superb 7lb 9oz chub on a tiny 3g jig head from a slack on the River Thames.
He had a hunch that a banker stretch for barbel held a few extra-large chub and he was proved right with his personal best for this venue.
Targeting the river with a 1.5g rod, 6lb braid and a 3lb fluorocarbon leader, pausing the lure induced the take.
Chub catch topped by a 7lb 15oz giant
All of Gary's chub topped 6lb!
One of the year’s most impressive hauls of big chub has been taken... on the waggler!
Carp angler Gary Norton proved he’s no one-trick pony with a five- fish catch topped by a 7lb 15oz specimen.
Targeting a stretch of the Lea Navigation in Hertfordshire, the local 42-year-old fed two pints of casters to back up the giant with a number of other chub to 6lb.
Gary, who has racked up more than 100 carp over 30lb and eight 40-pounders from the adjoining Lee Valley gravel pits, told Angling Times: “Most of my angling mates look at me as someone who sits behind buzzers, but I would like to consider myself as a bit more of an all-rounder, as I enjoy targeting anything with fins.
“The conditions were crying out for a chub session, and so rather than sitting there blanking away on the pits I decided to have a bash.
“It proved a decent call, as I am led to believe this is one of the best hauls of chub from the Lee Navigation in 10 or so years.”
Gary kept the bites coming by continually loosefeeding casters, and he fished the same bait on a size 18 Drennan Super Specialist hook to a 2.6lb hooklink to take all his chub.
Now, flushed with his success on running water, Gary has vowed to turn his attentions to roach.
“I’ve had my eye on a big redfin for a long time now,” said Gary.
“With a result like this under my belt I’m really confident, so watch this space.”