Mr TightBud came down for the weekend and we went chubbing this afternoon on the river Kennet.

We had a very cold night down here and awoke to see a dusting of snow on the ground, The chub weren't playing and we only stayed for a couple of hours but it was nice to get out and scenery looked stunning.

We saw lots of Robins and had 4 of them in one swim eating the bread I was feeding them, they are getting fat on all the bread I been giving them over the last few weeks.

I had a great weekend, cheers TB and thanks for getting me stoned mate

Some pics of a cold winter river


Waiting for the chub to bite

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One of those fat Robins

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How cold?

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cracking use of that robin to disguise the fag packet I hope you picked it up?

Some horsey people enjoying the snow

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Aye, that was there when we arrived, we got a lovely piece of river like that and people leave all their crap on the banks when they go, I did pick it up before we left the swim

A different swim

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That is a classic chub hole under there, they live a deep hole under neath that tree trunk, we rolled a bait into the hole a few times but they were not having it today

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What were you using for bait ?

We tried bread flake, cheese paste and garlic flavoured meat. No loose feed today, I know the fish are there so if they are hungry they will take your bait, not today though

bread is a top bait for chubbing this time of year but I wouldn't leave home without my lobs, saved me from blanking loads of times.
Joe.

On the telly they used minced beef and lamprey and pre-baited the swims.

It wasn't quite as cold though.

Another trick I use this time of the year is to use a taped up feeder with chopped worm inside so only the juices escape with a large lob on the hook. Sometimes I nip the end of the lob sometimes I crank a bubble into it.
Joe

really lovely lookin pics it makes u want to go out an fish until u remeber how feckin cold it is

Man alive that looks cold, can't say I'm jealous of your day but I'm glad you had a good'un

Snap

I was almost ready to cycle down and see what the local river looked like ...

I agree, I catch most of my cold weather chub on big a lump of bread flake on a size 4 hook. Lobs are good bait too, its been to cold to go and collect them for weeks now, my local tackle shop don't sell them

It wasn't too bad when we got there but at 3 oclock the tempreture plummeted so we fecked off home, brrr

I think its quite nice that we are having a proper winter this year, it makes a change from mild and raining we usually get these days, and we get the added bonus of the nice scenery with every thing covered in frost, it clears your head too when you get out in the cold.

Not so good for the barbel fishing though

I got a free compost bin off the council and breed my own grubs in it, gives me a year round supply.
Joe

Nice one mate, very handy is that, I aint got a garden so I can't do that, I usually get them off a field behind my flat but its frozen solid at the moment

Cheers for the weekend Jakk,much appreciated
was top mate
i arrived a bit late(stoners eh!!) so we didn't make it out on the Friday fishing

but i was treated to one of Jakks fresh trout
and i've not had trout for a long time but was proper tasty
i'd forgotten how good fresh Trout taste compared to farmed

We sat there having a good smoke and was well baked with full bellies

when i got up i couldn't believe the frost ...it was a snowscene picture,Fantastic!!
Jakk certainly knows what he's doing fishing this area and a great tutor too...loads of info

its just a shame about the Fish not biting, had a few knocks but no joy,we did try a few swims
but just being out and about was great,the scenery

as you can see its was a bit Bleak and we thought we were mad until the horseriders appeared
who were probably also calling us mad

the Robins were being very sociable and helping themselves to plenty of bread(the swans were just annoying but they got fed too)

but yeah at one point we both realised the temps had just dropped and thought "thats enough" and made our way back
but WE WILL have those elusive fish one day soon

Thanks again mate,much appreciated
a top weekend

well done lads for braving the cold.
it looks freezing in them pics but does make for a nice picture.

ukbl

aye those pictures came out good mate,
nice to sit in the warm though and look at it all again

Looks like a really nice spot you guys were at, shame about the blank. That's what fishing is all about.