I settled in a swim just over half way along the stream where tree branches overhang almost the width of the stream making it a classic chub spot. I had fished it on numerous occasions before and caught chub. On this occasion the branches were in full leaf making the cast difficult as I wanted to try to get as near to the far side as possible.

I started with bread flake, my favourite chub bait, and after a couple of short casts managed to place the bait further towards the far bank. I didn't have to wait long for a classic chub pull and it was then just the not to simple matter of getting the fish in. It tried hard to reach the far bank but after a few scary moments it was in clearer water and soon netted. I didn't weigh it but it was probably around 2 - 2½lbs and in fine condition.

On a previous visit I had managed to get a number of chub bites even though I lost three fish. But this time after that first fish I only got taps and occasional pulls that didn't seem like fish but were more likely debris being carried in the flow.

I had thrown in some mashed bread hoping to encourage any other larger chub to feed but it just didn't happen. Changing to cheese paste didn't produce anything different to the taps that I attributed to small fish.

I tried another spot a few yards upstream that required an upstream cast into some slacker water by the far bank formed by a small raft but the strong central flow just pulled the bait out into the flow. I also tried moving a few yards downstream to cast to the tail end of the overhanging tree branches but once again only taps from what I assumed were small fish. I suspected dace as even smaller chublets would probably have mouthed the bait with a chance of being hooked.

Approaching midday the sun had moved from behind the trees and I started to get very hot and with still no indication of a better chub going for the bait I decided to call it a day.

So only the single fish but that can often be the case with a chub session and blanks are not unusual.