The dog days of summer, hot weather and low water meant chasing chub again. Weatherwise Sunday was the best day with smaller clouds and enough sunlight all day to spot the fish. The cooling tower plume of one of the last few remaining nuclear powerplants in Germany was clearly visible from miles.
My hotspot at the feeder had such low water that the chub did not venture there anymore. Luckily the main stream still had some deeper parts that where fishable when not completely overgrown with waterweed.
The waterweed caused trouble, lost two good fish in there as they dove in it for cover. Even my telescopic landing net of 3.6m could not coax them out. All left to do was pull on the leader and the hook came out.
With that skinny water the fish where even warier than usual but I still caught a few fish with one close to the 50cm range which I consider big for a chub. Most banks where mowed with plenty of fish around, all chub off course.
With the drought continuing I went for another chub session at the lower end of the stream. Conditions where not exactly favorable with overcast skies. Sunlight was lacking for proper sight fishing.
I started late as some showers where predicted early on. Luckily it stayed dry so I headed to a good spot near a bridge to scout for chub. One chub I spotted was particularly big but it just did not respond to the fly. Even a school of medium sized was unfazed by my offerings.
Clouds soon became thicker and it actually started to rain. I sheltered under the bridge and noticed some fish moving about. As the hopper did not seem to entice the fish I tried a sedge and tossed it to a school of fish. Surprisingly a dace hit the fly instead of the present chub.
With not much happening I went on my way to spot nr.2 As I crossed the bridge I noticed fish moving at the other side. I stopped and found a large school of smaller chub, perfect for a hopper presentation. As soon as the hopper landed on the water one of the chub grabbed it.
With the banks mown I moved downstream and spotted a slightly larger fish moving right under the bank. All I had to do was to drop the fly over the edge and it was hit by the fish. The school was gone now so off to the next spot.
My hotspot had many fish but without of sunlight I could not spot the fish with their dark backs over the dark weed. Only at the sections with sand bottom you could see moving fish, I scared most fish away. At one of the more fast flowing riffles my fly suddenly disappeared in the current. It was not the current though but a chub … noticed it too late and so the fish was gone.
It rained on and off during the day with light rain in the morning through some heavy showers in the afternoon. To bad I could not elude them all but there where plenty of fish around so still a productive day.
I went out on Sunday to the lower section of the stream once again chub fishing. Blue skies and hot weather provided ideal conditions for this species. On the last trip I fished a section where I spotted a lot of fish but this time I spotted just a few small fish.
I went further downstream and checked out the cascade dams that replaced an inaccessible weir. I spotted a big chub but there was no way I could present a fly there due to the current and plant growth.
At the end of the cascades a tree provided some shade at a small pool, it just looked fishy. The bank was steep though, about 10ft sheer 90 degree drop off. I tossed a hopper blindly under the tree and boy a big chub nailed it instantly. Now I had to figure out how to get down to the water. Only way was to slide down through the shrubs to land on the rocks.
In the meantime the chub had managed to dive under a deadfall and the leader was tangled in a branch. When I tried to untangle the leader the chub bolted and bend out the hook, bummer. I found some other fish but none where inclined to take the fly.
At what I figured was the best spot I finally caught the first fish of the day on the hopper. It was not a monster but at least a fish. Soon I came across a larger fish and it took the hopper with gusto. The problem I faced to land the fish was once again the steep bank and my silly trout net. I slid halfway into the water and could land the fish … but I could net get back onto land. The steep muddy bank just gave way so all I could do was to wade to the nearby bridge and crawl up to the shore.
I spotted many chub and managed to loose two big fish in the process. And again I suffered from that early strike syndrome jerking the fly out of the chub’s mouth. Many times chub would inspect the fly first before gulping it slowly down and then anxiety would get the better of me.
The last spot of the day was at the feeder stream where the shallow section in front of weir boasted hordes of chub including two big ones. I tossed the hopper near one of the big fish and it came cruising for the fly. This time I waited but too long as I allowed it to spit the fly out before I could strike.
The banks at the last spot where fully overgrown so you could hardly walk let alone spot the potholes made by the rat population. I made it a couple feet upstream when I spotted once again a big chub. The bankside vegetation shielded me so the chub did not see me coming and nailed the hopper as it landed on the water. The nearby gauge station boasted a nice stairway down to the water so I could land the fish easily. All in all a good day for chub hunting.
With predicted exceptionally hot weather and the low level of the stream I choose to go after chub on Saturday, ideal weather for that species. I checked out some spots along the way and spotted a few of the bigger fish. The shallow wide section of the feeder was my target area and when I arrived there plenty of fish where hovering around.
Fly of choice was a big mayfly pattern which would either scare off fish or be attacked instantly. The shallow water was tricky, algae had formed and reached the surface prevented free movement of the fly line. After a while I got a good hit from one of the smaller chub on the fly. The bigger chub however would not look at the fly.
I walked a bit upstream and it was tough, stinging nettles man high … you could hardly move forward. There was a rather large pike lying motionless in the water and I tried to get it to hit a streamer. The pike was not interested and shot off to be never seen again. The upstream section was completely overgrown unfishable for dry fly fishing.
I checked out a section downstream and noticed a few fish but the high banks and high grass made casting almost impossible. It was now midday with about 88F and bright sunshine. The heat was getting to me and I needed a break in the shade.
The next spot was again overgrown and now one bank had been fenced to hold some ponies. Again totally overgrown banks so just reaching the water was hell in that heat. I found one open spot and one big chub and boy it went for the mayfly. But just as it was about to gulp the fly in I struck … too early. The fly came out and the chub ran off. With little wind and bright sunshine I had to run for cover again and luckily a shade tree was nearby.
One final spot was near a bridge where I recently had success, it was empty of fish though. The only thing to do was to check out the pub. The old location was nearest but as I passed it I figured the limited menu and higher prices warranted a longer trip to the new location.
So when I finally arrived at the new location I wondered why the outside dining area was vacant. That was not a good sign, it either meant the place was closed or a private party was held. I spotted the landlord an noticed the decoration in one area pointed to a private party. Turned out most of the staff had fell to covid and a skeleton staff was present to host a wedding party. Luck had it that I was allowed in and after a couple of cold ones I actually able to get something to eat also, all on the house … despite the slow fishing a good day.
With summer in full swing and harvesting going on the best time for chub fishing is near. If only the weather would be more stable things would be easier.
Mission big chub was a fail once again as I messed up the only chance at a big fish. Although some of the banks where finally mowed the high and murky water prevented me from spotting any fish. A few small ones went for the hopper anyway though.
I had three shots at one big chub. In the first and second cast the fish would follow the fly but hesitated to grab it. At the third shot I launched the hopper with a splash in the water and the fish followed and tried to take the fly. Tried as I lost my cool like usual and struck to early … will the hurting never stop… But we will try again with mayflies, hoppers and the odd crane fly imitations.
Last Saturday was predicted a 100 percent rain day by the weather guru’s. It actually stayed dry all day and I even got a tan in the end. Once again I tried to fool the chub and even had some new weapons in my armory. Besides the large abstract hoppers I usually fished I decided to try a more natural and smaller pattern hoping to fool the wary fish.
It was tough again to even get to the water which was btw very murky. This summer is completely different than last one, unstable weather with a constant supply of water. The water just was not as clear as last summer.
I tried some of the known spots and noticed a few fish in the murky water. The first reaction to the new hopper where promising as it was instantly attacked. After a few missed bites and one hooked it went quiet … fish gone. The other spot on the main stream remained fishless.
Next stop the feed, it was clear and had fish in it. Also big ones but I only nailed one slightly larger fish. The problem here was the extreme shallow water, dumping a hopper usually meant all the fish took off. Noticed one pike in the water but without the proper streamer it was no use trying, lots of weed in the water with no real depth to make a long retrieve.
With the fish not cooperating I did some sightseeing and took the long road to the pub. Went for the double cheeseburger this time.
On Sunday I tried the home stretch hoping to find a trout but I hardly found any fish. The squirmy yielded a small dace from one of the pools and that was it, The only thing hitting the squirmy where the gudgeons, small bottom feeders that constantly grabbed the tail section of the squirmy,
I tried some other places but the water was shallow, found a few small dace and fished a small dun pattern to get some bites. The pub visit was early as I had hoped that I would find fish surface feeding in the nearby village. Alas the surface waters where void of feeding fish, a small pink Perdigon yielded one roach and that was it.
A cloudy day with some of the clouds looking like thunder heads, it stayed dry though. Maybe it is time to visit some of the spots that are more off track in order to find fish.
Another hot weekend day thus again on the quest for a big chub. This time I tried again at the home waters but I had difficulty finding fish. Again the banks still overgrown so there was hardly an open space to find to reach the water.
The feeder stream had visible fish and indeed some of the big boys. The big mayfly did not work so I downsized to a crane fly pattern. The cranefly did work as long as it hit the water, free drifting and the fish showed no interest. I got two of the smaller fish relatively fast,
I spotted again a pike along the bank, it had seen me first though and retreated to deeper water. Further upstream I noticed the big chub and I made a good cast near them without scaring any fish. One came up and nailed the fly, I battled the fish successfully but just before I could net it the fish got off.
Back on the main river I battled the long grass and countless horse flies to find any fish. It was really hot and access to the water was virtually impossible due to the tall grass. I spotted a few fish moving but not the stationary feeding fish I wanted. In the mean time the storks where circling overhead, a sign of summer.
I tried the feeder stream on the way back but in the late afternoon all activity ceased. Last stop off course the pub, as the clouds gathered and rain and thunder where predicted I opted to sit inside.
As starters I ordered the Manta platte, a curry sausage with fries. Next was the salad with baked feta cheese. Skipped the desert as I was stuffed. The beer garden had plenty of visitors, amongst them pagans who ordered the strawberry beer .. beer with strawberry sirup and strawberries (lady drink). I made a picture of it otherwise you would not believe what savagery goes on at this side of the pond.
On Saturday I once again went after the chub, there was more activity and I had shots at two good fish. The first big chub had no interest whatsoever for the mayfly I was throwing. The second big chub was in a school amongst small fish at a feeder just behind some rocks.
The strong current made a good presentation virtually impossible so I opted to fish with a heavier streamer. The streamer landed behind the rock and a big chub plus a small one raced forward to intercept the streamer. The small chub was first and nailed the fly.
At other spots I saw fish but could not get them to take the fly. In the afternoon the heat got to me and I went to the main stream upriver in the forest. The shade made it more comfortable to fish. I had two ferocious attacks on the mayfly by a trout but the fish missed both and did not return later.
The next day I opted to go after the trout but the weather had turned as a front with rain, wind and lower temperatures passed overnight. The stream was up and murky but still good enough to fish. I opted to fish the squirmy and had many hits from the small gudgeons that where pretty active in the increased flow.
I hooked a good trout but after a long battle it threw the hook before I could put the net into action. Nymphing did not work that well so fished a small blue dun pattern with a foam post and caught several small dace.
I tried the spot where I lost the trout earlier later in the day. After many fruitless casts with the squirmy and the mayfly I tied on a heavy perdigon nymph. Heavy was the way to go as the fly went deep and yielded an attack of a trout, a different one than the one I had seen earlier.
Before I left for home I tried to get the first trout out of the pool that I had lost earlier that day. I decided to fish a small weighted conehead streamer and to my surprise the trout I was looking for chased the fly a few times. The fish did not commit so I called it quits and went to the pub for dinner.
For last Sunday I had planned an early trip to a section of the stream that is beyond the stretch I am allowed to fish. I purchased a day ticket and was at the water around 06:00 watching dozens of fish rise.
As with the trip last Friday the banks where virtually inaccessible. The only way to safely reach the water was by means of the steps at the small gage house. I fished a small blue dun pattern and the first fish of the day was a small bleak. Most of the fish rising where small bleak but some chub where mixed in.
The water was just too deep to move around in hip waders. Next stop was the fast riffle above the weir that was accessible by wading from the bank. No fish where rising in that section and blind casting a big mayfly or dropping nymphs in the current yielded no bites.
I moved down to the end of the riffle where the weir started. On the calm water I noticed one rise so I made a few casts with the mayfly. One one of the cast a fish came up and nailed the fly, it was a trout. I only got one jump out of the fish as it threw the hook, bummer.
Further downstream in the shaded part I noticed a couple of chub behind a tree in the water. Casting from the bank would not cut it so I had to go in. The sediment left over from the recent water was tricky though and I landed faster down the bank than intended … in the drink again. With only some wet waders and a covering of mud I continued fishing,
The part of the stream that flowed through the open landscape had no visible fish in the surface. Too early in the season I guessed. I noticed one big chub under a tree but the banks again overgrown with a very steep incline. The water was also deep, once you fell in almost no way to get out. I tried one hot spot upstream but nothing present so I left for the home waters.
At the home waters again no fish visible. I blindcasted a know hotspot with the mayfly and a very big chub came up to suck the fly in. Unfortunately that was at the end of the drift and when the fly began to drag the chub disappeared into the depth.
Next stop the feeder stream, talked with a guy who walked his dog and he told me some big chub where present at a bend in the stream. I went there and behold a few big ones where moving around but rather deep in the water column. Fished from the steep high bank in the outer bend was no good so I had to go to the other bank. I guessed the depth would be just right to wade through but I was wrong, anyways I was focused so I moved on,
The big fish would not surface to intercept the mayfly, I only managed small fish. Obviously these fish where not easy to fool and I guess they did not like my presence. Last stop was the clubhouse where some fish where present in the wide shallow section. Again the mayfly did not generate enough interest for a strike. The only big chub I spotted in the open was not interested in my mayfly as it was pursued by a rather large pike. Both fish disappeared out of my vision, hint for the next time to run a streamer through there.
At the shallow section I noticed small baitfish jumping out of the water and suspected a perch or pike might be present. It turned out to be a chub so I tied on a woolly bugger and blind casted some spots but no hits.
Got a call from my friend that they where fishing the main stream and where taking a break at the pub later so obviously I had to go. Left the pub late and a steady run back home until I came on the bike path through the moor. They had recently installed a set of gates with a cattle grid to give the cows access to the pastures at either side of the bike path.
The cows had decided the bike path was a good place for a blockade. Cows a big and stupid so there is an element of danger, I was locked in a stare down with them. I had no intention to around several miles so I slowly pushed forward and was ganged up by the lot sniffing and inspecting my fishing gear. They made way though in the end … no bulls present this time.
Last Friday was the day with the highest temperatures of the week. With the end of spring in sight I found it time to go after the chub so I took a day off from work. I had gathered intel from the locals and they said it was too early yet to spot the cruising chub.
It turned out to be true as I could not spot any free moving fish. The first stop was in de middle of a small village, difficult to cast but I noticed roach in the surface. I fished a small blue dun dry pattern with a foam post and got a few hits on the fly. The noise of early morning traffic bothered me though so I moved on.
The outflow of a mill albeit shallow was my next spot of focus. It was shallow but with the water being a bit murky I figured I could get away with fishing on close range. I fished a perdigon nymph and hooked a couple of small chub and roach. Small chub but in size larger than the roach and dace I had caught upstream recently.
Further downstream the usual chub hotspots where empty. In general no fish where to be seen. The main stream was obviously not yet in summer mode. Plan b was to visit the shallow wide section of the feeder stream at the clubhouse of the syndicate. That stretch usually held smaller chub with dace.
The clubhouse stretch boasted a few fish and the one chub I saw was a decent one. The small blue dun pattern however did not yield any interest of the larger chub.
My thought where that a larger fly pattern would be the way to go. I had scared of most fish at the end of the stretch by casting so I moved upstream and found a pod of larger fish. The big mayfly I fished caused interest and in the end one of the fish went for it like there was no tomorrow. I spotted a big fish near the other bank but it has seen me to and ran off before I could make a cast.
With the targets running out I went downstream to a stretch that usually was guaranteed to hold fish most of the year. When I looked down from the bridge I noticed big chub. The problem was that the steep banks where not mowed yet and the grass was manhigh so I could not toss a fly from downstream. The approach from upstream utterly failed as I was spotted by the fish and caused the fish to run.
The last spot of the day usually good for fish was quite overgrown by the aquatic crowfoot. No fish where cruising and as I battled the long grass I finally found a spot with rising fish. All I could muster was one small chub although I had seen one large fish. The heat really got to me, in order to survive the day I had to visit the beergarden where I enjoyed my dinner under the cool shade of the trees.
