During the afternoon we decided to go at the Chub. Six pints of Maggots were purchased, as well as a few of caster and hemp. On arrival at our swims, we started to introduce feeder after feeder full of maggots, trying to lay down a decent bed of freebies. For the first few hours nothing happened, and we started to wonder whether anything was going to happen. All of a sudden my tip whipped round a fish leapt clear of the water; it certainly wasn't a Chub! Once netted I was staring down at my largest wild Brown Trout, a lovely fish weighing 4lb 8oz. This had us wondering whether any Chub were in the area, but we were soon to have our doubts answered.

Sitting back staring at the tip, my double bronze maggot was sucked in and the tip was steadily pulled round. On striking I knew I had hooked something better, and Andy's first impressions was that it was in fact a Barbel. I wasn't so sure, due to the slow ponderous actions of the fish, and once it hit the surface, I knew why. I was attached to a very big Chub. Andy did a grand job of netting, and on the scales I recorded my first 6 pounder, at 6lb 1oz. The rest of the evening could have been fishless for all I cared, but we just kept catching, with no less than another 15-20 decent chub to over 5lb gracing the net.

The last day was spent on a small tributary of the Wye. After a morning spent baiting lovely looking over hanging bushes, we spent the late afternoon and evening roving between spots, landing a few nice Chub to 5lb 4oz. We had hopes of Barbel as well, but due to the now seriously bad weather which had arrived, we didn't fancy our chances of Barbel in the snow!

Once again the Wye had been kind to me. Come this February, I'll be back!