Making the Most of the Last Weeks of the River Season. Chub, Dace, Roach and Trout on the Bristol Avon

Kenny with a cheese paste caught chub

Like many of you I have been dying to get back on the river this winter. Bad weather has prevented anyone from doing much for months. So with an improvement in the weather forecasted I packed the car on Tuesday and was off to the Bristol Avon with friend and fishing guide, Kenny Parsons.

Upon arrival Kenny reported that even the half inch of rain on Monday night had pushed the river up! (If only we had been here yesterday). But we were here now so best give it our best shot.

We both set up trotting rods and fished with maggot. The river was coloured more than either of us would have liked but it was not long before we had a couple of chub to 2lb and a decent brown trout which fought very well in the fast current.

After lunch we decided to try feeder fishing in the slower section up stream. Focusing our attack with maggot, caster, bread and Kenny's famous cheese paste, we trekked to above the weirs to give it a go. The river here is around ten feet deep and much slower. Kenny started with bread and I tackled up with a groundbait feeder and caster. This produced a couple more brown trout, four small dace, a roach and star of the day - a silver sea trout. So not a bad day at all and well worth the trip. I'm off to the Wye in a couple of weeks so fingers crossed for a successful day then too.

A welcome sea trout of around 1lb 8oz