BREAKFAST and dinner leftovers secured a new PB chub of 7 lb 3 oz from the River Trent for barbel ace Jerry Gleeson... who had never caught a chevin from the venue before.
Jerry had taken David Gough and Justin Towns on a 48-hour guided trip which they had won in a charity auction to Nottinghamshire’s tidal River Trent at Sutton. But could only catch on meat from his meals!
The 43-year-old head chef, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, explained: “When we arrived, conditions were dreadful, before we had set-up everything was frozen.
“I placed the lads in what I considered to be good swims with yours truly in the middle but far enough out of the way as not to affect their fishing.
“The fishing proved quite tough and it was late on the next day before the first barbel bite came and Justin scored first with a new PB of 14 lb 2 oz.
“Night conditions were perfect and I was sure the barbel would come but I was plagued by bream, so in desperation I thought I would have a try for chub.
“I’ve never actually had a chub off Sutton but was convinced they were there somewhere.
“I had some leftover black pudding, a couple of burgers and a lone sausage so throwing it all into a bucket and adding some Pandemic glug we had a lovely oily meaty mess.
“This was packed into a 2 oz feeder with a piece of steak as hook bait and the rig was placed just over a marginal shelf close to an underwater snag.
“Less than five minutes later the rod arced round, after a gentle strike the fight was on, and I could feel the fish angrily shaking its head.
“It dived for the snag on numerous occasions, after giving me the run around I eventually slipped her in the net.
“I was actually just going to unhook it in the net and let it go until she rolled over and I could see how fat she was. Once on the mat she looked like a fat little carp, it was the biggest chub I’d ever seen.
“The rig went back out and it wasn’t long before I had another of 5 lb 2 oz and 4 lb 11 oz before I ran out of bait.
“I did try pellet and boilie but not a touch, still I’m not complaining, a bit of leftover tea and breakfast had suddenly caught me a fish of a lifetime,” Jerry concluded.
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