STEWART BARNES had waited 12 years to beat his personal best chub of 7 lb 4 oz.... but finally managed it.
Stewart set a long-awaited PB with this 7 lb 6 oz beauty from Bedfordshire’s Great Ouse.
The warehouse manager told Angler’s Mail all about the tactics which scored for him on the Great Ouse.
Stewart said: “After a cold night the day before, I thought I’d add a paste wrap to the two 10 mm boilies. And I decided to keep feeding down to just four boilies, which were in PVA mesh and attached to a size 8 hook.
“After having another smaller chub and barbel, a couple of days before, I hoped I’d found an area where the fish may be holed up along a gravel run, that sat behind a long section of streamer weed.
“The first fish came at 10.30pm. It took me through every weed bed in the river, until a 10 lb 1 oz barbel was safely the net. I rested her for the next half an hour in the net, to make sure she had recovered.
“So by the time I had rebaited and cast back out, I was hoping I still had a chance of another fish before the temperature began to drop.
“Just after 1am the rod hooped over, and I was into what I knew was a big chub. Luckily, it stayed away from all the same weedbeds, but did then try to bury itself into the nearside reeds just before netting it.
“I knew as soon as I lifted it onto the mat that it was a 7 lb chub, but didn’t want to guess the weight. The digitals read 7 lb 6 oz and I knew I’d finally done it… a new PB,” concluded Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire-based Stewart.
CAUGHT A BIG FISH OR GOT SOME NEWS? You could star in Angler’s Mail in print and online – email pix and details exclusively to: anglersmail@ti-media.com
SUBSCRIBE TO ANGLER’S MAIL PRINT MAG AT A LOW PRICE!
The best weekly print magazine, Angler’s Mail, can be delivered to you every single week.
Just subscribe to one of the top Sale deals online at our official website for magazine subs: magazinesdirect.com.
You’ll then get Angler’s Mail print magazine delivered to your door, anywhere in the world.
Discounted rates from just 98p per week (print) – and even less for the digital iPad/iPhone version!
You may also like to read these Angler’s Mail stories…
Top winter fishing tips for chub
CHUB are a favourite winter quarry, and more so when the really cold weather has settled in, and clear, low…
Clonking chub… on a chub!
REIGNING Fox Specimen Cup holder Phil Morton is making a claim to keep his crown after landing this stunning 7…
King-sized chub
The huge chub came from the members-only stretch Kings Weir and wins Jerry a weekly award of £100 of great…
Corking chub on bait wizard’s new wonder paste
The Tring, Hertfordshire-based specialist landed his latest jumbo chub on the Great Ouse. His magic chub bait involved moulding the…
Monster chub on new bait creation
Tring, Hertfordshire-based Leighton said: “I have been experimenting with a unique Umami paste bait encapsulated by faggots and sold by my local…