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Post by rushy on Jul 24, 2015 13:35:44 GMT
Further to Keith Smileys post and a discussion I was having with Cabbo last week (cos he sent me his number again  ) why does there seems to be hundreds of small fish (2 to 3 inch ) in quite a few of the rivers but there appears to be a shortage of the pound to 3 pound fish. I was Barbel fishing on the float on the Wharfe last week with a size ten hook and treble caster and just about every cast there was a pristine 2 to 3 inch Chublet hanging itself. Also had a few nice Dace around 5 ounce (Jimmy will be gutted  ) but no medium sized Chub which you used to get gorging on your casters in the good old days. Andy Mortia had a silver fish a chuck on the Nidd last night while I was sat patiently waiting for my rod to be ripped round. Most of Andys were of a similar size although he did pick up some nice Roach. So why does there appear to be an abundance of small fish but no medium sized ones ? Are they been snaffled by Cormorants , Goosanders , Tarka before they get chance to grow ? Is it just that this is a really good year for them and we will see the benefits in a few years time ? And does anyone know how long it takes on a average for a Chub or similar to put a pound on ? |
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ianmc
Junior Member
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Post by ianmc on Jul 24, 2015 15:12:13 GMT
I noticed this on my local river there were lots of small chub a few yrs ago but hardly any last winter, the average stamp was around four and a half pound.
They could be just camera shy and forum frightened :-)
I blame the comorants
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Post by Eddie on Jul 24, 2015 16:46:24 GMT
Think I fished the same length this afternoon Dave, and it sounds like it could have been the same peg, or very close.
I just took a stick float rod a few bits and 1 and 1/2 pints of maggots. Talk about mini chub, I couldn't get the float to settle before I had one on, they were even trying to eat the yellow rubber on the float.
I bulk shotted, started throwing loads of bait in, but there were so many in the swim nothing was putting them off. Didn't count them, but it was a fish as soon as the size 12 double or triple maggot hit the water.
Must have had over a hundred of them! Weight was 1/2--3oz, so you would think different year groups, but nothing bigger except a few dace.
Maybe just a good nursery area, but you don't ever seem to find a swim with lots of 8oz to a pound fish.
Anyway lessons learned for next visit, some bigger stick floats, take waders( was struggling to get to the main flow) and leave the maggots at home.
Will have to try the good barbel pegs further down the length in the deeper water as well. Still enjoyed the afternoon though, it's a really nice spot.
Eddie.
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Post by patterdalewilson on Jul 24, 2015 19:29:42 GMT
Good question Dave , I have had similar sessions like yourself and Eddie both on the Nidd and the Swale. Usually on the float as the swim builds the fish get bigger , but this season its just not happening.
Also Toms pre season YouTube video off several bridges on the Swale there are good sized fish but few 1-2lb fish , so maybe they just don't exist in good numbers. They could have been lost to predation or perhaps when they were spawned it was a poor year for fry survival. Whatever the answer is it's not good news.
Mick.
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Post by stevo53 on Jul 24, 2015 20:19:03 GMT
Good question Dave , I have had similar sessions like yourself and Eddie both on the Nidd and the Swale. Usually on the float as the swim builds the fish get bigger , but this season its just not happening. Also Toms pre season YouTube video off several bridges on the Swale there are good sized fish but few 1-2lb fish , so maybe they just don't exist in good numbers. They could have been lost to predation or perhaps when they were spawned it was a poor year for fry survival. Whatever the answer is it's not good news. Mick. Had a wander at Howsham last week and spoke to a guy who was packing up and he was saying a bite a chuck on stick float fishing caster and hemp lots of small fish on caster but nothing big just the odd better dace. He was fishing a peg I blanked In during the last week of the season last March its good to see lots of silvers showing In the Derwent all be It small ones hopefully It bodes well for the future. Having fished the Derwent for many years In my experience It doesnt normaly wake up till the begining of September some might say it never wakes up and Its true It can be difficult.  |
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Post by smithleback on Jul 26, 2015 22:32:22 GMT
so it aint just me getting bombed out wi bits then |
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Post by stevo53 on Jul 27, 2015 14:12:49 GMT
so it aint just me getting bombed out wi bits then Did you ever on the Derwent?  |
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Post by smithleback on Jul 27, 2015 20:39:02 GMT
so it aint just me getting bombed out wi bits then Did you ever on the Derwent? now and again wi some decent roach at kexby[and the odd blank to boot]  |
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) why does there seems to be hundreds of small fish (2 to 3 inch ) in quite a few of the rivers but there appears to be a shortage of the pound to 3 pound fish.
) but no medium sized Chub which you used to get gorging on your casters in the good old days.
