Good tip on the hooklink length. They are an interesting fish aren’t they. The first cast rule is pretty much the way for me every time. So many occasions that lovely pull round which some how you miss and then next cast nothing! Hope you get a whacker if you are out again before the end of the season!

@@OnTheBankAngling Thank you. I fish for several species, but if I was restricted to one species and time of year, it would have to be chub and the solitude and harsh beauty of a winter riverscape. After a frustrating winter and no fishing at all between Christmas and early February (flooding, frozen lakes and lockdown), on February 19th, after missing two "unmissable" bites on the first two casts, I was surprised to get a third chance and I landed my first chub of the winter. My first ever six pounder (6lb 2oz) after 35 years of autumn and winter chub fishing on the Yorkshire rivers! Strange how things work out sometimes. They were the only bites of the session and that was followed by a few blanks! I took the week off for the end of the season (before flooding ruined the last two days) and I managed a few two and three pounders from the Ouse, but that Nidd leviathan was such a beautiful specimen after a long, cold spell, that it was enough to make up for a disappointing season (for most species, tbh). I was all alone on a mile of riverbank and gazed down in awe at that beauty, even before the scales confirmed what I had guessed. A perfect looking specimen of a chub. My previous best was an ancient looking 5lb 12oz specimen in early March 2011 (same swim) after another bad winter. Who knows, in 10 years time, I might even catch a seven from the same swim! The local rivers have risen over 3 metres in 36 hours, but I am hoping the flooding will recede enough for the last day on Sunday. Hope you catch a few more before the season's end.👍

Thanks Andy. I would do too if I was staying in the same swim. They are very spooky fish for sure!

That’s awesome Paul. We must be fishing in his home. Lives under that tree just downstream. Still need to do some exploring on the rest of that stretch.

Thanks for watching Neale!