The Tiny River Alne - Hunger and Humgruffins

I dread to think how many times I've fished the Tiny River Alne and not once have I fished cheesepaste (I don't think), well until this session that is. You see I had planned to venture to the Avon for a quickie (as per usual) and had the gear in the car, however from eyes and ears on the ground they were reporting it wasn't fishing well at all, so why not give the Alne a go instead !!!

When I have more time I might come back here and try for the dace and gonks again because the Alne, well ain't been fishing brilliantly for me at all really. The fish show up sporadically and there doesn't seem to be a pattern for them and when looking back at my blog archives it only confirms that. 

You can see the state of the banks at the moment just by looking at my jacket, mud, mud and more mud. They really are sodden at the moment and not in a pleasant way. I primed the swim with some bread slop first and it certainly coloured up the rather grey looking water.

I could see at least 3 foot down so the Alne is clearing fast after being in up and down floods for a good 6 weeks or so now. It usually fishes well when it's chocolate brown but I've been finding it tough to be honest and struggled to get any kind of session together.

This is the widest part of the Alne I fish and for a small river it's pretty deep, getting on for 6 foot or so maybe a tad more and the chub seem to like it here because of that. There are also trees to the left and the right and also plenty of escape routes in the margins.

The cheesepaste had only been out for 10 minutes or so when a really sharp pull happened where the tip jumped in to life, moved a good foot and then sprung back to its starting position. The bite didn't develop however at least I knew there were fish in the swim.

Not long after that another couple of pulls on the tip and then a drop back bite. Hmmm, I thought maybe a slack line might help as I was using a stiffer tip than I usually do because I tend to use this set-up in flood conditions. I need not have worried though because within 5 minutes an unmissable powerful bite and I was in to an Alne chub.

For their size they fight really well and within seconds it was headed towards my feet where there is quite a lot of dead reeds. A bit of a calamity (what's' new) trying to net it but eventually it was in the landing net.

They are lovely plump fish in general on the Alne and this was no exception, only a 2lber but most welcome I must admit. I retained it in the landing net and it took another 15 minutes or so when the light was fading to get another bite. 

This time after a few tentative pulls the tip went round confidently and another fish was one. This one was slightly bigger and I decided to weigh it where it went 2lb 10 ounces on the scales. Not the biggest of Alne chub but I could catch these all day to be honest. Like I said pound for pound these are tough old fish, they certainly give a good account for themselves. 

That swim went dead and with a head torch needed I crossed back over the 'bridge of death' and headed to another swim where after 20 minutes or so without an enquiry curfew called time yet again. The fishing fix ticked off with a couple of nice Alne chub and the world was a better place.

The Warwickshire Avon is dropping nicely and with a cold spell on the way with some frosts to go with it I'm hoping the fishing will improve. It usually does doesn't it, the fish get hungry and need to get their winter coats on by eating whatever they can.