Stewart Bloor

Field Tester

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Doesn’t time fly? I can’t believe that this is my last blog of 2014; so let me take this opportunity to hope that you had a great Christmas and to wish you a wonderful and fish-filled New Year. During December I have been pretty much focused on canal chub fishing. I’m fortunate in that I live in the heartland of England, so have many miles of canals in the immediate area.

I do a lot of fishing for chub hair-rig style and with a boilie on the hook. The difference to more conventional carping though is that I fish with a quiver tip rod as opposed to a pod, hangers and bite alarms. When the chub take the bait though they usually hook themselves in the same was as they do when you’re using a hair rig for other species.

As I’m fishing with balanced gear they also put up a great fight as well. There are many aspects of angling in terms of enjoyment and the fight has to be up there with the others. Mind you, it’s also a relief when you slip the net under a fish, especially if it’s a decent one. Regardless of species, no-one wants the dreaded hook-pull, do they?

I have been fishing recently with a variety of SBS boilies for chub – M1, M2 and Ace Lobworm. These three baits have served me well over the years that I’ve been using the company’s products. They were ones that I chose when I got involved for the very first time, and that was way back in the days when Des Taylor ran the Kidderminster (UK) unit.

Confidence is a great thing isn’t it, and although I am always trying new baits, you can’t beat the good old favourites. Especially when they work. I tend to go for the smaller (10mm and 12mm) sizes when chub fishing, usually one boilie but sometimes two. A lot depends on venue, other species present and general conditions.

Anyway, I’ll be back in 2015 so I’ll see you then. As for species targets, although I do have stuff in mind, a lot depends on the weather. We may have a harsh winter ahead, on the other hand it could well be mild. I’ll still be fishing, just that venues, methods and species will change accordingly. Tight lines!