How to Trot for Chub on the Hampshire Avon
How to Trot for Chub on the Hampshire Avon
At Ringwood, the Hampshire Avon carries a steady crease beneath alder branches and steep banks, exactly where chub hold in the current. A 13 to 14 ft trotting rod paired with a smooth centrepin reel gives the control needed to send bread flake through these runs. Mainline between 4 and 7 lb is suitable, with the line held as straight as possible behind a small, stable float.
Build the rig for a clean descent
Start with a bulk of shot 18 to 24 inches above the hook, then add one small dropper 6 to 10 inches from it. In heavier water, two close droppers help the bait settle without dragging. If the swim is deep or fast, move the bulk slightly farther up the line. That spreads the fall and cuts down tangles. A 0.15 mm hooklength, roughly 4.5 lb breaking strain, is a dependable choice, although experienced anglers often fish straight through.
A size 6 hook suits a medium flake and gives a secure hold; size 8 is neater when the bread is small or the Avon is clear. Soft, fluffy bread works better than a hard lump. The angler hooks the flake through its centre, then pinches it lightly around the top of the shank. It should stay attached during the trot while still opening naturally in the flow.
Begin on the main flow or its crease, especially beside fallen trees, overhanging cover and deeper glides. Feed tiny pinches of liquidised bread slightly upstream, allowing them to travel along the same line as the float. Set the shot so the bait fishes just off bottom, beginning around 2 to 3 inches overdepth. If bites fade, increase the overdepth to as much as a foot, slowing the float and making the flake lift and flutter.
Feather the cast so the float lands softly, then let the centrepin feed line smoothly as it trots downstream. The float should travel ahead while the bait follows naturally, with occasional gentle checks to hold it in the crease. On a quiet Hampshire Avon morning, the red tip dips beside an alder root, the line tightens, and a bronze-sided chub turns hard into the current.