Last day fishing in the UK for a long while - a red letter day!

In two week's time, my wife and I are leaving Oxfordshire for at least the next two years.  In among the general chaos of the move, I had always intended to have at least one last trip to the Thames at Duxford - my "home stretch" if water.  Even at 10:30 this morning it was not clear that I would make it, but a quick trip out for some loaves of bread, and I was down at the river just after 12:00.

No rain for the last week so the river is fining down nicely.  Overcast day - looked perfect for some chub.

First stop is the swim at the end of the "long glide", usually an excellent prospect under the bushes on the near back.  Second cast I have a nice fish of just under 4lbs.  I baited up this swim again as it was the one I intended to fish as it got dark, and then set off downstream, baiting up three more swims down to past Shifford Lock.  The bottom section still looks awful to me without the trees in the river - I still can't believe they have been cut down.

No fish in the first swim, then two in the second - another 3lber and a 1lber.  Then down to swim three, a swim that used to have a tree in the water but now only has a few branches that survived the cull.  First cast is a little too close to the nearside bank and not far enough downstream.  Ten minutes later the bait is positioned perfectly and a bite is not long coming.

This is clearly a very good fish as it hugs the bottom and only slowly agrees to come upstream.  And what a fish - instantly clear that it is a big 5 at least.  Could it be more?  For the first time since I caught my 15lb barbel, I am actually shaking as I sorted out the weighing.  And there it is - 6-07, a new personal best chub and my second 6lber.

As usual, I am unprepared for good photography, so I do what I can with the self timer and hope for the best.  Actually the pictures are not that bad

What a glorious event for my last trip for ages.  Actually for me the worst part about moving has been the fact that I won't be able to fish the local stretch on the Thames.

Later on, back at swim one, I lost what felt like another good fish and then landed a final chub of the day.  I thought this might just sneak over 5lbs but it was just under 4-15 1/2 in fact!

Other highlights - a hare, a heron fishing close to me, several kites, a cormorant (boo), and a kingfisher.

My next fishing trip might be in France in September - the local river Boutonne, home to 10lb chub and 20lb barbel apparently.

Watch this space?