TINY RIVER CHUB FISHING - RIVER FOSS 

So good to see that the chub are doing well in the River Foss. Hope other species are too. Although I haven't cast into the Foss for well over three decades, I still have a soft spot for it. I did a project about its ecology and man- made problems in the late 1980s. Sadly, things have probably got worse in the last 3 decades. It was the river where I caught my first ever fish on rod and line in the 1970s, when I was about 4. A bleak pulled the little green porcupine quill under and I struck so hard that it ended up in the nettles behind me (it went back alive though)! If there was a list of the 50 most abused small rivers in the country, the Foss would certainly be in there. It has been canalized; first for navigation and later (ruthlessly) for land drainage. It has regularly been polluted with raw sewage by Yorkshire Water (whenever their automatic sewage works at Haxby and Strensall fail). It has been treated as an open drain by the dreaded Foss Internal Drainage Board (resulting in leaching of toxic agro-chemicals after summer storms and excess topsoil/silt off the fields). They are the reason that most of the Foss is treeless. An obsession with straight banks with a trapezoidal cross section and ruthless removal of most overhanging vegetation. It has been abstracted almost dry in summer for agriculture, regularly polluted with dyes (and who knows what else) by the Rowntree's/Nestle factory over the years and the list goes on. About 15 years ago, I watched the Environment Agency pull out dozens of dead roach over a pound at the back of Yearsley baths after yet another summer pollution incident when the oxygen levels were already low. It is one of the few rivers that actually looks more attractive in the centre of town than in the countryside. Between Strensall and Huntington, it is mostly straight, tree-less and full of algae as a result of eutrophication. Little space there for willows, yellow lilies and reeds. Many of the river's riparian owners and the Foss Internal Drainage Board (one and the same in most cases), should hang their heads in shame for their 'crimes' against the environment; all in the name of profit. Yet the little River Foss keeps coming back. The last water vole that I saw was on the Foss about 15 years ago at Huntington. Fish keep returning and kingfishers and other water birds manage to eke out a living. Barn owls still hunt along the banks. Hopefully there are enough anglers and naturalists who care about it to campaign to give this river the respect and management that it deserves.

Had chub up to 5lb from the Foss, cracking river. Can be tough going but that's half the fun

I think the young man enjoyed that and that's what it's all about ( and not a bream in sight 😉 ) and I have feeling there's more footage coming from the Foss, tight lines buddy .

Well done, can't believe how many you got out.👍

Always been a good stretch for chub. Surprised no jack pike joined the party.

not fished the foss for years, looks like it still fishes well

Amazed mink not had all those chub ,they had plenty on COD beck

Always seems to bounce back does the Foss, its had some hammer in the past with pollution and the like, and enjoyed the video, well done.

No Carl today Alex?

Hi Adam, I am a new ish angler and i live about 30 seconds away from the foss in New earswick and I always see big chub but never manage to hook one, is there any tips u can give me please

which section of the foss is this?

Do love my chubb fishing... freeline some meat, bread,corn or pellets..happy days.. great vid bruh x

Great vid Adam you remind of myself when I was a lot younger great to see and hear the joy you get when catching chublets.

Where abouts on the Foss is this, I've been at new Earswick today

fantastic day stomping the bank very nice

Fishing banter at the end

Where abouts is this? I know it’s the foss but where abouts? Thanks

I've messaged you regarding our fishing match conversation