Dave and I fished the Dove for barbel on Tuesday, 19th, and blanked. In fact we very nearly turned away and went back home when we saw it. As low and clear as I’ve ever seen, with gravel showing that I’ve never seen above water before.

It wasn’t a pretty sight, but we stuck it for three hours, Dave in the same swim he had the two doubles the other week, and me in a swim I’d caught from before.

The result was a total blank, with only one decent knock to my rod which I suspect was a line bite.

Maybe we could have caught if we’d stayed through the night but both of us hard work to do the next day.

Most rivers now need a week of heavy rain to flush them out and leave them refreshed.