barbelboi
Well-known member
oh and the miniature chub ain't as good as the barbel.
Two PB's (or should that be PW's) in a week though................
oh and the miniature chub ain't as good as the barbel.
Two PB's (or should that be PW's) in a week though................
Much to like in your post Phil, well written , erudite and amusing ! I too like the Darent Valley rods. Having met Binka I must say he reminded me of Alain Delon ; and a gentleman to boot!
Had my first outing today at the club I've just joined on the Thames. Quick chat with a couple of members, first told me all about the water and what was in there and made it sound really good. Second just said how hard it was and it fished best 12-3am. But he was there at 3pm !!!. Asked me what I was targeting (fish mate), said I was gonna use a maggot feeder so he told me to fish at the furthest point from were he was. He made it sound so dire I thought he was gonna cry.
Any way picked a swim based on size so I was comfy but forgot about casting with overhead branches and to the side. Never mind, let's make the most of it.
First catch, a mussel. Was gonna put it back but it managed to untie my hook to nylon so he was destined to be bait now.
Not having much success, small bites but couldn't hit any. Changed to size 18 with a micro barb that I bought by mistake. No barbless rule so let's use them. Hadn't even cast in and hooked my shoelace and that barb was working well. Me reaching shoes is like trying to scratch the middle of your back, not easy.
Set up again, cast in, settle back in chair, rooting through jacket pocket, find a tic tac, result yeah.
No, it was a paracetamol I was chewing on.
Basically that was the most memorable part of the day. Ended up with 3 small roach and 2 dace. There's plenty more swims to explore and I'm going back tomorrow evening after work.
Oh, and I did use the mussel as bait so got my revenge on him but no fish like him.
You may want to check the legal situation in re killing Freshwater/Swan mussels.
Thanks for the info. Feel like a criminal now.