S
Sean Meeghan
Guest
This year I decided to avoid opening day and the following weekend rush. I was persuaded by my mate Mick to make a flying visit to the Don with him on Monday afternoon, but I blanked.
Tuesday was to be the real start to my Barbel season and Mick and I paid a visit to the river Swale. The river was in a dour mood, but whilst rolling some meat I saw a decent barbel flash in a swim that I knew had early season form. I got my gear and settled down in the swim, feeding some moistened pellets and crushed boilies.
I hooked a what I think was a really good Chub after about half an hour, but pulled out of it. Then I hooked a decent Barbel but snapped on the hook knot trying to stop it reaching a near-by bush (memo to self need to be sure your palomar knot is perfect every time!). I fed a bit more, replaced the fluorocarbon hook length with 12 lb braid, rested the swim for half an hour then recast.
A delicate 4 ft twitch resulted in me being attached to what felt like a decent Barbel. During the ensuing epic battle (Mick had time to hear my shout, wind in, and walk 200 yards down the bank) the fish grew in size with every minute. By the time it was in the net I was saying a big 'nine', Mick was saying twelve plus (my brain was still refusing to accept the size of this fish!). The scales' verdict was 11lb 8oz.
The fish was caught on a bright afternoon in a 2 ft deep swim with a high flood bank with no cover for an approaching angler. The clear area that I fished was bordered on one side by a bush and on the other by a bed of streamer weed. The moral of this tale is that flashing fish are feeding fish and that with careful presentation and adequate tackle they can be caught.
What a start to the season!
I AM SOOOOO CHUFFED!!!!!!
Tuesday was to be the real start to my Barbel season and Mick and I paid a visit to the river Swale. The river was in a dour mood, but whilst rolling some meat I saw a decent barbel flash in a swim that I knew had early season form. I got my gear and settled down in the swim, feeding some moistened pellets and crushed boilies.
I hooked a what I think was a really good Chub after about half an hour, but pulled out of it. Then I hooked a decent Barbel but snapped on the hook knot trying to stop it reaching a near-by bush (memo to self need to be sure your palomar knot is perfect every time!). I fed a bit more, replaced the fluorocarbon hook length with 12 lb braid, rested the swim for half an hour then recast.
A delicate 4 ft twitch resulted in me being attached to what felt like a decent Barbel. During the ensuing epic battle (Mick had time to hear my shout, wind in, and walk 200 yards down the bank) the fish grew in size with every minute. By the time it was in the net I was saying a big 'nine', Mick was saying twelve plus (my brain was still refusing to accept the size of this fish!). The scales' verdict was 11lb 8oz.
The fish was caught on a bright afternoon in a 2 ft deep swim with a high flood bank with no cover for an approaching angler. The clear area that I fished was bordered on one side by a bush and on the other by a bed of streamer weed. The moral of this tale is that flashing fish are feeding fish and that with careful presentation and adequate tackle they can be caught.
What a start to the season!
I AM SOOOOO CHUFFED!!!!!!
))