Michael Brough
Member
Well it's finally happened. When I introduced myself tothe forum several months again on my return to fishing after 30 years, I mentioned all my previous fishing had been on still waters. Wellthe pleasure in fishing rivers are many butcatching species of fish I had never caught before was one of the best. Grayling, dace and chub all new, plus river perch much bigger than anything I had caught before, but the barbel was eluding me. I was speaking to a friend who is a keen fly fisherman and he pointed out that I am a steep learning curve .When I compare how I fished back in August and how I have improved greatly in no small part due to the excellent advise available on this forum, excellent articles especially Sean Meeghans Yorkshire barbel series[ I was fishing the Leeds stretch of the Wharfe] and the barbel postings .What I can now do so much better is read the river conditions, the weather, be selective about tactics and which species to fish for and actually catch the targeted species. TodaywhenIcaught my barbel, all 5lbs of him, I knew it was not just luck I had got right each of those four factor. It's great at 51 to experience on my first sight of that fish that long forgotten child like excitment. The only flies in the ointment are my hands stink of halibut pellets and the source and even after repeat washing will take days to disappear andI broke the quiver tip of my new Korum rod but a posting on the forum explains how to get a replacement. Sorted!