Had my last outing this afternoon on the lower Tees, two three pound chub as darkness fell to 10mm pellet. But no Barble, thought these recent slightly warmer and lighter days may have made a difference.
Sean I have tried your methods on the Tees regularly througout the winter months with no sucess at all,even thechub have been hard to catch .
As a comment I am seeing Otter presence every time out on the lower Tees. Even saw one on the Swaledownstream of Morton Bridge.Last week just below Dinsdale I had one in the water in front of me making a loud hissing noise. Could of tapped the thing on the head with the rod end.
Feeling sorry for you guys, only just considering startingto fishthe rivers after the winter we have had over here. Roll on this weekend- four day bank holiday!
Splendid article Sean, many thanks; another last minute barbel saves the day! We’ll have to change that nickname though; I think ‘Wordsworth’ might be more appropriate (silence settles over the silvery landscape).
Brilliant as ever Sean, your last paragraph mirroring how I felt last night as I walked back to my van under a full moon with just a whisper of mist settling over the Ribble. I too had just two fish a barbel and a chub. However, my last trip will be tonight and as I always do, I'll stop for a wee while and take one last look at the river and feel very nostalgic before I drive home.
My last coarse river trip was last weekend, so from now on it will be stalking Trout on the local river, 3/4 outfit, providing Ican get myself a new line today, I'll start later on this afternoon.
The 'cover' (home page) shot is the Wye. I just wanted a nice river pic on the home page for the next few days and Sean's article linked with that nicely.
I had my last trip yesterday but, as a result of an excellent chub, I've decided to have one more go tomorrow, just in case the long lady want's to finish my season with a flourish.
Thanks guys - it's always a sad moment when I pack up for the last time at the end of the season. Still I've got the spotted vermin to look forward to!
I might not be able to make the Press manor do Spideyas Ron kindly scheduled it on the mrs' birthday!
Nothing like a nice bit of alliteration Andy - good job there weren't any daffodils about!
Stupid me spotted vermin. I sometimes wonder about myself, sat here for ten minutes trying to work it out and not look stupid/forum/smilies/eye_rolling_smiley.gif
Just got in from my last river trip.Caught off & on all day and ended with a fresh run sea trout of around 3lb and a roach of 1-10 on me last two chucks.
But the best bits were
1.Watching a huge barn owl quartering the meadow towards evening and
2.Somehow managing not to hit the brainless twat in the Citroen that pulled out straight in front of me through the roadworks on the M3.
If you were the bloke behind who didn't run into me then you sir are a gentleman and I applaud you. How I stopped and how you missed me I will never know.
It clearly pays to have a fat mate.I think it was the extra drag that saved us.