GrahamM
Managing Editor
- Joined
- Feb 23, 1999
- Messages
- 9,773
- Reaction score
- 1
I’ve never fished the Great Ouse but I’m assured by some of that river’s regulars that the resident barbel are not easy to catch. So why is it that I’m not particularly impressed by the news of some of the huge barbel that are caught from the river?
I don’t include the two recent 17-pounders and the 19lb fish caught this past week or so. They’re impressive because they’re not only massive, but two of such stature in a day is one hell of a feat, and a 19-pounder when an 18 has yet to be caught is equally impressive.
But when I read about yet another 15 or 16-pounder from the Great Ouse I skip through the report with a distinct lack of deep interest. But tell me about a 14 from the Trent or the Severn, or practically any other river, and I want to know all about it.
Tell me about a 10-pounder from the Dane or the Dove and I want to reach for my rod and dash off for a session. Of course, they’re ‘my’ rivers and that makes a difference.
But 15lb and 16lb barbel from the Great Ouse? They should get my juices flowing, I know that, but they don’t. Why? Is it familiarity? Have I, and lots of other anglers I speak to who feel the same way, overdosed on them?
I know they’re enormous fish. I believe they’re not easy to catch. I know I’d love to catch one. I’m not a jealous angler, or one given to sour grapes.
So why does the news of Great Ouse barbel do little for me?
I don’t include the two recent 17-pounders and the 19lb fish caught this past week or so. They’re impressive because they’re not only massive, but two of such stature in a day is one hell of a feat, and a 19-pounder when an 18 has yet to be caught is equally impressive.
But when I read about yet another 15 or 16-pounder from the Great Ouse I skip through the report with a distinct lack of deep interest. But tell me about a 14 from the Trent or the Severn, or practically any other river, and I want to know all about it.
Tell me about a 10-pounder from the Dane or the Dove and I want to reach for my rod and dash off for a session. Of course, they’re ‘my’ rivers and that makes a difference.
But 15lb and 16lb barbel from the Great Ouse? They should get my juices flowing, I know that, but they don’t. Why? Is it familiarity? Have I, and lots of other anglers I speak to who feel the same way, overdosed on them?
I know they’re enormous fish. I believe they’re not easy to catch. I know I’d love to catch one. I’m not a jealous angler, or one given to sour grapes.
So why does the news of Great Ouse barbel do little for me?