Deciding to grab some hours fishing before any drop in water tempratures, I headed out on Tues evening after wrapping up the day`s other obligations. The river was very still and quiet and fairly low and clear too, it was going to be tough (I thought). I put a little bait in a couple of likely area`s with the intention of going off and coming back to fish these in rotation a little later. The first bite came in the second swim tried, and was a Chub of 4lbs, a reasonable start considering the circumstances!
Then after nothing more from the next cast, it was time to move to one of the baited swims…
Just needing to drop the line into the flow under nearside cover was the order of this swim, So having done this as quietly as possible I sat back to wait. It was not a long wait before the rod pulled round into the unmistakeable Barbel bite! The fight was a good one, as all the rivers flow pushed down this side, the fish had only taken a few minutes to find the bait and was ready to fight hard to keep it, after this spirited battle, the fish fell over the net. It was 6lb and very fit and well conditioned!
What a result, it was time to try the next baited swim…
The next swim, slightly different in character with less flow and more depth, the result of the first cast 5-minutes in was a big Bream. It was a start! Next cast and after 15 minutes or so from out of nowhere was the Barbel bite and a really fit 8lb fish finally made it into the net! I decided to give it another cast in here but after half hour, moved slightly further down stream. It did not take 10 minutes in this swim with rod in hand, to feel the pick up and then the pull as another good fish was on…
Things had gone really well considering, so – as my mate had asked so nicely – I tried one more swim before heading towards the car. After a good 20 minutes nothing had happened and I was getting ready to reel the line in when……….yes another big pull and Barbel on! A very pleasing session was topped off by this fit fish of 5lb or so, and it was back to the car.