Sad News and A Reminder to all Anglers..

Posted on by November 4, 2013
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Rest in Peace Steve Stringer.

It was with great sorrow that many many fellow anglers and I, followed this tragic story of Steve Stringer who was a regular visitor to the stretch of river which last weekend took his life. He had been fishing as was usual, an area on the river Kennet which he was very familiar with, but on this Friday he did not make it home to his family. When I heard his body had been found and read tributes to him, like many others, I felt overcome with sadness.

Please let this be a reminder to us all to think of the chances/risks we take as anglers, and that we are very small when out there with nature, take care of yourselves and one another when enjoying your passion.
God Bless Steve.

To donate money for a wreath for Steve and towards his chosen charity please click the link below;

Donate towards a wreath for Steve on Barbel Fishing World

A Wet Weekend……and a Meeting with a Friend!!

Posted on by November 3, 2013
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A week or so ago, I had a call from a friend I have not seen for while and we arranged a convenient meeting on the banks of the Warwickshire Avon! There were lots of anglers around as this was a weekend, but I managed to get a swim which I liked the look of even though I had not fished it before. I baited the swim with a small amount of feed and set off to meet my friend, we had a good chat and caught up with news old and new. The weather was to get rough for a spell during the evening and this would be when he would depart and I would stay on a while longer…

I had made sure the brolly was secure and everything was tucked away – as best as could be – from the incoming wind and rain. As promised the rain came, and – up until then – no bites had, most other anglers had left by the time the rain finished. This was when the first bite came and an eel was the culprit!! Then a chub graced the net when I roved to a different swim, it was nearly 4lb and didnt have much tail left, this made the fight quite strange.

I then moved back to my base swim and cast a hopeful line across to an area downstream of the earlier bait, and a line on top of the previous bait. With the two lines out I was ready to wait at least half an hour for a bite but alas after only 10minutes, the downstream rod was off into a steady deliberate curve, and when I lifted it, the fish was solid in its resistance and heading for cover taking line. Immediately – knowing it was a good fish – I prepared for a scrap and mapped out where I would guide the fish to avoid obstacles (such as the weed clumps still on the river bed), the struggle was dogged and determined, and the fish looked huge as it slipped over the waiting net. It weighed 10lb 5oz and is pictured here…

Must Get rid of the Red Eye!!

This was the beginning of the fun as the next cast saw the rod do the very same thing within 5minutes, and the fight was very similar, as this fish came over the net it too seemed huge! It was 9lb 6oz and in good condition, the fight had done the worst to the hook, it was almost straightened!! The fish went back with a good hard kick of its tail.
After recasting I sat very pleased and tired in my chair, and thought of when to pack up, I would not re-cast these rods now, that would be it for the evening. To my total surprise, half an hour later the upstream rod decided to dive for the river as I tried to get up from my slump in the chair! Another dual was underway and this beautifully conditioned 9lb 2oz fish was landed….

Fit and Fin perfect!

Delightful!!

Posted on by October 21, 2013
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I had been promising the children a fishing trip with dad for a while now, and this weekend – even though I was full of a cold – was to be our chance. So with the rain beating hard and tracks covered with fallen trees and branches, we made our way to a special place!!

CHEESE!!

Smile??

Trouble!!

A Chub Moustache…

A Mild Night…..

Posted on by October 13, 2013
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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.

What A Trip! (Two Doubles)

Posted on by September 28, 2013
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I was beginning to feel like I would never get out for a session, when the opportunity arose quite unexpectedly. I had been day dreaming of an area I knew well – and wondering if the fish would still be there to see and catch – when the chance came to leave a job early and take the drive up towards The Midlands. It was only mid morning and I would get there in time to see the group of Barbel in question, but alas when I arrived, I found only 4 very cautious Barbel. I drew them over an area under my feet and caught one very spirited 6lber – this I am afraid to say – was it! The other fish took off not to return, I only gave it an hour or so more before moving location to somewhere I thought may fish well, into the evening…..

Arriving at my chosen swim an hour before dark, I dropped some bait in and left it to rest for half hour while I took a look around and got prepared. I then fished one feeder rod over the baited area, and another quite far downstream of the first. Into darkness a couple of Chub graced the net and the rods were knocking a little! Then at 8pm a bouncing bite (I thought would be a chub) turned into the first Barbel of the evening of 8lb, a good start. The next bouncing pull came nearer 9pm and was this fish of 11lb 2oz,
very pleased with this result, I settled back to see what may happen in the next hour…The evening was still and bright, with a half moon doing the job of a lightbulb as the mist descended. I had some more knocks meaning that some fish were still around. At 10.30 I changed tack slightly and went for single baits rather than a small feeder, and put the lead well downstream of the feed. I had hardly settled back into my seat when the rod farthest away was heaved through the reeds as I was looking at my phone and saying goodnight to home. I could tell almost immediately that this was going to be a big one if I could get her in! The fight was dogged and determined, and as I drew the fish over the net, she lolloped in, and was long enough to keep me worried she would slide herself out at any time. She went 11lb8oz! A long lean beauty and the second 11lber of the session.
Having weighed and photographed her, I let her rest in the net in the margins while I re-cast that rod to the same area. Now – as I was regaining composure – the same rod was off again! So I drew this next lovely fish over the waiting net which also held the first fish, as I was unhooking this fish and thinking another weigh-in would be in order…… you have a guessed it, the upstream rod finally went over too!
So I threw rod No1 into the undergrowth behind me and settled into battle with a third Barbel, having still got two barbel in the landing net.

The three amigos!


Once over the net it was quite a sight to see the three fish laying upright in the net under the moonlight. Both rods were thrown behind me while I took the opportunity to photograph such a rare catch, the fish were 9lb1oz, 9lb4oz, and 11lb8oz.
The three fish were rested and returned before the rods went back out, and a couple more Chub followed, and then – to cap off the night – a 7lb Barbel was on the bank. It was 2am (ish) and time for bed!
Next morning it was bright,

A Sunny Morning.

and the chance for a cast before breakfast and home was there….. A different swim was selected and I was wading out to some fish under the far cover, first cast was slightly too short, second cast was “on the money” and a few moments later a hard fighting 6lber took the bait and took off!

Recovered in the flow!!

A lovely dark fish was not even lifted from the water as it was unhooked, photographed resting in the flow in the net, and released. It was a cool – end of summer – morning, with the sun in and out creating quite a scene, time for breakfast and home before the rain!!

A New Development!!

Posted on by September 15, 2013
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I am delighted to announce that, from now on I will be available for hire, as a teacher of “Rivercraft and Angling Skills/Barbel Catching”. Having recently moved over to being self employed, it will now be possible for me to share some of my advice and guidance in person on the bank with those who have the desire to be shown some new and innovative approaches to what they may already be practicing.

I have been moved by the number of readers who have written to me and asked for further advice and indeed guidance, also the positive comments and feedback I have received from people who have had some of my tips and advice, have made this decision come about!

So it is with pleasure that i can now make “No Obligation” quotes, tailored to the needs of the individual/s concerned. I will be glad to help in whatever way possible, and will travel to the rivers you would like to fish on, wherever that may be..

Please contact me for further info.

P.S. Do not be “put off” by the coming Winter month`s as this can still be a productive time and one where fishing dreams come true!

What? No Fishing??

Posted on by September 1, 2013
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Yes things have been very quiet on the fishing front for me and I have not been since getting in there with them. But I know lots of you are wondering when the next installment shall be, and it “will not” be long. I have a couple of special reports to come, and look forward to updating you all soon.

First Outing for a While and a Few Barbel, And I am in the River Too!!

Posted on by August 13, 2013
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After a fairly long old day, I had managed to get a few hours on the river and so the plan was to try the Lower Severn into the dark, and then change rivers to the Warks Avon, where they sometimes wake up late on!! The hours on the Severn were fruitless and my move was made sooner for this reason, just the tell tale knocks from one or two of the many Bream that frequent the area. This is where the fun was to begin….

I arrived and, after just 10 minutes of the first cast, hooked into a fish! The fish went very well and took more line than expected, managing to swim around a reed bed and lock me up. There was no option, but to strip off on this balmy evening and get in the river, so thats what I did. In doing this, I was walking alongside many small fish who were using this shallower calmer water as home. The real fun began when I shone my headtorch and the Perch and Pike started to strike into the groups of fish around me!!

Red Eyes again !


Watching this (and hearing it) was a fun distraction, whilst still trying to maintain a tight contact with the fish on the hook! I was soon out into the area where I could get a better angle to pull the fish from. The water had passed my waist and belly button, meaning I had endured that moment when the water feels quite cold and catches your breath because its passing your midrift! Luckily the fish had loosed and was giving me a scrap in the flow. I turned his head and walked him alongside me as I tried to safely negotiate the stones under foot!!
The fish was a beauty, a shade under 8lbs and well worth the exploits. The next cast was to the same area and had the same result, a good pull and, fish on and, me back in the water to bring it to the bank. The stars were shining and the fish were biting, and I was wet and tired. Four Barbel were caught in six casts and I am sure more would have followed if I could have stayed, but alas I couldn`t and it was time for some dry clothes and a drive home….Until next time.

Damage to dorsal fin, this fish had a hook and line tangled in it!! (Not mine)