Fishing for Barbel

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!

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.

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 !

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