Tee-Cee
Senior Member
If it was based on effort and time spent....well, you deserved more, Simon..
Banbury one day, St Albans the next, you certainly do the miles..
Banbury one day, St Albans the next, you certainly do the miles..
How did you get on?
- Thread starter peter crabtree
- Start date
barbelboi
Well-known member
cal_sutt
Well-known member
Got myself a nice new barbel rod last Wednesday and gave it a little test that evening but only managed to get a roach and two small chub, barely even worth getting the net wet for.
Managed to get out Thursday and Friday, only Thursday was really the good day for me as I took a lad barbel fishing on the Friday and managed to get him his first barbel at 4lb.
Started off fishing at a weir round the back of the local Morrison's. Dropping a 1oz lead into a bar of slack water, close to the near bank, that the weir produced. I'd already baited up the area with lots of sweetcorn so this was (of course) the choice hookbait, minutes after I'd cast in I was getting sharp raps on the rod tip, I struck into a few of them but they resulted in missed bites. A little while later, the rod tip was twitching like crazy, I hit it and all of a sudden there was a lovely bend in the 1.75lb rod. It didn't feel like a barbel so I guessed rather quickly that it was a large chub, after a few mad-dashes for the fast flowing water and far-bank snags, I managed to get on top of it and it came to the surface - what a lovely chub it was!
I didn't have any scales with me so I didn't have the chance to weigh it, but I'd give it 4lb - 4.5lb. Anyway back it went and I continued fishing the spot, bites dried up so I changed to a 60g maggot feeder in the fast flowing water and managed to bag myself a couple of dace. Decided to move further downstream to a Cal Sutt signature swim - a very overhanging tree. Maggot feeder didn't produce anything, back to a straight lead and sweetcorn. Had something mouthing the bait within a few minutes, it quickly moved off and the rod tip was static again. I then realised I'd sat in a nest of red ants as I felt them biting my ankles and all the way up my leg to a rather uncomfortable area...
mg: I was itching and slapping myself all over the place and must have looked like a right plonker to anyone passing by! (fortunately no one) During the ordeal with the ants, I wasn't paying attention to my rod, as I turned round I saw my rod still in the rest and bent almost 90 degrees. I grabbed it quick and felt a fish on the end, but it had snagged up on a sunken branch! I tried to pull it free but it was stuck, I felt the line go slack as it shook the hook out, I tried to free my line but it snapped and made a rather big mess of the line at the end of the rod tip. I rigged up some new bits and bobs and then cast back out, a bit closer to the near bank so I was a little further away from the snags. Half an hour went by and not a single bite, just as I was about to reel in, I got the famous "three-foot-bend-of-a-bite" backed up by a solid run under the tree. If I'm honest, 1.75lb top struggled a bit here as I tried to bully the fish from under the tree, however I was also only fishing 6lb line as I was only intending to catch a few chub. The next time I fish this swim I'll use the 2.00lb top and my baitrunner reel with 10lb line, for definite! Anyway, after a surprisingly strong scrap, into the net came a small (but always welcome) barbel.
Well the day was going brilliantly! Another two baby barbel followed, both of about a two pounds, plus I lost one later on in the session which felt MASSIVE - I'll be back for you, you elusive creature.
Anyway that was the end of my session so I walked (the long way) home along the river and saw some perch and roach moving around at one of my favourite bag-up river spots. So I got the maggot feeder back out and sat for a couple of hours, resulting in eight or nine gudgeon, a few small roach and a this really nice perch.
Off home I went after catching the most mixed bag I've ever caught from the river! Barbel, chub, perch, roach, dace and gudgeon. Think I'm going to fish the river a little less this week, but may get on the canal for a bit of tench fishing on the method feeder.
Tight lines everyone.
Cal.
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neil1970
Well-known member
Had a nice day at the weirpool.
Simon turned up and trotted the rapids and slacks, under trees and other seemingly unreachable features.
Very interesting to watch.
I stayed on the bottom
We, well Simon mostly, caught a mixture of minnow, bleak, skimmer, roach, fat gudgeon, chublets and baby barbel.
Great fun!
Simon turned up and trotted the rapids and slacks, under trees and other seemingly unreachable features.
Very interesting to watch.
I stayed on the bottom
We, well Simon mostly, caught a mixture of minnow, bleak, skimmer, roach, fat gudgeon, chublets and baby barbel.
Great fun!
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Tee-Cee
Senior Member
Jerry......................up at 5.30, where will it end....Still, at least you got the chance to check the car lights are in working order !!
I had every intention of fishing for roach (again) this morning seeing how the weather promised 'overcast', and when early drizzle set in it really had me thinking, well, big(ish) roach. Disappointment is not something that bothers me having had my share on many waters over the years, so when the first hour passed with only a scrubber tench and miniscule roach to show for it, I wasn't too bothered.
However what happened next tested my patience to the point that I almost packed and went home.............. that's 'almost' as the rush hour was probably well under way !
On four occasions the float dipped and darted under, which, in hindsight was not a good sign, as 'my' roach usually take the float away in a gentle 'glide'. A lift of the rod had the very same float charging off across the lake (every time), resulting in the inevitable break as the 1,5lb bottom found the task too much to bear. The swim must have been full of chunky carp as the headlong charge(s) were impressive judging by the bend in the 14' Ultralight...
I did persevere for a while longer, but the sun finally outdid the 'overcast' and any thoughts of decent roach went with the cloud cover. Not to be outdone I broke out the Specialist Bream/Tench rod of 1,75lb power, which when matched with an old Aero GT Shimano baitrunner was just the job to defeat those pesky carp. I tried some home flavoured meat, hair rigged, which produced a 7lb+ fish gaving a lovely, solid,boring fight.
A couple of smaller fish followed so I tried 30mm squares of crust suspended 6" off the bottom, but not with a fixed rig, but by winding down quickly before the bread had begun to float to the surface, so it was cast, wind and onto the rests with the baitrunner engaged all very quickly, with line tight to the lead. The swim was shallowish so the angle of the line didn't worry me too much....
I wish I could say many fish followed, but the one success I eventually had made up for the lack of numbers as it was a beautiful clean common of 10,25lbs...not big by some standards, but pretty good for the water.
The run it produced was a screamer, the fight worth the hot sun, and any thoughts of 2lb roach didn't come back until this evening.......another day, perhaps....
I shan't fish again this week, but I can sneak alook at the pic if I need to......................
I had every intention of fishing for roach (again) this morning seeing how the weather promised 'overcast', and when early drizzle set in it really had me thinking, well, big(ish) roach. Disappointment is not something that bothers me having had my share on many waters over the years, so when the first hour passed with only a scrubber tench and miniscule roach to show for it, I wasn't too bothered.
However what happened next tested my patience to the point that I almost packed and went home.............. that's 'almost' as the rush hour was probably well under way !
On four occasions the float dipped and darted under, which, in hindsight was not a good sign, as 'my' roach usually take the float away in a gentle 'glide'. A lift of the rod had the very same float charging off across the lake (every time), resulting in the inevitable break as the 1,5lb bottom found the task too much to bear. The swim must have been full of chunky carp as the headlong charge(s) were impressive judging by the bend in the 14' Ultralight...
I did persevere for a while longer, but the sun finally outdid the 'overcast' and any thoughts of decent roach went with the cloud cover. Not to be outdone I broke out the Specialist Bream/Tench rod of 1,75lb power, which when matched with an old Aero GT Shimano baitrunner was just the job to defeat those pesky carp. I tried some home flavoured meat, hair rigged, which produced a 7lb+ fish gaving a lovely, solid,boring fight.
A couple of smaller fish followed so I tried 30mm squares of crust suspended 6" off the bottom, but not with a fixed rig, but by winding down quickly before the bread had begun to float to the surface, so it was cast, wind and onto the rests with the baitrunner engaged all very quickly, with line tight to the lead. The swim was shallowish so the angle of the line didn't worry me too much....
I wish I could say many fish followed, but the one success I eventually had made up for the lack of numbers as it was a beautiful clean common of 10,25lbs...not big by some standards, but pretty good for the water.
The run it produced was a screamer, the fight worth the hot sun, and any thoughts of 2lb roach didn't come back until this evening.......another day, perhaps....
I shan't fish again this week, but I can sneak alook at the pic if I need to......................
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I managed to get out yesterday afternoon but after only half an hour of fishing I had a phone call and had to go home....****** ! In the half an hour I did have it was a bite a trott and I had quite a few dace and a couple of chub. Some of the dace where really nice, here's a couple of pic's ...
barbelboi
Well-known member
Fished from 10.15am - 3.30pm - trotting on the river with Simon. Many roach, some perch and gudgeon, a few bleak plus the compulsory Jack all on reds...
B
binka
Guest
..............
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jasonbean1
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Cg.......after the stresses of Being on the Severn at Worcester last week for 5 days with mossie bites, mountain trecking a goat like path and the triffid under growth that made you feel clostaphobic. You know at the end of it despite a few good fish and plenty of bites I was done.
It's strange how fishing goes, you know I was anti linear for many years and to pull myself together after last weeks escapades in the rain it's nice to sit fishing feeling relaxed....that's what it's suppose to be about isn't it?
My little jack Russell is loving it, plenty of room and a mown lawn, rats to chase and a hedge hog got inside her 3 pint box food bowl and turned it over and trapped itself, it was like a mini darlik bouncing around on the clean gravel peg I'm now fishing.
So it's strange....the Severn held perhaps better fishing with Virgin fish, but the few fish and the solitude at linear (and I mean it 4 anglers on the whole of smiths/hardwick) I'm enjoying it.
Strange for me but as Bill says "it's just about being there"
For the moment that is
It's strange how fishing goes, you know I was anti linear for many years and to pull myself together after last weeks escapades in the rain it's nice to sit fishing feeling relaxed....that's what it's suppose to be about isn't it?
My little jack Russell is loving it, plenty of room and a mown lawn, rats to chase and a hedge hog got inside her 3 pint box food bowl and turned it over and trapped itself, it was like a mini darlik bouncing around on the clean gravel peg I'm now fishing.
So it's strange....the Severn held perhaps better fishing with Virgin fish, but the few fish and the solitude at linear (and I mean it 4 anglers on the whole of smiths/hardwick) I'm enjoying it.
Strange for me but as Bill says "it's just about being there"
For the moment that is
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neil1970
Well-known member
I went out to a backwater yesterday afternoon.
After throwing in a few pinches of flake I went for a wander along the Colne and met Jerry and Simon.
Here's a bream that Simon caught in the brief time I sat with him.
I continued back to my venue and I've got to say it was nice to sit by the slack water after countless sessions at the roaring weir pool.
The day was all about the wildlife.
A young moorhen paddled close by for the entire session.
A mouse (vole? not sure) scurried in and out of the bush by my feet, picking up bread crumbs & the now distinctive plop of a kingfisher alerted me to its presence and I had the privilege of viewing it on a branch, not ten feet away.
To get the bait near the fish a tricky (for me) cast had to be made about 30ft, through the branches of two overhanging trees.
The amount of end tackle and line hanging in this area made the task quite daunting.
In four hours I only hit the branches twice; the second time I managed to fall over my rod rest when walking backwards, pulling for a break
Bread wasn't having any results, so I switched to an 8mm halibut pellet which attracted a livelyish Bream and two crays the size of lobsters
After throwing in a few pinches of flake I went for a wander along the Colne and met Jerry and Simon.
Here's a bream that Simon caught in the brief time I sat with him.
I continued back to my venue and I've got to say it was nice to sit by the slack water after countless sessions at the roaring weir pool.
The day was all about the wildlife.
A young moorhen paddled close by for the entire session.
A mouse (vole? not sure) scurried in and out of the bush by my feet, picking up bread crumbs & the now distinctive plop of a kingfisher alerted me to its presence and I had the privilege of viewing it on a branch, not ten feet away.
To get the bait near the fish a tricky (for me) cast had to be made about 30ft, through the branches of two overhanging trees.
The amount of end tackle and line hanging in this area made the task quite daunting.
In four hours I only hit the branches twice; the second time I managed to fall over my rod rest when walking backwards, pulling for a break
Bread wasn't having any results, so I switched to an 8mm halibut pellet which attracted a livelyish Bream and two crays the size of lobsters
Tee-Cee
Senior Member
..........more 'fish from home' than work from home, I suspect.. Do you cook the crays or put them back??
'fall over my rod rest after walking backwards'.................almost too much information !!
'fall over my rod rest after walking backwards'.................almost too much information !!
neil1970
Well-known member
HaHa Tee-Cee, being on a retainer for the last 3-4 years does allow me more time than most at my age; all change in September apparently though!
I think the only crayfish I've eaten has been in a Pret sandwich, but the balliff is selling nets and giving out licenses so that may change
Today was a blank with no bites on the Colne.
Pellets eaten by crays, and maggots only attracted this chap
I tried to get better shot, but caught him in mid flight instead.
I think the only crayfish I've eaten has been in a Pret sandwich, but the balliff is selling nets and giving out licenses so that may change
Today was a blank with no bites on the Colne.
Pellets eaten by crays, and maggots only attracted this chap
I tried to get better shot, but caught him in mid flight instead.
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peter crabtree
AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)
Silvers only match today at Wood lane Bucks. A deep pit full of carp...
3m whip 0:09 line, a 20 hook to 0:07 hooklink and maggot. Roach a chuck in 5ft of water. Fed heavily with caster and balls of VDE dark super roach. I'm certain it's the same blend as the discontinued black turbo, sweet and sticky.
Then the carp moved in:wh Went through 3 packets of hooks and about 5ft of hooklink line. I stopped feeding for the last 2 hours and the roach came thick and fast again.
Weighed in 17lb 8. for 7th. (6th had 17lb 9)
Winner had some bonus bream and tench for 32lb.
Second 29lb, third 27lb.
A thoroughly enjoyable day apart from the nuisance carp, although everyone had the same problem.
3m whip 0:09 line, a 20 hook to 0:07 hooklink and maggot. Roach a chuck in 5ft of water. Fed heavily with caster and balls of VDE dark super roach. I'm certain it's the same blend as the discontinued black turbo, sweet and sticky.
Then the carp moved in:wh Went through 3 packets of hooks and about 5ft of hooklink line. I stopped feeding for the last 2 hours and the roach came thick and fast again.
Weighed in 17lb 8. for 7th. (6th had 17lb 9)
Winner had some bonus bream and tench for 32lb.
Second 29lb, third 27lb.
A thoroughly enjoyable day apart from the nuisance carp, although everyone had the same problem.
cg74
Well-known member
Cg.......after the stresses of Being on the Severn at Worcester last week for 5 days with mossie bites, mountain trecking a goat like path and the triffid under growth that made you feel clostaphobic. You know at the end of it despite a few good fish and plenty of bites I was done.
It's strange how fishing goes, you know I was anti linear for many years and to pull myself together after last weeks escapades in the rain it's nice to sit fishing feeling relaxed....that's what it's suppose to be about isn't it?
My little jack Russell is loving it, plenty of room and a mown lawn, rats to chase and a hedge hog got inside her 3 pint box food bowl and turned it over and trapped itself, it was like a mini darlik bouncing around on the clean gravel peg I'm now fishing.
So it's strange....the Severn held perhaps better fishing with Virgin fish, but the few fish and the solitude at linear (and I mean it 4 anglers on the whole of smiths/hardwick) I'm enjoying it.
Strange for me but as Bill says "it's just about being there"
For the moment that is
Jason, you know as well as I do, "it's just about being there" is a myth, as when push comes to shove and if we're truly honest catching improves even the most pleasant of days.
Perhaps we shouldn't talk about Severn's virgin fish........ 11lb8oz and a size 12 wide gape hook (enough said).
neil1970
Well-known member
Fast maggot feeder session on a backwater, combined with looking after the children while the wife was at the bank round the corner.
Roach, hybrid and perch, all small, were the order of the day.
Plus much amusement and maggot feeding.
Roach, hybrid and perch, all small, were the order of the day.
Plus much amusement and maggot feeding.
B
binka
Guest
...............
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Tee-Cee
Senior Member
Binka....Are you saying you sat in the SAME swim for 10 hours ??
............Nah, you must've gone back to the 'fanciable swims' and STILL caught 'bits' !!
Still, as you say, Saturday is another day, although NOT in the same swim, I imagine !!!
One of those days that comes under the heading 'Reality Check' I suppose..
............Nah, you must've gone back to the 'fanciable swims' and STILL caught 'bits' !!
Still, as you say, Saturday is another day, although NOT in the same swim, I imagine !!!
One of those days that comes under the heading 'Reality Check' I suppose..
B
binka
Guest
Lol... Yep, the same swim!
I hate moving swims but will if I can be bothered but I never really believed the better fish wouldn't arrive to be fair as they often do... I reckon there was no room for 'em down there.