Steve Arnold
Well-known member
We do get winter here in the south of France! Start of the year it was hard frosts and even some snow, before that we had a lot of (cold!) rain.
My first attempt for a barbel resulted in one chub, but at least it was over 4lb.
The river temperature must have been very low and I doubted I would get a January barbel this year.
Today the temperature was forecast to reach 11c and there was a southerly wind. Although the river was high my River App on the phone showed the flow had started to drop, so I took a gamble on one of my better summer swims.
It looked a bit bleak when I arrived, but the flow close in was fishable. I was still about 20' back from my normal stance but it was just possible to miss the branches and weed stems.
Bites came quickly but it was 20 minutes before this 5lb 4ozs barbel hooked itself properly....
I phoned my angling buddy Alistair and he joined me for a couple of hours. He got just one, but was more than happy to start his 2021 fishing with a nice barbel.....
Two more of similar size took my 20mm monster crab boilie. Not bad for a session that started at mid-day and finished at 5pm as we have a curfew at 6pm for this damned virus!
With all the crappy stuff happening just now it was good to get out and enjoy a few hours of decent fishing!
My first attempt for a barbel resulted in one chub, but at least it was over 4lb.
The river temperature must have been very low and I doubted I would get a January barbel this year.
Today the temperature was forecast to reach 11c and there was a southerly wind. Although the river was high my River App on the phone showed the flow had started to drop, so I took a gamble on one of my better summer swims.
It looked a bit bleak when I arrived, but the flow close in was fishable. I was still about 20' back from my normal stance but it was just possible to miss the branches and weed stems.
Bites came quickly but it was 20 minutes before this 5lb 4ozs barbel hooked itself properly....
I phoned my angling buddy Alistair and he joined me for a couple of hours. He got just one, but was more than happy to start his 2021 fishing with a nice barbel.....
Two more of similar size took my 20mm monster crab boilie. Not bad for a session that started at mid-day and finished at 5pm as we have a curfew at 6pm for this damned virus!
With all the crappy stuff happening just now it was good to get out and enjoy a few hours of decent fishing!