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Thank God

Not fished enough 6 barbel 4 of which came on one day. But a few highlights catching some sea trout a few decent grayling some nice smaller fish sessions. But overall pants also one last hurrah this afternoon then decorating.
 
You and Sue must be **** anglers Mark.

According to SP there is no better time to be a barbel angler.


Though he has now ammended it slightly to say compared to 50 years ago....
 
Hi men ,

This is how the season kicked off . 16th June turn up and pay £520 + for syndicate membership . Go to a quieter less popular bit to find a bivvy in a really good swim , a swim that you lower the bait under the far cover , it's that narrow !. Never mind , each to their own , so upstream 50 yds to a swim where we know we can see them feeding , and put a little patch of bait down and lower the rig on it . I left Sue in the lovely quiet swim and went looking for fish .

I returned 10 mins later to find Sue winding in , up for a move early ? I said , but there was tears in her eyes , there diving over the baited area was a great big otter , even dived a second time with her in full view clapping . We packed up there and then , withing 30 mins of the start of the season never to return to the river . It knocked the stuffing out of Sue , she lost all the drive to get out on the river again . Hardly fished for barbel , the odd half day. Not sure where we will end up , or if we will bother again , 3 months to change it .

Hatter
 
Hatter...a really sad tale....but move to the Midlands!
OK the furry ba$tard$ have done for the Teme, destroyed it. But it'll take them a few years to empty the Severn and the Wye.
Quality of life mate...the Midlands can't be beat.
Bostin'!
ATVB
Terry
 
Mark, its that time of year mate, paint the house, paint the fence, clean the guttering out, get the fork out and dig n plant the flowerbeds, cut the grass
cut back the tree branches ect, all done between playing with the kids and bike rides out:):):):) ya know yer luvvit:D
 
Its been a bit off for me as well, did get some nice doubles which keeps the motivation going, but a poor back end to the season. Weather hasn't really been on side since early November....but a chance to do as you all seem to be doing the decorating, and take the missus out a bit more, and of course the odd session on the ponds. :)
 
Back end was very poor compared to last season, as Neil says, the weather didn't help. Back to tame carp on commercials for me now until June, lets hope the summer is warm and wet.
 
I chose today, the last day of the season, to fish a stretch of the Kennet I haven't even seen before. No barbel in it apparently, a slower more canal like section. So I went for a wander with a light float outfit and feeder rod. Tried a few swims and eventually settled in one that looked decent enough. I was only there for a few hours and in that time a lot of things started to unwind. Mainly it was that sometimes singular focus on barbel. But it was also the very intense period at work recently and a long list of other stresses and strains. I was getting regular bites too and some actual fish. First it was trout, really decent and pretty trout. Fish I normally curse because catching one means my barbel swim has been compromised. But today I actually looked at them and reflected on just how splendid their markings were. And then a chub, around 4lb, and probably the prettiest, cleanest chub I have ever caught. Then the bream arrived, putting up a bit of a scrap in the slight flow. Then the light faded and some half decent perch put in an appearance. As they arrived at the net, in the late afternoon sun, I was amazed by the vibrancy of their colours- such gorgeous fish.

The countryside seemed to be coming alive too, it all felt a bit vibrant and ready for something new about to begin. The ramblers wandered passed and some stopped to chat. The dog walkers half-heartedly trying to encourage their dogs to leave the angler alone, but this angler was only to happy to have them rummaging about.

It felt like perfect fishing. I had no idea when the next bite would come and what fish it would bring. It was all mysterious again, just fishing for whatever was seduced by my baited hook. And I didn't really care what it was. It was just fishing, for the simple pleasure and thrill of the bite. Relishing every moment, every bite and every fish. It was such a tonic and if I am totally honest, more enjoyable then when I am barbel fishing, even if I catch. I know it's ridiculously sentimental but it felt like fishing used to be and it felt like a genuine escape from everything that can be utterly draining sometimes.

And to top it all, a jogger ran passed me and smiled. She had the most amazing tit*
 
Thats a nice reflection Howard, I was there with you at one stage, and as for the jogger with the amazing tit...I would have paid to see that lol
 
Howard.
Now you know why I have been trotting again most of the year.

And getting the same pleasure from the fish the fauna and the birds.
Robins barn owls mandarin ducks and occasionally like you, great tits.

Lovely write up. Sounds close to that bridge?

Graham
 
Neil Smart said:
Its been a bit off for me as well, did get some nice doubles which keeps the motivation going, but a poor back end to the season. Weather hasn't really been on side since early November....but a chance to do as you all seem to be doing the decorating, and take the missus out a bit more, and of course the odd session on the ponds. :)
Click to expand...

Neil, if you are saying you have been carp fishing, you are going to get such a slap :D

Cheers, Dave.
 
After losing the fish of the season last week back again for more....such a small river and people (kids) out with two rod carp gear throwing bait in like there was no tomorrow (which I suppose there isn't). Never seen them the rest of the year and where is the bailiff when you need him. Nevertheless the kites were frisky performing amazing aerial acrobatics and about dusk a bite of the tap,tap,tap type..lo and behold a 7lb barbel. So it ends Paul 5 river 2 with river winning on weight. Roll on June 20 (can't get out till then). Overall given how hard the barbel are to catch have to be happy and will remain in search of the elusive double. May even offer to bailiff, which will get me out in the close season and avoid the DIY.
 
worst season i have ever had, not just barbel but everything, only highlight was a pb perch a month ago otherwise i might as well have stayed in and watched paint dry. Never even bothered today, first time in i dont know how many years i have not fished till the end. Dont know if i will be fishing next season so might be a lot of stuff appearing for sale soon.
 
Last day of the season on the Nidd with my fishing buddy. River was high and cold, fished 8 swims between us, not a nibble. The sunset was wonderful, spring is on the way, plans made for the new season. Bloodied but unbowed. More blanks than fish this season, the paint brush and hammer await my full attention now :)
 
Howard Cooke said:
I chose today, the last day of the season, to fish a stretch of the Kennet I haven't even seen before. No barbel in it apparently, a slower more canal like section. So I went for a wander with a light float outfit and feeder rod. Tried a few swims and eventually settled in one that looked decent enough. I was only there for a few hours and in that time a lot of things started to unwind. Mainly it was that sometimes singular focus on barbel. But it was also the very intense period at work recently and a long list of other stresses and strains. I was getting regular bites too and some actual fish. First it was trout, really decent and pretty trout. Fish I normally curse because catching one means my barbel swim has been compromised. But today I actually looked at them and reflected on just how splendid their markings were. And then a chub, around 4lb, and probably the prettiest, cleanest chub I have ever caught. Then the bream arrived, putting up a bit of a scrap in the slight flow. Then the light faded and some half decent perch put in an appearance. As they arrived at the net, in the late afternoon sun, I was amazed by the vibrancy of their colours- such gorgeous fish.

The countryside seemed to be coming alive too, it all felt a bit vibrant and ready for something new about to begin. The ramblers wandered passed and some stopped to chat. The dog walkers half-heartedly trying to encourage their dogs to leave the angler alone, but this angler was only to happy to have them rummaging about.

It felt like perfect fishing. I had no idea when the next bite would come and what fish it would bring. It was all mysterious again, just fishing for whatever was seduced by my baited hook. And I didn't really care what it was. It was just fishing, for the simple pleasure and thrill of the bite. Relishing every moment, every bite and every fish. It was such a tonic and if I am totally honest, more enjoyable then when I am barbel fishing, even if I catch. I know it's ridiculously sentimental but it felt like fishing used to be and it felt like a genuine escape from everything that can be utterly draining sometimes.

And to top it all, a jogger ran passed me and smiled. She had the most amazing tit*
Click to expand...

Howard , that is the best post I have seen this season . You have encapsulated what fishing should really be all about .I took my barbel goggles off a few years a go now, and I am all the better for it .Your take on your river trip is not , as you say ' ridiculously sentimental ' it is how fishing should be . Not the relentless pursuit of ' lumps ' or the doubles or nothing will do mentality that is creeping in , but the simple pleasure of a day on the water seeing what comes along . Gudgeon are still my favourite fish ...:D
 
Left my barbel rods at home today and went out with stick/pin/caster - 36lb of pristine silvers was the result. One of my more memorable days of the season having also discarded my 'barbel goggles' at the final opportunity.
 
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