Phil Smith
Senior Member
I arrived yesterday in pouring rain to be met by Chris Pearson who walked the banks giving insight into the stretch being fished. There was already a dozen or more anglers on the bank and I did not stand around as it was just too wet.
I chose a swim that gave reasonable access to the waters edge since the banks were like an ice skating ring and fishing from the top just did not seem sensible.
Starting at about 4:00pm I caught my first barbel within 30 mins and before dark had added a further three. It then seemed to go quiet, I waited another couple of hours before the next fish of 8lb made its appearence. Along with a bream and a chub that was my total before I packed up for the night just after 10pm.
By that time a number of barbel had been caught including three doubles of 10lb-2oz, 10lb-6oz and 10lb10oz, quite a start.
Unfortunately that rain had two effects, the river came up about a foot by morning, not bad in itself, it also started the weed rolling and it became very difficult to fish. I gave it an hour and decided there were better things to do, by now there was problably 30 anglers or so on the bank and most were going to make the best of it. I hope their effort gets a just reward.
Great session and shame about the weather, not much can be done about that. Well done to Chris for organising it, a length of river to revisit in better conditions.
I chose a swim that gave reasonable access to the waters edge since the banks were like an ice skating ring and fishing from the top just did not seem sensible.
Starting at about 4:00pm I caught my first barbel within 30 mins and before dark had added a further three. It then seemed to go quiet, I waited another couple of hours before the next fish of 8lb made its appearence. Along with a bream and a chub that was my total before I packed up for the night just after 10pm.
By that time a number of barbel had been caught including three doubles of 10lb-2oz, 10lb-6oz and 10lb10oz, quite a start.
Unfortunately that rain had two effects, the river came up about a foot by morning, not bad in itself, it also started the weed rolling and it became very difficult to fish. I gave it an hour and decided there were better things to do, by now there was problably 30 anglers or so on the bank and most were going to make the best of it. I hope their effort gets a just reward.
Great session and shame about the weather, not much can be done about that. Well done to Chris for organising it, a length of river to revisit in better conditions.
