• You need to be a registered member of Barbel Fishing World to post on these forums. Some of the forums are hidden from non-members. Please refer to the instructions on the ‘Register’ page for details of how to join the new incarnation of BFW...

Rod and reel found - middle Severn

  • Thread starter Glenn Cunningham
  • Start date
Mark Thompson said:
Adrian
"who would be careless enough to lose a rod and reel"

Mmmm,,,you would be surprised I am sure.
Might happen to you one day and if I find it shall I "just stick it on e bay":p

Maybe someone could start a poll ?
Have you ever had a rod pulled into the river ?

I would stick my neck out and say 1 in 2 "regular" barbel anglers have experienced it.
Click to expand...

I have fished rivers containing barbel for over 40 years and have yet to loose a rod.
The advent of deep front rod rests, gripping rear ones and bait runners should mean this never happens.
 
Robin Bowes said:
I would agree.

Ah, how sanctimonious are the "barbel police". Have a search on the old forums to see how I was treated when I had mine pulled in - it starts somewhere here: http://barbelfishingworld.yuku.com/reply/221054/t/Re-Yorkshire-Ouse.html

And how two-faced - one prominent member castigated me for my misfortune, and then happily laughed when something similar happened to him.

<sigh>

R.
Click to expand...

Well that was an interesting blast from the past ,2007 , year of the sanctimonious twit , what a laugh . Where are you now ''Snowman '' and ''Bandy legged frog '' ? I am so glad the anon posters and hand bag swinging pontificates have disappeared from this forum . Re rods going in ,had two very close shaves ...
 
It happens ! Fortunately never to me, but I have had close shaves !
Fishing with baitrunners is ok somewhere like The Severn or Wye but on the likes of the Bristol Avon or Marden would see the fish lost before most people could react !
Everyone has laspes of concentration from time to time !
I once had the rod almost pulled out of my hands whilst touch ledgering ! I nodded off (something anyone who works nights/long shifts will apprieciate) and a Barbel gave a smash take, resulting in a lot of panic ! Must've looked hilarious !
 
I had my rod pulled into the river at the very moment my mate was querying my use of two rods! I had turned my head to respond to him and he screamed at me. I turned to see the rod disappearing into the water. Fortunately I knew it was only a few feet deep and jumped straight in after it. Lucky me managed to grab the rod then land a 6 lb barbel. It could happen to anyone....
 
Paul Matthews said:
It happens ! Fortunately never to me, but I have had close shaves !
Fishing with baitrunners is ok somewhere like The Severn or Wye but on the likes of the Bristol Avon or Marden would see the fish lost before most people could react !
Everyone has laspes of concentration from time to time !
I once had the rod almost pulled out of my hands whilst touch ledgering ! I nodded off (something anyone who works nights/long shifts will apprieciate) and a Barbel gave a smash take, resulting in a lot of panic ! Must've looked hilarious !
Click to expand...

There are no excuses......If you are fishing a snag pit use one rod and keep hold of it. If you are cod fishing with two rods use your alarms and runners. If you can't manage that then buy a whip and fish for bits........Some people....Harrumph.
 
Adrian,
If you can caoncetrate solidly for hours on end, then great ! I go fishing to relax !
Like I say, it's not happened to me AND hope it never will as I set myself up to deal with 'smash takes' etc.
BUT like I said it does happen ! Inexperienced anglers ? Wind-knot un-noticed ? Line around the bale-arm ? Wrapped around the rod-top ? Or Isotopes ? IT HAPPENS !
Hopefully not too often, but it does ! Not condoning negligence !

Regards Paul M.
 
Paul,

It's not a case of concentrating solidly for hours it's a simple matter of developing a routine and sticking to it.

Make sure your bank sticks are secure before you start fishing.

After you cast out flick the bale arm over and retrieve a couple of turns of line dependant on how much bow you want to fish with.

Switch on the baitrunner or set the clutch to the tension you want then pull a few inches off the reel to check it's free and not wrapped around anything.

Check the alarm, (if you're using one) is working, then sit back and relax.

If you are fishing locked up to a snag, (not something I often do) then you need to be on the ball and I like to rest the rod on my thigh with the tip pointed at the bait and the line across the ball of the top joint of my pointing finger. This gives me the freedom to look around, read a book or even have a doze.....Trust me, you'll never loose a rod or miss a bite.

I may have actually missed a few steps out as tbh after many years the routine is now as natural as breathing and requires as little thought.

Perhaps it's a generation thing but the thought of several hundred pounds worth of rod and reel flying into the river fills me with dread, I have only ever witnessed it once and that was when my old mate swapped his Abu cardinal free spool reels for Shimanos. Older members will remember that to set the free spool facility on the Cardinals you pulled the lever back....On the Shimano you push the lever forward....He had a very expensive lesson and I learned from his experience.
 
I do sometimes use a pin Rich, the important thing then is to check the line has not gone behind the reel foot......As I said before, its a simple thing to pull off a few inches of line to check all is free and I tend to do it without thinking.
 
It nearly happened to me on my first barbel, rod in the rests right next to me. The baitrunner was set at a loose setting but still the barbel wrenched the rod out of the rest, thankfully I was sat well back from the egde so had time to grab the rod. I had merely turned my head for a second to look for a piece of kit, it can happen and as many have said with the best will in the world your concentration is going to lapse sooner or later.
 
No matter what you do it can and will happen eventually! If you are negligent then it is more likely, but it does happens and to experienced anglers that are pro's! To make sweeping statements that there is no excuse under any circumstance and that the only way it would happen to you is if you have not done things properly is kind of condescending. I go fishing to enjoy myself responsibly and with proportionate care. Anything else is extreme. Just my opinion.
 
Last edited:
Adrian,
All good advice and I wasn't suggesting that it should happen, just that it does ! I have a routine, get myself set comforatbly etc. etc.
All I was trying to point out is that it can and does happen ! Sometimes a near miss is the only way a beginner will learn, sometimes that near miss ends in disaster !
Like you the thought of seeing my pride and joy river bound tends to sharpen the senses :D

Regards Paul M.
 
It nearly happend to me on the wye, I was stood 3ft away but the bite was so strong I couldn't react that fast and the baitrunner was on and everything.

Luckily I wasn't on the river edge and the rod got held up in long grass on the bank.

The barbel was about 6lbs and fought like a rabid dog
 
Having read some of the comments posted on here . Every one is jumping to the conclusion that a Barbel was the culprit to why the the rod was lost . Their is no mention of a fish being attached to the rod when it was retrieved .
How do we know that it may of been a passing boat that dragged the rod in to the river or some other reason why the rod should end up in the river . People should not be so quick to jump to conclusions until they have all the facts .
 
Here here Joe.Some poor guy has lost a rod and reel and people can care about is how it got in the bloody water! I wonder if there would be this much "concern" if the actual owner himself fell in?!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top