Day 1

Arriving at Grahams, a welcome cuppa in his hand as he opened the door, we sat in the garden talking of past trips together and of what might happen in the next 2 days. He was not too hopeful, as the weather had not been kind to us. A drop in temperature and a couple of nights of frost may have dropped the water temp too much.

We set of for the Kennet but on the way Graham took me to St Pats stream, to have a look at one of his favourite haunts from days gone by, a lovely place in its hey day with some huge fish in it but now you can see every peg well worn.

After a drive on winding roads we met Dick at the Kennet "not to far to walk" said Graham I believed him! After leaving our tackle, we walked the

stretch of river we were to fish, picked out a likely looking swim for me, lots of features and I tackled up with much enthusiasm.

Dick was down stream of me and he was in straight away (chub) then another and another. I was getting fed up now, my rods motionless in the cool breeze. I was fishing Grahams preferred method of pellets on one rod but had sneaked a couple of lob worms on to the other, Graham wandering about turning up at my shoulder when least expected.

Russell from BFW turned up to meet Graham, a nice gesture from “the silver fox” after breaking his rod and Russell came up with one, so a days fishing was on the cards, introductions were made.

Dick was still catching chub, the biggest going well over 6lbs, but then Dick never weighs them! He did say there was barbel in his swim now.

I never realised you could see through “pea soup”

Darkness arrived and the temp dropped dramatically, it felt cold, the stars looked nice (think they were the same ones as “oop narf” in "Gods' Country"

I was starting to get little taps and knocks) I didn’t know if this was a good thing or not.

Graham had been moving around the riverbank but still not caught.

By 7pm Russell was ready to leave but we talked for at least ½ hour and he was late getting away, nice guy though.

At 7.30 my rod tip twitched and after a spirited fight the net slid under a barbel of only 3lbs but most welcome.

A txt from Graham said we would pack up at 9.30, so I waited for him to come back downriver to me.

Dick had a barbel of 8lbs and lost another.

By 10.15 I wondered were Graham was? When he rang he said he was 200 yards below me, packed up ready to go and where was I!

I said my goodbye to Dick, but not for long as we were fishing together again tomorrow.

As we approached the car park Grahams mobile went and Dick had had a double in the time it took us to walk back!

Still a wonderful 1^st day and meeting up with friends old and new was a joy in itself and my 1st Kennet barbel.

Day 2

An earlier start and meeting up with Dick and Jon, who I hadn’t seen for over a year we shook hands like we had never been apart.

Jon had picked the swim I was too fish and after a short walk, he showed me round it and it I must admit it screamed barbel.

The boils and eddies looked very enticing and with pellet on one rod and Jons’ secret bait on the other, how could I fail!

Jon had a chub early afternoon and as the rain started to fall my thoughts went to my brolly in the back of the car?

After reeling in and walking to get it, on the way back, I saw an angler land a nice fish of 8lbs maybe things were looking up. I took shelter from the rain and a violent take on the upstream rod saw me miss the bite completely and the hook came back with 3 scales impaled on it.

Barbel scales they both said and I was very disappointed too say the least!

I carried on but the little knocks and taps were making things worse for me and sitting on my hands was not easy!

Dick had a 10lb 6oz barbel and this was closely followed by Jon taking one an ounce less.

The time was getting on now and darkness had been with us for some time, the rain was relentless and the walk to the car had been well worth it.

The down stream rod was fishing to a snag and had been motionless all day, Dick appeared at my shoulder for the umpteenth time and as he sheltered under my brolly, we chatted of his and Grahams forthcoming trip to fish the mighty Trent in a couple of weeks. I poured my last cup of coffee, Dick quipped “I think you had better hit that” as I turned round the downstream rod was bent right over and as I picked it up a powerful fish headed for the snag, taking line against the drag, a lot of side strain and she turned away and into the main flow. After a couple more short spirited runs Dick netted a very fit 6lber, not the double we had been hoping for but never the less after a cold wet day. A most welcome fish.

No more action so we trudged back to the cars, we said our goodbyes, Jons’ secret bait still in my pocket!

The drive back down the motorway was most enjoyable for a change.

Two wonderful days on the River Kennet

Mike Berridge (barbule)