"My Fishy Tales December 2003"
by Malcolm Clarke
'This is part 7 of my diary that I kept of my fishing season 2003/2004'
December The Lost Christmas Gift
01/12/03 But
still found myself there with Ray today, for what turned out to be a fruitless
session as I missed my only bite of the day, whereas Ray managed to lose what
looked a good fish. This came about after the knot at his hook link had slipped,
so he was none too please. What made this worst for him was the fact he had
the fish on for some considerable time and on more than one occasion got her
out of the fast water and under control.
Did
try for half hour or so just up above Ray, but as expected just could not hold
bottom as the river was rising and pushing through at an alarming rate. Seems
a long time ago that we were moaning about the lack of water in the river.
17/12/03 All
three of us arrived at the river at much the same time and after a quick chin-wag
we decided to fish the lower meadow. With the weather being as cold as it was
this would probably give us the best chance of a fish. Ray
did find himself amongst the fish as he had a couple of nice Barbel and a couple
of Chub for his efforts, this cheered us all up as it's nice to see some coming
out when it's as bleak as it was. Silk and his lad Josh joined us for a brief
spell mid-afternoon only for a social and not to fish, this was a shame as I'm
sure I could have learnt something from Josh after the beauty he caught the
other day.
20/12/03 So
this seen me driving to the river at about 9 .30 am, bugger the sleep, having
gone home and dried out decided to join Ray and get myself another soaking.
Hopefully will get my reward for the effort by nabbing a Boris or 2.
On
getting to the river Ray was already fishing and doing his best to shelter from
the rain, which on times was torrential but at least the river wasn't as high
as expected. Must have brought him some luck as not long after me being there
Ray was doing battle with what seemed a decent Boris, we never got to see the
size of this fish though, as they parted company when Ray's hook length snapped
having been dragged across a rock. Still as bad as conditions were at least
the fish were feeding.
Wasn't long before once again Ray has himself a fish on and me thinking
to myself yep knew I should have gone back to bed. With the extra water in the
river this fish proved to be a right old handful in getting to the net, and
although it went the better side of 9lb the reason it gave such a dogged fight
was unfortunately the fish was foul-hooked in the dorsal. So things were not
going as planned for either of us, as the next we knew, it was time to move
as the rising river meant we could not fish anymore where we were.
This was a total pain it's bad enough moving swims in the dry but with
the wind and rain like it was it more than crossed my mind to call it a day.
But the fact that Ray had those couple of fish kept me going. Eventually the wind, rain and ever rising levels got the better of us by
mid-afternoon, but at least I had managed a fish, which made up for second soaking
of the day and the lack of sleep.
24/12/03 Not
only was there no other anglers on the river today but the place seemed almost
different with a complete lack of dog walkers, joggers, motorbike's and best
of all no bloody kids. Shouldn't have concerned myself on that one as the day proved to be more
than eventful, having set up both rods and put them out where I wanted them,
sat myself down with a cup of coffee and a smoke just contemplating what Santa
might have in his sack for me tonight.
With that I noticed a slight tremble on the downstream placed rod, thinking
it to be a bit of crap dragging on the line thought I'd bring it in and change
the bait. That first run of hers must have stripped some 20 yards of line off the
reel, but slowly I managed to turn her and bring her foot by foot back
up river, would have liked the option of following this fish downstream but
as there was a tree on my bank just below me, found I could not do this.
Just when I thought I had some control over this fish, off she went again
this time towards a snag in mid-river, tightening up on her and exerting as
much pressure as I dared I managed to stop her and get her moving towards me,
this was when I got my first glimpse of her, SHIT! never have I seen such a
size Barbel, as she rolled on the surface I remember thinking the last time
I'd seen a tail like that was on the film Free Willy!
This was when panic set in and all I wanted was to get her in the net,
but she was having none of it as once again she powered off towards the snag
in mid-river, again I managed to stop her making it to this snag and slowly
edged her towards me. Then that dreaded sickening feeling as Boris and myself parted company!
Thinking my knot had gave way or maybe the line had rubbed against one
of the many rocks that litter the river where I was fishing, slowly I wound
in to find that somehow the hook had pulled. After sitting there for a while and having gathered my thoughts I phoned
Ray as he had asked me to let him know how I was doing, think it was more a
case that I had to tell someone about what had just happened. Ray informed me
that he was on his way to Cardiff so he'd call over to see me, just as I put
the mobile in my pocket had a cracking wrap around on the same rod.
This is unbelievable as within seconds of me thinking this will go someway
towards making up for what I'd just lost, nothing! as once again my hook pulled. Before I had time to bait back up I was into another decent fish on the
other rod, right thinks I, don't rush it, don't be over cautious, just do what
you've done all season, bloody hell someone must be taking the P*** as once
a bloody gain I find the hook pulls on what I'm sure would have been a good
double.
Glad Ray turned up when he did as this stopped me from throwing my gear
in the river and going home, boy by now was I P***** off or what, was sat there
explaining to Ray just what I thought was going wrong when once again whack! and
for the fourth time today I'm in with a chance of landing a decent Barbel.
Well eventually with Ray by my side
offering help he slipped the net under what looked every part a double, was
not to be disappointed as the scales went round to 10 and a half pounds, however
this only went slightly towards making up for my disappointment at just what
might have been? This fish was in beautiful condition and with Ray being with me thought
it would be nice to have a picture to remember her by. So quickly got the camera
ready and Ray once again done the honors for me.
Don't she look lovely.
"Where you too Malc" Yep sure was one of those days as
the camera ran right up to the taking of the picture when the battery died,
being of the lithium type then no spare was at hand. Did continue to fish for
an hour or so after Ray had left but somehow knew there would be no more, as
I had missed my chance. 27/12/03 Was still
one big load of rubbish coming down the river and once again a lot of this crap
was the kind of waste you would hope not to find in the river.
by
Malcolm Clarke
©
Barbel Fishing World 2004
Sometimes it helps to
be just that little bit mad when it comes to deciding whether to go fishing,
mad that is when you know you'd be better off tucked up in bed at home, than
on a riverbank with the rain falling, like Noah's going to need to come out
of retirement soon.
Bloody work, having spent the last two weeks working my arse off was looking
forward to today's trip up to the Bib's, with Ray and Bob to keep me company.
However was disappointed that the weather over the last couple of days had taken
a turn for the worst, as the first real cold spell of winter had arrived.
Well it did prove to be hard going for the three of us, as the temperature never
changed much all day long, but the river and the surroundings made up for this
as the place looked great in it's winter coat.
Around 5 pm with the frost now forming on the cars again we decided to
call it a day, told Ray should be out this weekend as the worst of the work
is done and there's a little matter of a December Boris to be caught.
Having spent 5 hours in work getting soaked through to the B****** made
a phone call to Ray around 7.30 am to let him know I was going to give today's
arranged session a miss, just didn't fancy another 5 or 6 hours in the rain,
also knowing the river would be rising rapidly didn't help. The answer I got
from Ray was "got my fishing head on, so I'm still going" told him I may join
him after a few hours kip, if the weather picks up, but don't count on it.
Glad it did as not long after starting in our new position had what was to be
the last bite of the session, but this did lead to Ray netting my first Barbel
of December a lovely looking fish of around 7lb's.
With both my lads having outgrown Santa, found myself with a decision to
make today, that being back to bed and catch up with my sleep, or a days
fishing, which would be a first for me on a Christmas eve.
So this meant I was sat on the riverbank around 10.30 am on what was a mild
day and perfect fishing conditions. Was I glad I made that choice (well I think
I am).
Having got up out of bed at 1 am this morning I knew the fishing would need
to be good if I wasn't going to find myself dozing off.
I never got the chance to do that though, as I lent forward to pick up the rod,
it flew round and before I knew what was happening Boris is taking line from
the reel like she's trying to make the last boat out of Cardiff bay.
Thinking the battle was won as this run of hers lacked the power of the first
two, when she again tried to make it for the snag I just held on knowing that
in a minute or so I would have a PB and probably river record Barbel in my net.
To say I was devastated would be putting it mildly, just could not believe what
I had allowed to get away from me.
Found this rather confusing as I've used the same pattern of hook for a good
time now, with no problems, maybe I should have gone home to bed.
Couldn't wait to get back to the river after Christmas eve's drama, but
with the festive season being upon us had not taken much notice of the weather,
so on arriving at the river today was shocked to find it some 4 feet higher
than on Christmas eve.
Along with the extra water there was quite a drop in temperature, so did not
fancy my chances at all, well needless to say could not get me a sniff for the
3 hours that I fished.