"My Fishy Tales September 2003"

by Malcolm Clarke

'This is part 4 of my diary that I kept of my fishing season 2003/2004'

September    Digging New Swims

01/09/03
Once again find myself in the company of Ray on a much better area of the river than we usually fish, much better surroundings that is, as we still have not managed a Barbel from here between us.
This is all the more frustrating as we know they are there, think it's a must to return here when conditions are more favourable.
Did save myself from a complete blank by the way of a couple of nice Chub and Ray had a decent size Trout, which is now becoming a bit of a habit for him.

Seen a most unusual sight today, whilst sat their on what was a beautiful sunny day we were entertained by a bat, who seemed to be chasing the midges just above the waters surface, think this hot weather is starting to effect more than just us fishermen.

03/09/03
Knew it would only take the one trip up to the Bibs for me wanting to return more regular, so this seen me making the journey up the M50 once again today.
Was somewhat disappointed to find a chap and his wife fishing just up from Ray and Bob where I had fished the last visit, still as both Bob and Ray had already caught a number of Boris between them did expect to get amongst them anyway.
This was not to be the case at all, as try as I might all I could manage were a number of annoying Chub, annoying that is when it is Barbel you have come to catch.

Maybe it was also the fact that both Bob and Ray were pulling them out one after another (who said this fishing is not competitive), in fact think Ray got into double figures and I don't think Bob was that far behind him. Did have the company of Silk and family whom were taking a stroll in the late summer sunshine, can't think of a nicer place to do so.
Also later in the afternoon had a visit from John of the Taff (LazyHooker), think he must have brought me a bit of luck as I did manage my one and only Barbel of the day whilst he was there.
What a Barbel this was too, no bigger than half a pound or so, but then we can all catch the big ones can we.

07/09/03
Think this lack of sleep is catching up with me, as today just could not drag myself out of bed for what is my normal early Sunday start. But for once seems I made the right choice, arrived at my chosen swim to find 3 chaps just departing "don't bother mate it's crap" oh well at least I won't need to put any feed in thinks I.

Wish all the swims I fish were as crap as this one, did not have time to set up the second rod before I'm into a good Boris, even with the levels low this fish still gave me a decent scrap and went the better side of 8lb.
Did not have to wait very long for my next bite and this time was well pleased with what turned out to be a double at 10lb 6oz.
Knew I should have asked them what feed they had chucked in before they left.

With the levels as low as they are and the obvious lack of oxygen in the river it's a bit of a worry the amount of strain put upon the fish in these conditions, but up to now none of them have taken any great length of time to recover, so maybe it's not that bad.

Chris and Kevin kept me company for most of the session did tell them next time they need to bring there gear along with them.

08/09/03
Seems at the moment the wife may have a good case when she mentioned "you aren't half out fishing a lot recently" as once again I'm on the river, with Ray for company.
Thought today was going to be one of those days, as before we had set up our rods we noticed a number of Barbel rolling and flashing in a few different areas.
This seemed more likely when Ray was into a decent fish within 20 minutes or so of us fishing.

Don't always go the way you planned, as this proved to be the only bite of the day between us, even though we continued to see fish moving in the swim all the time we were there.
Not only were these fish moving around they were quite actively feeding, this could clearly be seen every time a catapult of loose pellets were fired amongst them.

Did stay on for an hour or so after Ray had left, hoping maybe as the light faded might just pick up one of these fish but was not to be.

09/09/03
Grabbed me a few hours today but did not get as much as a knock, think after the fantastic start to the season that was had by most on the Taff then can't really complain.
Just wish this would make these blank sessions a little bit easier to bear but it don't.

15/09/03
This is getting to be habit forming and I can't say I like it, as once again another biteless session comes my way, was in good company though as the same fate was had by Ray.
Hope this is just down to the unusual low and clear river conditions we have at the moment and with the first good wash through when the rains come things pick up somewhat.

17/09/03
Maybe after the last couple of sessions without a bite a change of scenery will put things right so no better place to put that to the test than a trip up the Bibs.
Due to work didn't get to the river until around mid-day to be greeted with the sight of the 3 musketeers sat in the river, that being Bob, Ray and Silk. Did not like what they had to say one bit, "not a Barbel between us", still will soon put that right or so I hoped. 

Well I was certainly wrong on that assumption as not a bite was to be had, or at least by myself that is, I can't recall if any of the others had a fish but pretty sure no Barbel were caught today.
The reason behind my inability to recall what was caught, is the fact I can't remember the last time I've laughed so much whilst out fishing.
For those of you who want reminding of just what made the day so memorable for those who were there, then just click Here
This certainly made the journey home a lot easier and just go's to prove fishing is not all about catching fish, sometimes just being there is more than enough.

22/09/03
Well after the antics of last week up at the Bibs when fishing was interrupted by an old biddy taking a dip did not expect anything similar down on the Taff today.
But once again fishing was somewhat curtailed as Ray and myself had to sit and watch a JCB and a bloody 40 ton truck drive down the river.
This time however do think this helped the fishing as within 5 minutes of the trucks passing by and the river turning a lovely colour, which was more like winter flood conditions than the low clear conditions of late. Had the one and only bite of the session, this resulted in a nice Barbel of around 8lb which gave a good account of itself.

Apparently the trucks are to be around for some time as they are carrying out some bank erosion work, find it bloody annoying that with 3 different clubs having the rights to fishing on this stretch of river, no one was consulted before hand or given any notice that this work was to be carried out.

Would say at the moment the river looks more like a building site than a prime Barbel river, as the EA have decided to dump what must be a good few hundred ton of rock, in the middle of the bloody river, this is to be used to sure up the banks or so they say.
The fact this just happens to be in the location of one of the best Barbel swims on the river doesn't seem to matter at all, can't help wondering what will we be left with.

No you're not spoiling our fishing at all boys.

28/09/03
Now the weather has cooled down a bit decided to fish the Bibs today, as the boats are not such a problem this time of year, even on the weekends. Was also looking forward to the opportunity of fishing with Tommo, whom I'd not seen since the Wye fish-in.
Having chatted to Ray yesterday had made up my mind to fish down the deeps, that was until I got to the river and stopped at the meadow swim, just could not resist, what I thought would be, the chance to get me a couple of Boris before Tommo arrived and then join him later in the day further down river.

Once again I made the wrong choice as try as I did could not get me a Boris, did manage a few nice Chub but this meant I had sat it out until mid-afternoon.
Somewhat dejected I made my way down river to find Tommo and listen to how many he had caught, and just what I had missed out on, this was not to be the case but Rich (barbelrich) who was fishing just up-stream from Tommo had got amongst them.

Whilst sat chatting with Tommo we were approached by Rich, as his car would not start and he needed a push (not the best of places to breakdown thinks I) fortunately his car started straight away and he was on his way.
Tommo then decided to move into the swim vacated by Rich, now that was the right choice.

He then gave me a lesson on how to catch Wye Barbel, as in what was probably no more than an hour or so, 3 or 4 nice size Barbel came to the net, which was expertly used by me unfortunately (for me that is).
Amongst these fish was one which looked as if it might have made double figures, as it gave Tommo a good old scrap, refusing to move from it's home on the riverbed. On netting, this fish looked every part a double as the length of it more or less filled the landing net.

Was somewhat shocked to find the fish only made 8 plus lb as it would have been great to be present when Tommo gets that Wye double, (saying that like I know what a Wye double is). Still plenty of season left for that Wye double, for both of us that is. 

Recon Tommo got one eye out for the Biblins Beast myself ...

Having stayed longer than I intended said my goodbyes to Tommo and decided to drive out of the Biblins along the bottom track into Monmouth. For the second time today made the wrong decision , as no more than halfway along the track got myself well and truly grounded, luckily for me this was outside a farm, although not sure if this was lucky, as no sooner than the wheels started spinning I was approached by an old bloke who wanted to know the in's and out's of a ducks arse, as to why I was on this track, eventually convinced him and his opo who had turned up, as to why I happened to be on the path, and with what seemed great reluctance on their part,  they gave me a shove which seen me on my way.

by Malcolm Clarke

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