OPERATION “DOUBLE TAKE”
by
Ian Phillips
MISSION
BRIEFING.
ANGLER: Ian Phillips. AKA “Esox”. Coventry, West Midlands.
I am primarily, a pleasure angler but with a passion for Barbel, I’ve had
numerous catches from the venue stated with weights topping 8.5lb, including
other species such as Chub, Roach, Perch and Eels.
OPERATION “DOUBLE TAKE”
DATE: 8-10 JULY 2004
VENUE: River Severn, Hampton Loade.
Hampton Loade is situated right in the heart of what is known as “Barbel Alley”,
between the Shropshire towns of Bridgenorth and Bewdley. The fishery has everything
the Barbel angler requires for good sport: deeps, glides, bends, gravel patches
and lots of snags, so strong tackle is a must.
There are many other species for the angler to go for at this venue including
good sized Pike, Chub and Roach with occasional catches of Salmon and Trout.
A traditional style cable/current operated passenger ferry is available enabling
the angler to fish both banks if required.
SITUATION: Unable to catch a Barbel into double figures.
I first fished this area of the mighty Severn in the summer of 1995 when I
caught 22 Barbel upto 6lb in that first session. Since then I have visited
this venue 7-8 times a year with a couple of long weekends thrown in for good
measure. I have had the occasional blank but generally manage to catch a few
Barbel.
The Barbel are usually “schoolies in the 4-7lb bracket with a few bigger specimens.
I have had three PB’S to 8.5lb from the venue but have yet to catch my first
double figure Barbel…a situation I hope to rectify soon.
Barbel over 10lb have been caught in this area but fish of this size are considered
to be a rarity and specialist tackle and tactics are required.
MISSION: To catch my first double
figure Barbel.
Aims and Objectives: The aim of this mission is to use the knowledge and information
gained recently from various books, magazines and websites, together with
my experience of the venue, to try and reach my final objective of catching
a Barbel over 10lb.
However, it will still be regarded as a mission success if I am able to catch
a Barbel of any size using tackle and tactics not previously used before.
New tackle has been acquired and new tactics will be tried for the first time.
It is intended to use this mission as a basis for learning these new tactics
and hopefully add some new weapons to my armoury.
EXECUTION: All times are approximate
depending on conditions and circumstances.
Day one.
12pm. Arrive Hampton Loade.
Sign in at Pub and take refreshments before setting up camp. Once the camp
has been erected a meal should be prepared while setting up a single rod and
minimal tackle ready for the first foray downstream.
3pm. Arrive at river bank below ferry and from here head downstream towards
Pitts island for approximately a mile and a half dropping a large single bait
with a small pva mesh bag of bits into all likely looking spots.
Using my new rod and reel and large 22mm Halibut pellets as bait, it is intended
to try a roving/trundling approach as well as a static approach if it is considered
appropriate to the conditions although I do not intend to stay in any particular
swim for more than 20 minutes.
As I am primarily a pleasure angler, I will be looking to find a swim suitable
for some static fishing with a feeder/maggot approach the following morning.
Worms, Halibut boilies and lobworms will be used as alternative hookbaits.
Due to night fishing not being allowed, I will fish until dark before heading
back to camp for food and drink and to tackle up ready for day two.
Day Two.
4am. Set alarms to go off at 4am giving plenty of time to have a quick cuppa
and get down to the river nice and early.
Having found a suitable swim the previous night for a feeder/maggot approach
I will set up a Barbel rod to fish slightly upstream and across the river
with just enough weight to hold bottom so inducing drop back bites on my quiver
tip when a fish picks up the bait and will also set up an Avon rod with a
running leger, baited with a 22mm Halibut pellet which will be fished downstream
and close in with small pva mesh bags of bits for feed.
12pm. Depending on how the morning has progressed I will either get a couple
of hours sleep (dependent on how many beers consumed the previous night),
carry on with the methods and tactics so far employed or will up sticks and
adopt a roving/trundling approach.
7pm. Head back to camp for refreshments and head upstream before dark to check
out some more swims for day three.
10pm. Get the Barbie on, open a bottle or two of wine and have a game of poker
in the tent before bedding down for the night.
Day three.
8am. Have breakfast before setting off to Bewdley to meet friends and show
them the way to the campsite.
12pm. Depending on how day two has gone I will either adopt the same swims
and tactics or try some previously untried swims with a roving/trundling approach.
8pm. Head back to camp for food then off to the pub!
LOGISTICS: Tackle, bait and Luck.
Tackle
New 12ft, 1.75lb tc Shimano Hyperloop Barbel XT rod, new Shimano Baitrunner
10lb mainline with a running leger rig and 8lb hooklink to size 6-8 super
specialist barbless hooks with 22mm Halibut pellets for hookbait.
12ft power feeder rod with 3, 4 and 5 oz tips, Shimano feeder reel with 10lb
mailine to 8lb hooklinks tied to size 14-16 super specialist barbless hooks
with a maggot feeder running freely up the mainline.
11.5ft, 1.25lb tc Avon rod, Diawa free spool reel loaded with 12lb line tied
to a 10lb hooklink with a running leger rig on the mainline. This set up will
be used as a back up in case of emergencies.
Specimen landing net and handle, weigh sling and scales, chair and waistcoat
carrying all my terminal bits and pieces.
Bait
14mm and 22mm Halibut pellets
18mm Halibut boilies
18mm strawberry birdseed boilies
Spam
Bacon grill
Pepperami
Lobworms
2 pints white maggots, 1 pint red maggots for hook and feeder
6mm and 12mm Halibut pellets with broken pellets and boilies for feed
8 pints hemp for feed
Luck:
Lets hope I have some, I know there are double figure Barbel along this stretch
of the river and I’m just hoping all the reading up I’ve done and all the
help I’ve received via various website forums helps me achieve my goal. I
will pay the fish Gods and share my cuppa with them while crossing whatever
I can and clicking my heels three times….summats gotta work!
Ian Phillips, AKA Esox.
OPERATION “DOUBLE TAKE” DEBRIEFING.
Day One: Thursday 8th July 04.
Due to typical English weather we decided to leave for the venue a little
later than usual as the latest reports suggested that the weather would improve
as the day progressed. This would give us a chance for the rain to die off
and the ground to dry a little enabling us to set up camp.
4pm: We arrived at the Unicorn Inn and had our customary welcome pint after
which we headed onto the field to pitch our tent and set up camp. I put up
the tent while my fishing partner Jeff got the cooker on the go for tea and
a fry up….yummy.
6.30pm: At last, we were all tackled up and ready to go. I decided to tackle
up my new Barbel rod with the Avon top and use my new Baitrunner with 10lb
line, all my rigs and terminal bits and pieces went into my waistcoat. I must
have looked like action man in my camou’ trousers and camou’ waistcoat and
had expected some funny comments which thankfully didn’t materialise so was
more than happy and comfortable.
We decided that as it was so late in the day now, we would head straight down
to Pitts Island, about a mile and a half from the tent.
After passing some lovely looking swims which were very tempting, we finally
reached a couple of swims just above the island opposite a lovely house which
will do very nicely when the Lotto Gods finally decide to smile on me. Lol.
The river was a horrible tea colour but plenty of fish were topping all along
the crease between the fast water further out and the slower water on our
inside. Just at this point the river has created quite a deep pool before
splitting in two, either side of the island. The pace of the flow here really
hots up and I found it difficult to hold bottom even with a three ounce gripper
lead.
Note: Lesson learnt…take some bigger leads next time.
I was using a running leger rig on 10lb mainline, an 8lb hooklink tied with
the knotless knot to a size 6 hook with a single 22mm Halibut pellet as bait
on the hair and a few free offerings thrown in as feed.
The rig was cast to my desired spot half way across the river, slighty upstream
and right on the crease. It didn’t seem as deep as I had expected and after
20 minutes of inaction I tried pulling on the line to dislodge the feeder
so getting the bait to trundle downstream. I often do this when fishing the
feeder which often results in dramatic bites and plenty of fish. On this occasion,
no such luck! I tried with this technique for another hour, still with no
bites. Something had to change, so often in the past I’ve stuck with methods
that just weren’t producing. I was happy with my set up and bait so decided
to just try a different line. Since arriving at the swim I had been feeding
hemp, pellets and broken bits into the margins in front of me allowing the
current to take it right into the side. Now it was time for my first cast.
A slight swing and the rig was falling through the water with the current
onto the fed area…I hoped. The rig settled and a healthy bend was taken up
by the Avon rod and all was quite.
My fishing partner was fishing in the margins a few yards upstream from my
position and had already had a couple of tugs on his sweetcorn bait.
This felt great, I had planned this weekend for months as it has now become
a tradition and I get all excited just like a big kid.
We were trying to figure out what was happening in Jeffs’ swim as his tip
kept bouncing when all of a sudden my Baitrunner burst into life and Boris
was on. In a flash I picked up the rod with the Baitrunner still screaming
and lifted into the fish.
Wow! These Barbel don’t half pull back. It felt like a heavy fish but my drag
was set too loose and it took me straight into the bankside vegetation and
my first Barbel of 2004 was off. Damn!
Oh well, not to worry I thought. At least I know that my set up was right
and my bait was in the right area. Next cast I decided to cast just a little
further out just in case I hooked up again, I may be able to gain a vital
couple of yards.
Bang! There goes the Baitrunner again and the bait had only been in the water
5 minutes. This time I was not going to take any prisoners and bent into the
fish and reeled like mad. Thankfully Boris swam upstream in front of me into
calmer water and I was delighted to slide my net under a rather angry young
Barbel weighing around 3-4lb. I didn’t bother weighing him and let him swim
off strongly after holding and admiring him in the water for a few minutes.
Success, I was very happy. It wasn’t the big one I was after but it was a
Barbel and no other fish makes me shake so much. No Barbel for Jeff but a
very greedy little chub which wanted all three grains of corn on the hook.
9.30pm: The light was fading fast and I only had a couple of minor tugs to
finish with so off we went back to camp to prepare for day two.
Day Two: Friday 9th July 2004
4am: Alarm goes off and I ignore it as I know Jeff has set his for a little
later. It finally goes off at 4.30 and I’m up like shot. Kettle on! After
faffing around checking I’ve got everything I’m off for the island swim.
Jeff? He’s still fast a sleep, I’ve left him a cuppa so he better be careful
when he finally wakes up or he’ll get wet. Lightweight!
6am: Finally reach my swim and luckily no one has beaten me to it. Right,
tackle out lets get it on. Oh no!
At this point I realise I’ve left my new specimen landing net in the boot.
Yes, yes, I know, I thought I’d checked everything too! Nothing else to do
but leave all my kit there on the bank and yomp back to camp at double time.
Having got back to the tent I find Jeff still a sleep so make a point of making
loads of noise as I quickly dry down and change out of my sopping wet clothes.
A quick drink to replace lost fluids and I’m off again.
Finally after a three mile yomp across country, dodging a long horn cow with
an angry look and a change of clothing, it was 7am and I was casting in. Peace
at last. Not bad for a near forty year old.
This time round I decided to fish my Barbel rod with a quiver tip, a large
blockend feeder with a ¼ oz strap lead running freely on the 10lb mainline
above a small rubber bead protecting my swivel knot and a twelve inch 8lb
hooklink. Hookbait was three white maggots on a size 14 super specialist barbless
hook with hemp and maggots in the feeder. The rig was cast out to the same
crease where all the fish were still crashing about. Confidence was high.
My second set up consisted of an 11.5ft, 1.25lb tc Avon rod and a Free spool
reel loaded with 12lb line to a semi-fixed bolt rig and 10 lb hooklink with
hair on a size 6 super specialist barbless hook and 22mm Halibut pellets as
hook bait once again. The rig was cast to the same spot I had the Barbel on
the previous night and I repeated the feeding process I had adopted with the
addition of a small pva mesh bag of bits tied to the hook when casting in.
Almost immediately my quiver tip sprang back and my feeder was trundling down
the swim with a mad Perch around half a pound struggling to stop it. First
fish and I was smiling. Next cast, same again only this time it was a pristine
little Chub around 12oz. A few missed bites told me a lot as the bait was
being attacked as soon as it hit the water. I didn’t want this really as I
knew Boris would be down below so changed my hooklink to a shorter one and
carried on as before.
Well, things didn’t improve, I was banging out Chub and Perch quite happily
in between trying to hit bites as the feeder was going down when all of a
sudden up pops this guy looking flustered and carrying quite a bit of tackle….He
looked shocked to see me. He told me he had fished the swim the day previously
and had seven Barbel out. We got chatting and it turned out he had walked
upstream for a couple of miles specifically to fish this swim. Mmm, I could
tell this was not going to go nicely. At this point he picks up his tackle
and goes around the back of me to get into the swim with me. I asked him how
long he was intending to fish next to me to which he replied all day. Now
I’m quite a happy go lucky sort of chap who enjoys company while I’m fishing
but this was taking the Micky. I told this fella that I wasn’t impressed and
I didn’t think it was very fair of him to just plonk himself down there, especially
as we had pre-baited the area the night before. Besides my mate was on his
way (or so I thought) and he would not be happy at all. This guy then starts
to moan that he’d pre-baited the area all day long the day before and he’d
been fishing here all week.
Eventually after a bit of persistent persuation on my part he decided it was
in his best interests to move off to another swim…..i’m gonna kill Jeff when
he gets here.
12pm: Jeff finally shows up to get a rollickin’ and some advice, I think I
unsettled him a bit as it took him ages to get set up and cast out. He looked
even more upset when my rod bounced and the Baitrunner screamed into life,
again I sprang into action and lifted into another angry little Barbel around
3-4 lb. Photo taken he was returned. I don’t usually take photo’s of Barbel
this size but the lads at work wanted to see me with a fish this weekend especially
after I’ve bored them with my plans for the last two months.
10 minutes later same again, the rod hoops over as the Baitrunner screams
and I’m into another Barbel, slightly bigger this time at around 4-5 lb, lovely
jubbly! By now I had caught nearly 20 Chub up to 2.5lb and a few nice perch
up to 1lb as well as other bits.
It was getting hot now and I felt the Barbel would be further along the island
in the faster water and the shaded pools. I filled my waistcoat with the bits
I needed and set up my Barbel rod with the Avon top and used a semi-fixed
2oz lead above an 8 inch hooklink.
Along the side of the island the river raged through like a mountain stream
in flood with deep swirling pools with large back eddies all along my side.
At first I tried trundling a bait along the fast water, ha! That’s a laugh,
I had no chance.
Note: Lesson learnt, must buy some bigger leads.
I ended up letting the bait trundle down so far before applying some pressure
to the line making the current pull my rig across the current before falling
into a deep pool before settling. The bait stayed in that position for 20
minutes before trying again, this time letting the bait trundle further downstream
to end up at the bottom end of the pool. Bang! There goes my Baitrunner again
with the rod top bent right over. I lift into a really heavy fish which goes
out into the fast water and disaster. My mainline had got caught up behind
my reel and I couldn’t give any line. The 8lb hooklink snapped and I was left
disheartened, was that my double? Who knows?
My heavy heart didn’t last long as the realisation that my plan was actually
starting to work. My new tackle was performing brilliantly and my watercraft
seemed to be spot on, I had located some feeding fish.
I’m so glad I had prepared some rigs, I was casting out again in a minute
but had no other bites so upped sticks and headed down to the next pool. Same
tactics as before, cast into the flow and let the current carry the rig downstream
before bringing it round to fall nicely into the deep pool. Now this pool
looked and felt right, it was just before the end of the island before a series
of rapids so I thought of this as last chance saloon. It was getting late
on in the day and food and drink were looking more inviting with every passing
minute.
My bait had only settled for two minutes before my rod exploded into life
and Boris was on again, this time he was headed for Bridgenorth right along
the fastest part of the river. My heart was racing as I held on and prayed
that I wouldn’t get snagged. Luckily I managed to bring the fish across the
current into the pool again where I was able to net a pristine Barbel that
looked around 5lb. this time I weighed the fish just to check my guestimates
were close….I was spot on. Out went the rig again to the same area and I sat
back awaiting events. A few tugs later and I was trying other baits unfortunately
with no success.
I decided on one last cast with a 22mm pellet on the hair again and after
what seemed ages, with me daydreaming, the rods springs into life once again
with the Baitrunner going mad. I lift into another mad Barbel who wants to
go north, a battle that took me in and out of the flow three times and left
me a quivering wreck. Finally after what was probably only 10 minutes but
felt like thirty, I was holding another lovely looking Barbel in my landing
net. This one was the biggest so far at nearly 6lb and again I was a very
happy chappy. Time to go back to Jeff and see if he’s had any luck.
Back at the top of the island it turns out Jeff has only caught a few tiddlers
but he’s happy, he’s caught and that’s enough for our Jeff. He’s more into
just being there taking in the atmosphere.
I set up as earlier and proceed to pull out a few more Chub and Perch as well
as some Gudgeon on 5 maggots on a 14 hook...mad!
Had two dropped runs on the margin rig but alas no more Barbel.
7pm: That’s enough for day two, time to head back to camp for a curry and
a walk upstream to check out the old Barbel Society stretch before settling
down for a drink and a game of poker. I won by the way…..woohooooo.
Day Three: Saturday 10th July 2004
8am: Woken up to the sound of the kettle going on, great. Today is really
a free day with tactics decided upon by the previous days results.
After a leisurely breakfast and lots of tea we have to drive into Bewdley
today to meet up with some more friends who’ve decided to come camping for
the night but don’t know the way. Others have turned up and are already fishing
but will not be staying overnight. Everybody else has wimped out due to the
lovely weather….lightweights!
3pm: I’m finally able to sneak away with minimal tackle again, although I
did hear someone say “action man” as I passed some tents….grrrrrr, watch it
or I’ll shoot ya!
4pm and I’m casting into another lovely looking pool just before some shallow
water, this time I’ve set up two rods which I intend to fish downstream into
the pool. My Barbel rod with an Avon top is set up with a baitrunner, 12lb
line to a semi-fixed bolt rig with an 18mm Halibut pellet on the hair while
my 11.5ft Avon rod is set up with another Baitrunner and 10lb line to a running
leger rig with a 22mm Halibut pellet hair-rigged on a size 6 hook. I wanted
to see how the boilies would do compared to the pellets.
My boilie rig produced no bites at all but my halibut rig produced violent
little tugs which developed into nothing. I tweaked the rig a number of times
but nothing happened until I had a brainwave. When I was drilling some of
my pellets for the hook a couple of them broke but still left a sizable pellet
with a hole through it. I decided to throw caution to the wind and mounted
two previously sized 22mm pellets on a long hair and cast into the usual spot.
The rig had only settled for two minutes when again all hell broke loose as
the rod bent over and the Baitrunner went into overdrive. I was already shaking
as I lifted into yet another heavy fish. I gained some line before the fish
bossed itself back into the fast flow, he was getting the better of me so
I decided to clamp down a little when it all went slack. To say I felt sick
was an understatement and the pub looked all the more inviting. Upon inspection
of my rig I found my hooklink had snapped at the hook eye. I have been using
the knotless knot for 3 years now with no failures, the only thing different
is my hooklength material. I was using 10lb Berkley XT and will be worried
using it again.
Note: lesson learnt….check hooklinks regularly. Possibly
change brand.
8pm: That’s it, I’ve had enough and I’ve got some drinking to do. I will have
to admit defeat this time round. Mission failure. My double figure Barbel
is not ready for me yet…maybe in a couple of weeks.
Right, back to camp and the pub then break camp in the morning and head home
in time for the British GP.
Summary:
Although it has to be classed as a mission failure on this occasion I am claiming
a minor success as new tackle, tactics and baits worked in as much as I was
able to catch five Barbel up to 6lb. Not big fish I know but as I have already
stated, I have found no other fish that gets my pulse racing so much and in
my opinion any Barbel is worth it.
The most revealing thing about the whole mission was how thoroughly enjoyable
it was to go with minimal tackle and rove along the river, I think I have
finally found what I have been missing from my fishing.
A big thank you must go to all the members of the BFW website forums for all
the help they’ve given me and others in their posts. They gave me the impetus
and knowledge to try something new so watch
out Boris….tell ya Grandma I wanna meet her.
Cheers Ian Phillips AKA “esox”.
© Barbel Fishing World 2004