Matt Hayes Timebomb has blown ???

[barbelblanker]

I posted saying that I was going to break my barbel duck today.

So anyway, being a big fan of local hero Matt Hayes I went to the BAA Hampton Loade stretch above the ferry. There were , rather predicatably, a few people there and judging by the accent they must have travelled up from the south east. I keep forgetting just how fantastic the sport is here in the West Midlands.

So I mixed up the pellet groundbait, got some mini,midi and big pellets out and started with the timebomb method. I was sat under a huge oak tree with an outlet from a water works to my left and deep shade from the tree.

Nothing , nowt , not even a knock .

So I thought about it. Either the barbel know I'm coming and they are not here OR I am fishing a bait that's already blown here. Or something else , maybe they are not feeding at the moment.

So I moved to a swim vacated by one of the guys from the south east. Between two trees in the water. Red hemp got ladled in to the downstream tree (well just short) and the same with the upstream tree. In went some mini pellets and then I cast to the downstream tree with a huge cage feeder AND NOTHING.

Tried the other tree NOTHING.

Right where's that tandoori luncheon meat?

I've been nailing the bait to the river bed and feeding and it aint working .

Either there are no fish or they aren't taking a completely static bait.

So on went a light lead and a fair size (and very spicy) bit of luncheon meat. Cast to just past the centre of the river, no feed, total shot in the dark and YES YOU GUESSED IT NOTHING.












Till.......



Well that's gone and b@@gered up my forum sign in.

I want to say how I had an epic fight and all that, and I can.
Rod nodded and then got a slack line tremble , then it started to go over and I struck. At first I thought I'd hit some weed, then the weed nodded and swam upstream but with no real fire in it's belly. Then I lost it, so I reeled in , faster and faster till I realised that it was swimming straight at me. Got the rod bent and the barbel suddenly realises it's hooked and off it goes. A couple of abortive attempts to net it and FINALLY it was in. My hands were shaking the same way they did when I caught that first roach from Roath Park Lake all those years ago.
Unhooked it, quick (shaky) picture and it was in the net to recover and off it went.
Not the biggest barbel by any means but my first.
So I'm sitting here having a quite pint and typing up this report.
Chuffed doesn't even come close.

[pingu]

very well done there
great report as well

dave

[fishypaul]

well done BB, nice fish or shall we call you ex BB ?

[toomanyhounds]

good on yer mate. and cracking post, it was like i was there with you. hope its the first of many for you.

[fullcreel]

Welldone, still trying for mine, maybe later this year on the new river we have.

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Cracking read mate and very well done on the barble !

[BaggieRich]

Well done mate, couldn't be more chuffed for ya! I know what that one means.

The poster formerly known as BB????? Maybe you should become a symbol now too??

[Banana Steve]

Well done, .

[KABBYCHRIS]

Well done BM (barbel master)

[paddy2k7_red4life]

well done
cracking read