A Barbel from very small overgrown stream

[BoldBear]

I had a quick look at a small narrow section of stream a lot further up from where I normally fish where it becomes very overgrown and narrow.

I knew I could usually count on at least one or two nice sized barbel where I normally fish but I just wanted to see what it was like a lot further upstream where it is relatively undisturbed and where not many anglers seem to venture because of the distance, and ‘the old cat was getting a bit curious’.

As I made my way upstream it was getting quite small and overgrown but there was still a bit of depth with lots of bends every few yards and it looked quite inviting in the odd spots where there was just enough room to cast a rod.

With just a rod and a net to hold and with some end tackle and bait stuffed into my waistcoat and my camera attached to my belt I slowly moved along the bank dropping my bait into every likely spot.


The very small overgrown stream.

I saw a few smaller chub and Dace but hardly any Barbel and the very rare Barbel that I did spot were only between 2 and 3lb; but eventually I did spot two Barbel that looked around 3.5 and 4.5lb; so I decided to see if I could get one of them to take my bait and proceeded to drop the odd loose pellet on the bed a little in front of their noses to see if I could entice them to feed.

I lay on the damp grass and lowered my small paste coated pellet very slowly and carefully right in front of them trying not to alert them of anything untoward, hoping for a chance that one of them would eventually take my bait; then after what seemed a life time; just as I was going to reel in and try a worm on the hook; my rod tip bent right round and all hell let loose, and I was in, now all I had to do was land it from amidst the veritable jungle of overhanging branches.

Hooking my only Barbel from right under my nose and realising it was the slightly larger one was very exciting; and even though it only weighed around 4.5lb; it really made my adrenalin flow especially in such a small overgrown stream.

It made a nice change from catching Barbel from the usual hot spots further down the stream where the Barbel tend to grow a lot bigger and the stream is much wider and slightly deeper, and even though I had only had one smallish Barbel, it was a very enjoyable evening session; it isn’t only the bigger ones that get my blood racing.


My lone barbel of around 4.5lb.

[chris.oldgit]

brilliant bit of water craft, nice fish and report, well done, worth the effort you put in.

[Bluesbro]

Well done mate, thats a cracking fish you got there. Goes to show that if you put the effort in you will get results!!

Tight Lines

Joe

[Dadwood]

Once again, persistence pays off! Well done, a very nice catch from an area overlooked by others.

[pingu]

sounds lovely

dave

[saladdodger]

Thats cool, well done

[MRG2000]

Proper Angling , people who go that extra little bit ,always get results , well done to you ....

[chazyboi]

nice fishing bud well done

[Maddison_Twatter]

Great looking barbel, as people have already said, doing that bit extra really pays off

[SIMPLE MAN]

Well done chap,nice report and nice fish to