Mission acomplished, what a way to end the season

Twiddler · #1 03-09-2008, 06:59 PM

I visited Throop again today, with the close season starting next week, I knew it would be my last chance to fish a river.
Early rise 5am, still half asleep I made my flask of coffee, packed the car up and off I went.
Arrived at Throop around 6.30am, unloaded the car and off I went, I already had a swim in mind and I was hoping it wasn't taken. After a 10 mins hike I arrived at my destination and was glad to see that the swim wasn't taken.

I expected more anglers to be at the river, so I was happily surprised that less then a handful of people were there.

Soon I had my rod set up, baitrunner with 8lb mainline, 3oz maggot feeder, 6lb hook length, size 14 Drennan super special barbel hooks, which are barbed but I crushed them, as I am not confident enough to unhook barbed hooks.

My choice of the swim wasn't as good as I hoped, as it was difficult to cast due to over hanging trees, so about an hour in to my fishing I decided to move one swim downstream, which is on the opposite bank where I fished with Neil and Mike the last time.

Soon I placed my first cast, about a quarter way across the river, where the fast running water ends of the weir. I just sat down to light a smoke when Mike called me to see how I was getting on, a quick natter about river conditions etc when all over sudden BANG!!!! Huge knock on my rod....I shouted in to the phone 'Gotta go' threw the phone on my chair, grabbed my rod, struck and YES!!!! Fish on!!!
And what a fish it was, definitely not a chub, far to big...maybe....maybe...I was saying a prayer out loud...maybe a barbel at last.

It took me around 5-8mins before I managed to get the fish up.....HOLY MOTHER indeed a barbel and what a beauty OMG it's huge, so big that my landing net I took was a wee bit too small, nevertheless I managed to net the fish and once I lifted it out the water I realized how big it was...definitely a double.

I was shaking like a leave from head to toe, so much that I couldn't hold the forceps still to take the hook out lol, after 3 attempts I finally got the hook out, quickly put the fish in to the weighing sling, scale on and>>>YIPEEEEEEEE a cracking 12lb5oz what a fish or how a certain famous angler would say now......'Look at thaaaaaaat, what a clonker' lol.

Shame there wasn't anyone close by who could take a picci of me and my first barbel but hey I don't really care as the picture will always stay in my memory.
Here a pic of the beauty, sorry is not a very good one but as I said I was shaking from head to toe.

Once the fish was released back to live another day I went straight on to the phone to Mike, who couldn't understand a word I was talking about, because apparently I was talking bibberish lol.

I took me a good 30 mins before I put my rod back out, I just couldn't stop shaking of excitement.
By then I could have easily packed up and gone home, as I have finally managed to get my barbel but I decided to carry on for a while.
The weather was playing stupid muppet....one minute the brightest sunshine, next minute one dark cloud and a 2 min rain shower and would you belive it, even a 2 mins hail shower too FFTN.

Just after lunch time 2 local anglers walked by and stopped for a natter, the usual chinwag like how is it going, have you fished here before etc etc and as I just turned my eyes away from my rod to answer one of the guys, the other one shouted, 'Your rods goin'.....quick step to my rod, struck and I was in to a fish again.....this time however I knew it wasn't a barbel but a chub, which also put a good fight up.
Soon the little fella was netted and weight......Things really couldn't get better a new PB chub of 4lb4oz.

This time I got one of the angler to take a pic

.

Soon the lovely anglers went their way and I was left to enjoy the rest of the day.......I had another 2 knocks on my rod during the rest of the day but didn't connect...but hey I was happy as Larry, I managed my first barbel which was also a double and a new PB chub, what more could I have asked for at the last day of the season on the river.