A evening after Beards on the local stream

[BoldBear]

I have had a couple of fairly unsuccessful evening sessions after Tench on the clubs Estate lake lately; even though I had caught a lovely 15lb fully scaled mirror and a couple of 3 to 4lb Bream the last time I went so I wasn’t that upset; but I hadn’t had one Tench in the last month so to have a break and cheer myself up I decided to go back to the local stream where I knew I could at least catch a Barbel or two on most visits, and if the Barbel didn’t want to play then there were always a few good Chub and maybe a decent Roach or two that might be willing to play ball.

The lovely looking 15lb fully scaled Mirror Carp caught while trying to catch Tench on the Estate lake last Friday evening on 4lb line and a size 14 hook.

I got to the tiny river at around 5:30pm last night (Tuesday) to find someone was fishing in the swim I had wanted to fish so I decided to do a bit of roving. I was trundling a piece of luncheon-meat along the bed using a light link leger and my centrepin.

The water was very low and clear as it is in most streams in the south at the moment and is in sore need of some consistent rain to top up the groundwater (overnights only if possible ‘lord of the rain’ )
.
Just over an hour passed without anything other than a couple of smallish Chub picking up my meat but it would start getting dark quite soon and this is what I was waiting for.

At around 6:15pm I noticed that the angler in the swim where I had wanted to fish was slowly packing away his gear so I went over to him to ask what he had caught, he said that he had been picking up some nice sized Roach and Chub all through the day and that he was now off for his dinner and a welcome pint.


The swim that I fished after the other angler had gone, it looks quite still but there was a good flow from right to left.

As soon as the angler had gone I put a slightly larger lead on the line (½ oz) to counter the flow and cast to the edge of the rushes and no more than a few minutes later I felt a couple of familiar trembles through my finger as a barbel started mouthing my bait and soon after my bait screamed away as the first Barbel was hooked.

After a good scrap it was beaten and I left it in the landing net in the water to recover as I setup my unhooking mat and got my scales out of my fishing bag.
It weighed 5lb 3oz which although not large for this section of river was a very welcome fish.

I recast to the same spot only this time I also attached a small PVA Stocking full of small halibut pellets and a few broken boilies and a few small scraps of luncheon-meat.

I missed the next bite and the hook came adrift after only a few seconds so I checked my barbless hook which still seemed very sharp.

My second barbel was even smaller at around 3lb and I didn't bother with the scales.

My third Barbel came as the light started to fade and was 5lb 12oz

Fourth barbel (5lb 2oz)

Just as I was about to call it a night I just had to have a pee in a bush behind the swim and right in the middle my rod-tip went round and my rod was being pulled off the rod-rest and I only just made it in time to grab the rod, but playing a Barbel while doing up your flies is fraught with danger and I lost it after a couple of runs through the swim.

The larger Barbel didn’t show themselves but I didn’t really mind as it had been a very pleasant evening on a great little stream.

BB

[fishypaul]

what a super evenings fishing,well done bb

[fullcreel]

Well done, sounds like a perfect summers eve. I have to agree, we do need some serious rain fall, to give the rivers their zest back. ut I thik some of the country is going to get some.
Still waiting for my first barbel.

[pingu]

nice one there


dave

[rob@home]

Good report there BB your doing better than me down here this season, still waiting for some rain as you said...
Airshow this weekend but back out next weekend

[Fishing Forum Admin]

cracking session mate and great read

[Banana Steve]

Fantastic Session there, like fullcreel, i am still awaiting my first barbel. Well done

[Norfolkboy]

Nice one