First "real" barbel session Hampton Loade.

[barbelblanker]

Well I did do a quick session earlier in the year but had decided to concentrate on tench till September.

I was itching to get down and walk to the Copse on the BAA Hampton Load LB stretch. I did toy with the idea of being lazy , and with time and light running out it appealed. I just knew I'd be kicking myself if I did that.

So it was a walk the 1500M or so to the last swim before the copse.

Just before the season started I had taken a walk up here to see what the weed situation was like and had found a sizeable hole in it about 100 yards short of the copse.

Realising that time was ticking my heart was both sinking (because of the weed I was seeing) and pounding as I walked as fast as my legs would go, bearing in mind I am very unfit and on a diet at the moment(less energy for this kind of thing).

Eventually got to the end of the walk and set up two rods. My hands were shaking and I was trying to figure out what was going on, then I realised just how excited I was and I felt like a kid again.

So I set up one rod using a barbel hookbait that stank, good start, with a pellet and fishmeal groundbait feeder and the other with a small tube of bacon grill in a groundbait feeder but this time without the pellets.

Cast one left, one right and waited. Cast a few more times to put some bait down.

Then realised that if I got a bite on the left rod I wouldn't be able to net the fish. Moved everything 6 foot right and now I could net from either rod without mucking around too much.

Just as I was thinking the groundbait was too stodgy (it was my fault WAY too much water), the right rod went.

Hold on to your horses , barbel on!! A very spirited fight ensued with the fish doing what any self respecting fish does when you are using two rods, it swam straight downstream and banged in to the other line. So I give it some serious grief and got it swimming upstream. Somehow it had got over the other line and I had a nightmare tangle in the making. Not only that but this one was bigger than anything I ever saw before and I was getting rally hyped up.

Eventually I noticed that the other rod was not bent UPSTREAM but DOWN. Oh would you believe it, the bus has arrived. TWO barbel are on here. Thank God for freespool reels. Now I had a dilemna. I knew the fish on the rod in my hand was a good one. I had no idea how big the other one was. There was no way I could reel two in.

Feeling that the other reel had enough line on I had to leave it and land the first fish. Which I did.

Unhooked easily and the fish just seemed to get bigger. Weighed it in the unhooking mat. The scale went 5,6,7,8,9,10,11,11 2. F'ing hell I knew it looked big. The other rod had calmed down now and I was pretty sure the fish was off. Both had safety rigs on so I knew that the hooklength would snap and the gear clear if need be.NOT that I am condoning that as a matter of course.

So , with one eye on the other rod my priority was the safe return of a fish that was certainly the biggest barbel I have caught.

She swam of strongly and quite quick.

Next job was getting the other line in. The fish was still on. Turned the handle and immediately felt resistance but looking at the reel it was WAY off down the river. Grabbed my net (but not my forceps Doh!) and took off reeling and trying to gauge where the fish was and if it was weeded or not. By some miracle I got it in the clear and slid the net under a fish of no more than two pound. Another quick unhook and she was back and safe too.

Now the important bits were over it was time to check the weight of the unhooking mat (scales were zeroed with no load). 3LB 8OZ. My mental arithmetic is great for decimal but I just couldn't think straight so just remember both weights.

No more fish and didn't it get dark quick...

So how big ? 7 LB 10OZ, not the biggest I know but the biggest I've ever caught, new PB.

On the car park I met up with Chris from Essex who had driven up for few hours fishing. Now that is commitment mate! Don't know if he's on here or not.

[cheef87]

nice one bb i demand you change your name now lol, had some cracking sessions on the severn the last couple of months around bewdley had 35 barbel last sun and mon on corn and pellet and my mate had a 12.3oz friday night biggest one i've ever seen anyway!

[barbelblanker]

Bloody hell! Nicely done. I'm hearing on the grape vine that they are still not spreading about as normal. Low water maybe ? Too clear. Nice to hear someone doing well. The name is going to have top stay though. I'd have to change it crucian blanker but as I'v enot really given them a go then that would be daft ;)

[cheef87]

Originally Posted by barbelblanker

Bloody hell! Nicely done. I'm hearing on the grape vine that they are still not spreading about as normal. Low water maybe ? Too clear. Nice to hear someone doing well. The name is going to have top stay though. I'd have to change it crucian blanker but as I'v enot really given them a go then that would be daft ;)

yeah theyre still there but definatly slowing down and spreading out of the shallows the last few days, im sure its the low water keeping them there will be interesting fidning the haunts during the cooler months,will be up arley fri for day maybe few hours into dark will report back

tight lines

cheef

[SIMPLE MAN]

Cracking report there mate,and glad to here on your new pb,well done mate i still have never caught one but maybe when my daughter has finished college i just may start fishing again in the UK

[Maddison_Twatter]

Good stuff mate, I had a 7lber last week and it fought like a demon ! great sport.
Never had two on at the same time tho ya greedy git lol
again great report well done,

[BoldBear]

Using two rods for Barbel in the evening is a recipe for disaster as you have found out, even more so if you are on your own.
I bet you will think twice before you do that again…LOL

Cracking Barbel, congratulations on you PB.

Oh! and its about time you changed your name, perhaps you should take the 'L out now and call yourself 'BarbelBanker'.

Great report

Keith

[fishypaul]

well done BB , congrats on the pb,

got any pics ?

[barbelblanker]

Boldbear, I must admit it has made me think. The reason I was using two was to cover two baits and two swims. I think what I might do is still use two but switch to one once the right bait makes itself apparent :)

As I said , like buses . you wait 30+ years to catch one then two turn up. Not quite as I've had a couple but that's the way it felt :)

Also like the new name but the old one can stay for now. Still a lot to learn and suspect I might still blank a few yet.