The Rod Thief!

No, not Dan, the barbel he is holding. Dan wasn't having the best fishing session, wherever I cast I found barbel, Dan's luck just wasn't in this evening. And things got worse when, while distracted, his rod made a break for the water. I made a dive for it but it was too quick, the rod was gone. We searched the water for it with torches but we couldn't see it.

F*@%!

Once we turned the torches off we could spot the green glow of the mini glowstick deep in the water. I made repeated casts over it trying to snag it, and after about 5 minutes managed to snag the line. As I tried to pull it in, it pulled back, the thief was obviously still attached. I got the rod close enough for Dan to grab it. Dan then landed the culprit, a 1lb 10oz barbel. Dan was delighted with his catch... And relieved to see the rod and reel again!

Sorry for the crap photo, I hate my new camera phone and I'm hoping to replace it before shark fishing next month.


My evening was much better, we were searching the Wandte for barbel and I had three small ones straight away at the weir. We then tried a couple of different spots before arriving at the hole. I had one about a pound first cast, and a 1lb 9oz second cast.

Then back to the weir to finish the session. Dan fished in the weir, I fancied a spot just downstream, a spot that doesn't produce during daylight but I thought they might move there in the dark. Three barbel in four casts to about a pound before the action slowed down, and I had two more in the next hour. Then we had the rod thief incident. And I finished the session with a boot-lace eel.

So 10 barbel to 1lb 9oz, the luck was on my side this time - although Dan pointed out he got the biggest barbel!!


One of the smallest barbel, but I bet he could steal a rod!