Friday 10 August 2012

Skiving


Well I skived off work, it was sunny and there was way too much on my to-do list. Following the advise of fellow blogger Stew from Barbel Quest I went in search of a roach. And I found them, it took about half an hour of feeding before they became confidant, then it was a roach a chuck.

No big ones, but I probably had a couple of dozen to about 4oz, I'd have happily sat there all afternoon catching them - but unfortunately my center pin seized up solid (cause yet unknown). As I had to break the tackle down to change reel I thought I'd put on some slightly heavier gear and go in search of a trout.


My trout radar was on top form, although basic fishing skills had left me - hooking and loosing 3 trout in quick succession! I did manage a small chub, which looked like it was the only one hanging about with the trout.

While wandering about I spotted the odd carp in the shallow water, every time I did I'd chuck half a handful of maggots at them to see if they wanted to play - they didn't! Then I spotted a carp and barbel lying next to each other, both looked like doubles - half a handful of maggots went out and they both wanted play. (There isn't supposed to be any barbel in this stretch).

I crept upstream, removed the float and all but one of the split-shot and put a bunch of maggots in their path. After five minutes I was thinking of popping down to see if they were still there - then the rod hooped round. The carp shot past me, I must be connected to the big barbel - it was at this point I remembered I was using 4lb line and a size 14 barbless hook.

Cracking fight - why did my center pin break? And eventually an unexpected 9lb 1oz barbel was added to the challenge!


Running out of time (I had to be at a birthday party) I headed back to the roach shoal, and this time it was a better stamp of fish, 8-10oz, I'm sure there must be a pounder there - next time I'm bring bread!

Right then; fix center pin, clean barbel slime off camera lens and catch up on work... Or I could go fishing...

8 comments:

  1. Great looking fish and a fantastic Captain Birds-eye beard. Doesn't get any better than that!

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    1. The beard definitely helps, the barbel know who's boss when they see it!

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  2. Great result Brian. Not a bad fish that for somewhere that doesn't have them in!

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    1. Always nice to catch them from where they aren't!

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  3. top fishing pub was boreing anyway dan

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    1. Get your arse down the river... Can't catch them in the pub..!

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  4. Glad you found the Roach Brian and well done on the Barbel. Never seen a Brownie in that stretch of the river if I'm honest. Paulos is right about the beard, fantastic! At least yours doesn't seem to be greying up quite the same as mine lol

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    1. Thanks for putting me on the roach, I lucked into the barbel!

      Trout were at the top by the bridge, probably 8 or 10 of them, all exactly the same size, about 8oz, stockies?

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