Sunday 16 June 2013

Opening Day


The day was finally here, after 3 months of talking about it, 3 months of planning we were about 10 minutes late!

Barbel were the target, and within about 5 minutes of our first casts both Dan and myself had a a couple of tell-tail knocks, we were both poised over our respective rods waiting for that inevitable rip-round bite...

About four bite-less hours later a text from a mate fishing just upstream revealed he'd just had his first bite and landed a little barbel - something was wrong, they weren't playing.

It was always going to be a risk, targeting barbel this early on when the spring was really broken up. I think they have spawned, but only just.

A bite out of the blue on Dan's rod and a cracking fight saw us avoid a blank with a 4lb 3oz fish, but it was early bath time - I had planned on spending the day chasing them but we headed off at 7am, thanking the fishing Gods that at least we'd seen a fish.

Nice one Dan.

6 comments:

  1. Glad to see I wasn't the only one with a disappointing opening day, but at least you saw a fish on the bank. Well done Dan.

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  2. Fish were around but didn't play the game... Should you change your bait or maybe downsize and offer the same bait in smaller mouthfuls? ... Anyway, experience tells you when to try "one more cast, just one more cast" and when to call it a day. And often we learn more than our failures than from our successes. So, it can only get better. All the best for this season's challenges!

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, tried a few thing since, just don't think they are really on the feed yet... I'll be waiting for them to turn their attention to food!

      Cheers.

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  3. I see Dan has started the season with another Barbel mustache.
    Paulos

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    Replies
    1. Dan DON"T LICK THE BARBEL... Too late :)

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