Barbel number 922, weight 10lb 6oz - but who cares about numbers? Heart skipped when I spotted her, spectacular fight, beautiful fish!
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Essential Reading
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07/07/2025 - Summer trotting part I (F*ck off, wind!) - Have never really been in a hurry to get down the rivers bang on June 16th, preferring to let the rush die down first. This season, when I haven't been u...
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A Phenomenon - Another very hot day. Nipped down the road to see if I could catch a bass or two on some new lures. Lovely evening, spoiled somewhat by a huge invasion ...
1 day ago -
The Rematch - The day was damn hot but I finished work early and had time for a fish. It would have been cooler on a beach but the tides were all wrong so I did the ...
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1 day ago -
Warwickshire Avon - Lumbar Supports and Lumpenintelligentsia - There are whispers again on the WBAS stretch. Whispers of leviathans stirring of barbel that don’t so much run as migrate, and of chub the size of spanie...
1 day ago -
Time catches up - Monday and on the train to catch up with schoolmates I haven't seen for nearly 50 years. It wasn't a 'good' school and most of us were probably sent ther...
2 days ago -
In the jungle again - A day trout fishing out on the range as a guest at an army training range. A massive area that was is they say, somewhere in Norfolk. The day sta...3 days ago
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1 Bite, 1 Fish. - Yesterday night I popped to the upper Thames for a catch-up with my mate Adam and decided to put a couple of rods out each with the hope of a Barbel....
4 days ago -
No perch here, mate! - Date fished 5/7/2025 7am until 1pm A solo trip today to the Tees. I would like to catch a barbel from this river, so am going to try and target one. Likel...
5 days ago -
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A Very Mothy June - Judging by all the exclamation marks and 'best ever' this and that comments on social media, I am guessing that 2025 has so far been an exceptionally rew...
1 week ago -
On the limit ? - As I'd said in yesterday's offering, July was very likely to start as June had finished and so it proved. Oppressive heat, with the Manston weather stat...
1 week ago -
28/06/25 - Harescombe - Doughnut - *Weight - 64lb 0oz* *Catch - 28 Carp* *Weather - Hot, sunny and increasingly windy.* *Match - Summer Series rd 3 (12 fished) - 2nd in section, 3rd overall* ...1 week ago
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Gone Fishing - Over the last couple of years the whole social media thing Has lost its shine for me so apart from the odd grip and grin on FB and the silly sense of hum...1 week ago
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Some Fish I.D. Pics - Below are some pictures I've taken of some sunfish/panfish sorts of species I've caught while flyfishing. Thought I'd share them in hopes they help others...
2 weeks ago -
Back on the River - Not had a chance to get on the river so I became a member of Ridgeway and booked in for their Sunday match at Swineford. I walked this match last year and...
2 weeks ago -
FROM THE RIDICULOUS TO THE SUBLIME - The, sadly no longer with us, Traditional Fisherman's Forum was responsible for many like minded anglers finding time to fish together. Just before it...
3 weeks ago -
Just One Cast - The 16th just hasn't been the same for me since I began Spring carp fishing. That, plus the Wye rarely starts with much gusto. Gone are the days of plann...
3 weeks ago -
Wellington's Loddon - Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington, returned to England a hero after defeating Napolean at Waterloo. In recognition of his service the state gift...
4 weeks ago -
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Gravel Pit Tench - After a series of trials fishing for tench [here] on my previous blog, the time had come to put my rigs into practice for a really big tench. A Cotswold ...
4 weeks ago -
A silver thread in a ribbon of green. - Keen to catch a few more freshwater species, I popped out in the evening earlier this month to target a couple on the Water of Leith. The river which run...
1 month ago -
SCREAMING FOR HELP - It’s early May and the swifts are back, scything noisily through our skies in celebration of completing their ten thousand mile non-stop round trip fro...
2 months ago -
Upside Down and Round About - It's been a full 6 months since I last wrote, primarily because I didn't have anything useful to say, and when the time came to think about the annual MCX ...
3 months ago -
Blythe - River Blythe 4:50pm to 6:45pm. Overcast. Calm. 9C dropped to 5C. River normal. Fished 2 swims. 1 chub. 2lbs+. Worked from home so I could grab the...
3 months ago -
Blythe - River Blythe 4:50pm to 6:45pm. Overcast. Calm. 9C dropped to 5C. River normal. Fished 2 swims. 1 chub. 2lbs+. Worked from home so I could grab the...
3 months ago
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West Michigan Carp Fishing Social and Lighthouse Visit - We visited the beach and lighthouse recently in St. Joseph, Michigan. I love fishing but the guys out on the pier without railings, in gusty winds with wav...
1 year ago -
Mine Shafts, Floods and The Harwood Arms - Happy New Year everybody, Covid for Christmas, which is not what we asked for and resulted in a funny forty eight hours of sleep, sweating and unusual d...
1 year ago -
I,m back - As a lot of you will be aware, i had my van stolen back in mid july, with over £4000 worth of tackle in the back, i got up on that sunday morning , looked ...
1 year ago -
Differing days on the Wye - *June 26th & 27th 2023* • River Wye at Ashford on the water EA measuring gauge at .29 water crystal clear • Weather partly sunny short shower late after...
2 years ago -
The first post of 2023...... - I have not fished many matches this year hence the lack of activity on this Blog. I did fish a match on the Gloucester Canal back in early January but I ...
2 years ago -
Grindr - Variety is indeed the spice of life and my lack of update here is principally due to the fact I've been doing the same thing over and over again for some...
2 years ago -
After work chub - I usually try and fit in a short session after work at least once during my 5 days on, usually arriving at the chosen river after 22:00hrs and setting off ...5 years ago
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Dichtbij, maar toch ver weg... - Ik ben voor een korte middag sessie aan het water. Het weer is al dagen erg grijs, geen wind en nachttemperaturen net onder nul en overdag een graadje erb...
5 years ago -
The Pre and Post Christmas Rush - PRE-CHRISTMAS Sinking into the marsh, subsequent steps no deeper than before but each consistently sucked in by the peat-like soil, slowed the walk but...
5 years ago -
Time to start updating again! - Six months since I last looked on this blog, with available time and fishing motivation failing me somewhat. I have been fishing, but often seemed to be fi...
5 years ago -
DYCKERS FIBRE BAITFISH ,step by step - *BIG BAITFISH* WITH DYCKERS FIBRE ive mentioned a lot lately about with dyckers fibre , the stuff is really amazing and has outclassed the traditional E...
5 years ago -
Canal Fishing - Another Great Session - 31/8/19 (Video 126) - The video of my lastest session is now available to watch by clicking the link below. *Canal Fishing - Another Great Session - 31/8/19 (Video 126)*
5 years ago -
Romanian Angling Club UK spring predator race - Hawksbury junction - I was really looking forward to this match being put on by the Romanian Angling Club. Along with the Polish anglers I see regularly on the local lure ci...
6 years ago -
EXCITING NEWS FOR 2019 FROM EXOTIC FISHING THAILAND - A lot of people have been asking why we don't do our regular blog/catch reports any more. The main reason is that our focus has been more on Facebook, Tw...
6 years ago -
Almost There! - Well it's that time of year again, when anticipation of the new brown trout season only a mere 24 hours away got the club members out onto the banks but no...
6 years ago -
Taff Grayling and Trout - I'm not sure the advertising gurus at Starbucks had thought this one through!? It did amuse us though when we called in for a coffee on our way to South ...
6 years ago -
Simple Float ledger Rig For Pike Fishing - Hello and a warm welcome to this weeks angling blog i hope i find you all well and your nets wet. The first frosts have arrived and for some on social med...
6 years ago -
Swansong - Opening day of the 2018 trout fishing season and a first blog post in almost 18 months. It is also the last, a swansong of sorts as I admit defeat and unde...
7 years ago -
Unfinished Business - Numbskulls - I have a great deal of never-published-material in the IQ archive. This article was probably worth putting your way at the time of writing. But I started, ...
7 years ago -
Looking Back and Looking Forward - Well its time for a round up of last year and it was eventful for the first 6 months of the year then it all sort of went down hill. I decided early on ...
7 years ago -
New Rods – Making Moves - I expect most keen coarse anglers own a rod or two dedicated to fairly specialist tasks – perhaps a crisp, fast action float rod, designed solely with long...7 years ago
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I'm Back - The clanging of agricultural gates and rutted roadways. The dodging of the cow pat and nervously passing my bovine companions. Pigeons arguing among the...
8 years ago -
Canal Tench - Something Green, Somewhere New - In spite of living within relatively close proximity to the Grand Western Canal for a decade now, there are still parts of it that I have not fished proper...
8 years ago -
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A Suriname Adventure. - Each January for the past several years I have travelled to South America along with Joe Taylor and other likeminded anglers. Joe is the linchpin having ...
8 years ago -
Fish Leather Books, New Website & Blog! - Greetings to everyone. You may or may not have noticed a few changes afoot with my site and blog. There is also some rather exciting news to share, which I...8 years ago
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Back with a Whimper - A whole year without blogging, what's that all about? Well last year my confidence was shaken, I have to admit it. Pike fishing is going in directions I do...
8 years ago -
Ouch..... - Popped down to the river for a couple of hours last Saturday morning and conditions were pretty un-inspiring as they have been in general this season. To ...
8 years ago -
2016 Diary - The End - *Date:* Sunday 13th March 2016 *Venue:* River Tone, Somerset It might not be final day until tomorrow, but today was my last chance to cast a line on runni...
9 years ago -
I'll be back…(again) - Well the last couple of years have been a blur. Lots of time on the beach fortunately with many memorable catches, with spring fast approaching I find mys...
9 years ago -
Popped up herring tail does the business again - Dawn was breaking when I arrived and a pike swirled on the surface in front of the first swim I stopped at. A wind was blowing across the lake and this w...
9 years ago -
Pike don't like Mondays - or do they..? - This one hit the lure and threw it in a tailwalk, before it chased it half way across the drain and nailed it under my feet. Not the biggest pike I've ...
9 years ago -
Blimey I’ve not posted here for a while! - I’ve been fishing a fair bit, but in my opinion badly. Blanking for tench, carp barbel and big bream seem to have taken up most of my summer. It’s been h...
9 years ago -
Check it.. - I post a bit on face book these days and have a "This Angling Life" face book page. It's far easier to use than blogger especially on a mobile or tablet...
9 years ago -
Seriously!? - The bloggers challenge is working it's magic... More spare time, more opportunity for reconnecting with our glorious English countryside and the motivation...
10 years ago -
Back on the perch - It seemed to be over in a flash. The river season is well and truly closed now and it's time to look elsewhere. I've had a little dabble on the canal and ...
10 years ago -
Early morning double - My last session was again on the wonderful Wye, I arrived just before dawn with a plan of fishing as the first rays of light for the day were popping over ...
10 years ago -
Mayfly Reflection - There hasn't been much time for fishing recently - my degree has taken priority over the last year and subsequently hobbies have taken a back seat. I did h...
11 years ago -
Suspenders! - Now that the rivers are forbidden, we have to turn our attentions to lakes, pools and canals. There's a very small pool 5 minutes drive away which, despite...
11 years ago -
The land that time forgot - You could be forgiven if you know nothing about Ashton-under-Lyne. I live just three miles from this quite large town and until a cruel illness rendered m...11 years ago
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How to combine two hobbies - Here is how to combine two hobbies - I created a drying machine for my tube flies out of the LEGO Technic blocks. The machine is remotely controlled, it ha...
11 years ago -
"Lean fourteen" to avoid a blank. - After catching my very respectable 24.5lb pike yesterday in trying conditions...i knew my window of opportunity was diminishing by the hour (as is on the W...
11 years ago -
Another Deer hair diver. - A different color setup, The black gives a good contrast against the light colors. A good silhouette for Northern Pike to follow and als...
11 years ago -
Tuesday 19th February 2013 - Weather -3c Start Brightening up later I've managed to temp my son Dean out today for a rare midweek trip. As usual we start the day with a full cooked brea...
12 years ago -
04/03 Trent - Recovery day following mates stag weekend...played 9 holes of golf then off to the river. Was looking forward to a good days fishing with the weather a bit...12 years ago
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Peter Green PAC Lifetime Achievement Award - The PAC would like to congratulate Peter Green on his Lifetime achievement award, which was awarded for his commitment and dedication to the PAC. Peter h...
13 years ago -
Barbel on the float! - I was intending on posting sooner than this, however after a few disappointing sessions this has led to me have little enthusiasm for blogging. A day trot...
13 years ago -
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Records & Challenges
Updated: 17/02/2024
Total: 60 Barbel (to 9lb 4oz)
Total: 13 Pike (to 19lb 10oz)
Archives & Stats
Total: 27 Challenges
Previous Seasons: 16 Reviews
Winning: 40 Posts
Man & Fish: 77 Photos
17 Seasons: 342 Pike
15 Seasons: 1,841 Barbel
Side Quest: 48 Species
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Pike Blog: Links
Visitors: Last 30 Days
"There are two types of fish: Pike and Bait"
A great fish!!!
ReplyDeleteCheers, she’s a beauty!
DeleteWho cares about numbers?....uh, you do. But it is a lovely fish ;o)
ReplyDeleteAlways have - I keep extensive notes and lists - ever since I was a kid. But sometimes when you spot a big fish - in that moment of excitement - you realise that the lists and numbers don’t really matter...
DeleteA proper Barbel mate! Great effort! and double number two of the season. Super.
ReplyDeleteThere’s still the odd one in there. Want to find another now!
Delete