Saturday 27 February 2021

On This Day 2013


Eight years ago today...
A quick mission to the river resulted in this stunning 12lb 4oz PB barbel - and I very nearly didn't go fishing that afternoon!

Thursday 25 February 2021

Not Barbel


I fancied a crack at something other than a barbel - so armed with the stick 'n' pin I went in search of a big fat Spring dace. Long story short; after a little roach first cast I was plagued by small trout - in some cases catching them, putting them back and then catching them again! I'm sure there are dace here - and I've still got time...


Wednesday 24 February 2021

Sprung?


Spring is springing - this week anyway. But the lockdown is going to stay inforce for the rest of the season - no piking - the pike season that never happened! Still I'm lucky to have barbel within walking distance - although the bites were difficult to hit - 10 or 12 bites, 3 hit, 2 barbel landed - still a lovely afternoon in the sunshine!

Tuesday 16 February 2021

Long Shot


First time it’s jumped above freezing for over a week - a Spring like 12°C and sunny! Yeah - sunny!! Problem was the river was cold, full of melted snow - and even worse salt washed off the roads.

It was a long shot but would the barbel be feeding? Hell yeah! Six barbel and an OOS brown trout found the net. Great to be back on the riverbank after two weeks - a much needed fishing fix!


Quick snap of the trout - as it's something different!


Best barbel of the session at 7lb 14oz - barbel #227

Sunday 14 February 2021

The Mighty Gonk


I thought the mighty gudgeon deserved it's own t-shirt. And they're selling quite well - on the Gudgeon Society facebook page - talk about a niche market! Possibly the first of the mini-monsters collection.

Friday 12 February 2021

Frozen


Snow on the ground and temperatures not getting above freezing all week - think I’m going to miss my fishing fix - even walking to the river would be treacherous on the icy pavements!

But temperatures reaching into double figures next week - albeit with a bit of rain - hopefully sneak out for a trip (or two) then. That is unless I’m helping someone dig a pond!!

Sunday 7 February 2021

Personal Best


So far I've managed to beat three Personal Bests this season - rudd and wels by design and barbel by playing the numbers game - but as the target weight increases it gets more difficult each season.

So I've worked out my PB list as a percentage of the British Record (at the time of capture). I can identify the easier post-lockdown targets - any excuse for a table! Perch & eels look like a good starting target...

 Species PB Record %
 Barbel 14lb 2oz 21lb 1oz 67%
 Bream 10lb 9oz 22lb 11oz 47%
 Carp 28lb 12oz 67lb 8oz 43%
 Crucian Carp 3lb 8½oz 4lb 10oz 76%
 Chub 6lb 12oz 9lb 5oz 72%
 Dace 11¼oz 1lb 5oz 53%
 Eel 2lb 11oz 11lb 2oz 24%
 Gudgeon 2oz 11dr 5oz 54%
 Minnow 18 grams 24 grams 75%
 Orfe 5lb 1oz 8lb 5oz 61%
 Perch 2lb 4oz 6lb 3oz 36%
 Pike 25lb 4oz 46lb 13oz 53%
 Roach 1lb 15oz 4lb 4oz 46%
 Rudd 1lb 14oz 4lb 10oz 40%
 Ruffe 2oz 5oz 40%
 Tench 7lb 12oz 15lb 3oz 51%
 Wels Catfish 30lb 3oz -- --
 Zander 9lb 1oz 21lb 5oz 42%
 Grayling 2lb 11oz 4lb 4oz 63%

Breakdown across river, canal and stillwater is here.

Wednesday 3 February 2021

Barbel Blog


My weekly fishing fix - and after a wander about and three barbel - I scaled the gear right down and tried to find a gudgeon or roach. Not a bite! Conditions weren't great and more rain is on the way - but it feels like we're starting to run out of season...