The rivers are far too high for pike fishing - The Wye currently looks like the sea. So I thought I'd spend a few hours chasing a barbel - get a bend in the rod and christen my new reel (Xmas present, thanks Mum & Dad).
Mooching about on the Small River for the first time in nearly 6 weeks - and the barbel were on the feed! Eight barbel in just over 4 hours - including the 10lb 12oz beauty above!! Cracking start to the year!!!
A scrappy new year.
ReplyDeleteThat should have been the blog title! And if I can’t catch a pike, a double barbel is a great start to the year. Happy New Year.
DeleteGreat start Brian. 2024 has not started up here yet!
ReplyDeleteCheers Adam. I forgot about the north/south time lag - what year is it with you guys?
Delete1924!! At Watford gap it jumps 100 years.
ReplyDeleteAh, not as much lag as I thought :-)
DeleteGreat you can get near a river !!! nice fish Brian, tight lines for 2024
ReplyDeleteShort, pretty straight river on a steep gradient - life saver in these weather conditions! Cheers - tight lines yourself - look forward to reading your blog again this year.
DeleteGreat start! Big pike to come next hopefully
ReplyDeleteCheers Jack. I really, really hope there are a few pike left in the season - when we can get near the rivers!
DeleteForecast over the next few weeks looks promising so hopefully get a few more opportunities soon!
DeleteIt looks like it’s going to be too cold for barbel so let’s hope those rivers drop quickly!
DeleteWell done that man, a superb start to the year. I'm yet to venture out, the dreaded lurgee finally accosted me.
ReplyDeleteThanks, nice double to start proceedings! Trust you to get the lurgee when the country is flooded and unfishable - saves wasting fishing time!!
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