![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27-_rsjJMTnFe_xQBGhQv4V5AIxX-UfAAr9UFWvBnyCgBv48bPKLXWJcayZF4pvzvT7uyKccmXwdxRPVA0ne8BCNyHMveo2lnGhlRPf5UVpDGibH8ZGbLr0_7Ushv80zaK-PhLDbBwBE/s400/barbel.jpg)
Before travelling further afield chasing barbel I thought I'd hit a local river and check if they were feeding - last season I had 16 on the opening day. After a long lie in I was on the riverbank by midday, armed with the standard gear and bait I thought I'd give it a couple of hours as a test.
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Well 2 hours turned into five, it was tough going and I covered more water than I originally intended. The result was 4 barbel, the best going 6lb 4oz and lost one of a similar size, the others were two and three pounders (too small to breed?).
Not a bad return but I really don't think they're on it just yet - I'll give it another test in a week or two before setting out to explore new rivers in search of a PB.
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It was nice to get out on a familiar stomping ground and great to get a bend in the rod. And I also had a bonus chub about 3lb and a surprise trout about 2½lb on rolled luncheon meat.
A trout?? not too shabby, looking a little raggedy though
ReplyDeleteRagged but fought like stink, very aerial, didn't want to meet me!
Deletephotos are back - and so are the fish!
DeletePhotos are a bit of a hack, but at least there are a few fish!
Delete