Eel Quest

Perhaps inspired by the Bloggers Challenge or my own Specimen Challenge I popped out for a few hours eel fishing yesterday evening - first time in years I've deliberately targeted eels!

Fishing a ledgered thin slice of luncheon meat in a few weirs and holes I thought I'd get a few on the scoreboard before trying to work out how to target the bigger ones - 3lb plus is the target.

But it's an old photo above, I couldn't find one, or they just weren't feeding - I had a chub and three barbel; 4lb, 6lb 8oz and 8lb 9oz - makes a change eel fishing and getting plagued by barbel... Love it!

Quick Experiment

Quick barbel mission to test an experimental new bait, fished static and waited for that bite we all know and love - 8lb 1oz - and one hell of a fight - brilliant!

Weight Watchers

Afternoon on the river - two barbel 4lb 0oz and a stocky 8lb 9oz fish, best of the season so far. Plus half a dozen chub to about 3lb.

Distinctive fish, caught in March by James at 10lb 3oz - shows the weight variation. So barbel caught now over 8½lb could be a double by the end of the season.

There's A Storm Coming

You can feel it build and fade daily - it hasn't broken yet - but I have a feeling it's going to be thunder and lightning and lots and lots of rain. I'm hoping it's tropical and I'm watching from a pub!

The rivers really need some water but I thought I'd take advantage of the low, clear water and go barbel spotting. They are easy to spot but getting wise - about 90% avoid the bait or spit it out so quickly you don't stand a chance.

Beautiful afternoon in the sunshine and I managed seven barbel to 7lb 2oz plus a few chub. I also spotted a few carp which are now on the target list. Roll on the storm...

Wye Not?

Where is the water? A few days on The Wye, hoping to land Paulos on a barbel - and it was going to be tricky in these conditions...


The chub wanted to play, watching them home in on the 'plop' of freelined luncheon meat was an exciting way of catching them...


Free sweets - well, wild cherries anyway. Hawks, hedgehogs, foxes - it's great to be away from the city in the summer...


A few perch and chub on Mepps and Rooster Tails, a couple of lost tiny jacks and only one propper pike showed any interest...


The American fish hold! As the light was fading the chub and eels became ravenous. And I'm sure the barbel were there...


In fact spending more time on the water than the American I landed four barbel - Paulos had a lot of other commitments...


But I couldn't let him leave without one - and this one really put up a fight - mission accomplished! Coming back for a pike?