Friday 6 December 2019

Frosty Barbel


After a few proper frosts I knew the barbel fishing would be tough, and although I could find fish they didn’t want a bait. It took about three hours to find a shoal of feeding barbel and I quickly bagged two about 5lb and 3lb - then James phoned...

“Are you still on the river? I’ve popped down for an hour” I told him I was and I’d found fish, “come and meet me, try and bag one”. It didn’t take him long, a 6lb 10oz barbel first cast - followed by one about 3lb half an hour later. James left - it got cold - I left...


A shoal of feeding barbel in December? I was back for a couple of hours the next day! Unsurprisingly they had vanished - but I thought I’d have a few casts in likely spots on the way back up the river - landing one about 4½lb - then I watched a big girl nail the bait...

Cracking fight and the hook pinged out over the net, but it was too late! No need for a Mac comparison, I recognised her as the 10lb 3oz from last month - a double! Nope, at a (double-checked) 9lb 15oz she’d dropped 4oz - they’re really not on the feed in this weather!

For the records: 9lb 15oz, 5lb, 4½lb & 3lb (139)

8 comments:

  1. Good winter fishing that! I sneaked a trip back to the wye yesterday with a few mates and we had some good doubles to 16. Would’ve fished today also but it’s rising rapidly :(

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    1. Great stuff, really wetting my appetite for my Christmas visit - hope the water conditions settle down.

      If you don’t mind me asking what are you getting them on - livebait, deadbait, lures? Just working out what gear to pack - cheers Jack.

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  2. Yeah I’m looking forward to having a few weeks over Xmas to have a go at them!

    Had them mostly on wobbled deadbaits yesterday, there was good few feet of visibility which helped. They were taking the baits on a slow deep retrieve. The one the other week I had was on static - the river was very coloured then. Just hope the river plays ball over Xmas!

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    1. I’ll be watching the water levels and weather like a hawk over the next couple of weeks - fingers crossed for some clear water, or at least stable conditions.

      Cheers for the info, have to pack a bit of everything but every bit of information helps.

      Hopefully see you on the riverbank - tight lines.

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  3. I like shotgun visits like that! Nice to get 45mins out on the bank occasionally.

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    1. Those little barbel missions make my season. Also you’re as good at timing 45 minutes as I am :-)

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    2. That's what I tell the missus, its always doubled whatever I say! standard procedure!

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    3. Five more minutes... Five more minutes...

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