![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOs9JUz4Kwjlj67OeRtzR1crqBDRWHd7JT2YKG7sFPE41pkxpu6uzwf_ikZqqtXJ4PD0x99wXqvHEelaXpbzcD46DJDiy_sOTgsmiv-eORT70HDfIJCNTPNXHpCZt5930Ip8eBkH8HHv8/s400/1A7C9117-01C3-4FA6-A2F9-D26133F1765F.jpeg)
The river looked great but time was limited, it would be getting dark in 3 hours, and had I cursed myself by bringing a celebratory bottle of beer with me? I'd convinced myself I was cursed walking to the river!
Barbel on in the first swim - until the hook pulled (cursed) - but at least I knew they were feeding. And a 5lb 0oz chub the next cast made up for it. Then the barbel gods really smiled on me...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbSE1aBujHbjI0PNnX-UYKHRjrgBthBOXwhxgujtWJGYsYUioICK0SZzBvQVa6YM-zRJhqKjpwGA6bqTloXicMibZmxvIJi0MOgfSIOeWBN3ouiHHuj42Sl3kCb1gjg1a-hX2RBHg-fM/s400/632D835C-CB16-48FB-B97A-180A07904C84.jpeg)
Barbel #991 - 7lb 0oz
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbC2JAWEdcP8oUEEAIqR1Nvxrrsgu_jtHkS_ibQ8o-cJ45YKc1gXir_C3J8Md1_A3ZmAH5ehjfrOcG4sEVu0Kl6cPr_oMunVJR4ODCBSRQsG0xBLF96b5H_c2ZJkfDVlTazuT3rIQssZ4/s400/7FBE9175-3678-4895-B361-FDD7014C88A3.jpeg)
Barbel #992 - 4½lb
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMX8a6RxdG4-APt9whFlDedm9M-sh6p26sy4of22W9-kLeYiPU4x4GTZeIGHIxXg-mp3g_AqiwbIqLEEyhIcnLuOpl1xkPyIodUuURR9oMNINPLDLpdGcAc7M473X13ShRgNzTL6GbHE/s400/0443C711-6E27-4F96-943B-52761DADCD7B.jpeg)
Barbel #993 - 5lb 12oz
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNkAKdh85cOBoICoehyphenhyphen0isCkT6ac0I7IoP-kUnCTUbZXsvbCFXZ8HZ7noOOhq-wq7xvMo5KokfwvzVuWLy22Nm_013-GejksS-P137qnLsRrQAk-hPPiGZ-pIDO7FIqrslXwbZHS3nxA/s400/3CB6DC3E-BF7A-42B7-ADE3-663878EADBB8.jpeg)
Barbel #994 - 8lb 10oz - best of the session
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyqrNOgdcy5Rp3I8nenshi-kTUHlxUgX9Chj7wRUhksdM0DVrTJ_U3BXRWzCtj-q4sHiY0qC28WaPtmK8UQzODqheRAJoR6aLMBUYO6i3JEG1QP33mU5Fy-3UXr428VI93n0c33hXvSM/s400/4025B55C-97F1-45DB-BB2F-31199EA6BBE1.jpeg)
Barbel #995 - 6lb 8oz
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PHDa-N4XOZWO55delaBYYi-gtRIFcsd7opyX8UOJ-wMoWWsln_XAq376h_nEEOeiHx5rBUZfOyjLXWtDSOk6S_5ME824k9rI_ZvF39YlzvyManognjYBx4Hwu8Ck-EeEkbEZ63gQAbQ/s400/A1D35A5D-6B3D-4C7E-A215-0CA7A029D89A.jpeg)
Barbel #996 - 5lb 0oz
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2-as9iOeyGuDOmSTH-4U5btAClt7YiM0V8O0LCEZeJ8UslF_By5mS0mBkHW5hHNLZv8Wuk0wdb2F3mvgKjaxE-tBzFU8L2-BmKvnVnCjBU50KLJ6IQoUGWNM1z1MlXBP_KfV4QX6CYM/s400/B5CEC3A4-3E04-4D35-9F38-383A99049E9E.jpeg)
Barbel #997 - 3lb
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WpDE91xnqMSkw1WOSlfp0Z7ETMlphla01m6VZqitcJJj9e_q3ufUHktB6wJGFBZ5y_laTydr8RRQEmvu5VphrYSECrj5iH0sBjG5xNvHvOgWiJLr8zDa5S-t_pUxxxQTvFiwQEQ7Ci4/s400/5F6DE591-C41F-48E3-AFEB-43E39F436F0A.jpeg)
Barbel #998 - 3¾lb
I could almost taste the Blue Moon - but I was out of daylight - just over three hours had gone by in the blink of an eye - no surprise with action like that! Two barbel to go - hopefully I'll crack it next trip...
![998/1000 998/1000](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjsZZHe-2yTvYaTOZNFXmBB1Sfo5-8892doYjYQwxNNoIX35KoZyqOdxN3WTR8KsD2Q7sk22Gv8IcoProDizJynGDMPfUfl_wCNTjJVpo_eIFnx5KFVFxYOlsH0f2A-bqPePmHB6LtEg/s400/EB5BA22F-C58E-4730-8D85-D19368E65754.gif)
Best of luck Brian, once you've completed it as I'm sure you will can you throw some challenge luck my way, as I need as much as I can get in March when I start the canal Zander quest again.
ReplyDeleteJust need to hang on to my lucky streak for 2 more barbel - be nice to end on a brace of doubles - but any size will do!
DeleteI really enjoy reading the Zander Quest over the closed season - and I’m really hoping you find that double this time - so best of luck (but not yet, 2 more barbel first).
Yes Brian! I too share a fraction of your taste of victory from here. Loved reading that. Thanks. :)
ReplyDeleteCheers. So close now, can’t wait to get back down the river...
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