Thursday 11 March 2021

The Tail Of Five Barbel


My familiar walk to the river, but this time as dawn was breaking - an early start as this was the last trip of the season - and I wanted five more Small River Barbel today. The early start wasn't needed as I didn't get my first bite until 3.10pm - and two barbel in two casts!


I had nearly lost faith - trudging about in the sunshine searching for fish in the clear water - fish that seemed to have vanished. Perhaps they had come on the feed now. And I soon landed another before loosing one to a hook-pull. That lost fish turned out to be important!


Then things slowed right down - I was running out of time. I remembered I had some old luncheon meat to use up - and the little splasher above took a fancy to it. I just needed one more. Just one more. Nearly out of daylight and in the last swim I had a bite...


What a way to finish! Barbel number 250 of the season, an 11lb 7oz beauty! I genuinely haven't swapped the order (you can tell from the light). And just to think; if I hadn't lost that fish earlier I'd have called it with the splasher - what a way to finish the season!!

12 comments:

  1. Norfolk is lovely but the barbel have all but disappeared so it's nice to see yours.

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    1. Might have been a bit light on other species (especially pike) but at least there were plenty of barbel on the blog this season!

      Plenty of pike in Norfolk I hear...

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  2. I was expecting your post to close with the guitar twangs of the Go Fishing theme tune. Getting your target number and size fish at the death... Are your balls hallmarked?

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    1. It did feel a bit like it was scripted by the Fishing Gods - except for the 7 odd hours waiting for the first bite!

      But my girlfriend has the theory that I spend so much time there every scenario will eventually play out.

      Either way I’m on a roll, long may it last...

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  3. Great finish! I called it a day for the season yesterday, though I did manage a few trips on the Severn last few days with some welcome doubles. It’s been a tough winter on the wye on the whole! Hopefully find a few more next season..

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    1. Cheers, not a bad last cast of the season! At least you had a few Wye pike - can’t remember the last time I didn’t fish it for a whole season. Nice one with the Severn doubles - not a bad finish for you either. Never fished the Severn, must try and get a pike off there.

      And yeah, here’s to next season!

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    2. That’s true, shame the restrictions stopped you getting back to fish it! I’ve neglected the Severn a lot of over the years for the wye but I think I’ll be giving it more time from now.

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    3. Didn’t manage a double this season, first time since I started the blog (and a lot of years before). What was your best of the season? Think I’m going to be jealous!

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    4. That’s tough! I only had a couple over 15 this year, biggest 17. Still searching for that 20! The numbers in the wye do seem to be down this year but still some big ones coming out.

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    5. I’d take a 17 all day long - nice one! Top priority next season is double figure pike. The barbel are great but they’re just not pike. Might see you on the riverbank - Wye or Severn...

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    6. Cheers. Sounds good, hopefully catch you on the bank sometime!

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    7. Seems a long way away - but I’m already looking forward to it!

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