Wonder Wye?

I think the River Wye doesn't like me; it's been low for a while (pretty perfect) and with a bit of warmer weather I journeyed down with James with high hopes of a few barbel & pike gracing the net...

A flood before we arrived but it was falling. Nowhere near as fast as we wanted (or expected) - then heavy rain, gale force winds and a cold frost (not forecast). And then the water started rising like mad again!

I did manage a beautiful barbel of 8lb 13oz, no pike (not a run) and a few chub rounded off the trip. James did better, barbel in the dark before targeting the chub - but the river doesn't like him much either!

Edit: This is my 1,500th blog post!

Six Below

Cold. Minus 6. Time to don the sloth hat and head back to the River Rother searching for my new river double pike. Dawn 'til dark, me & James chucked deadbaits and lures into every likely looking slack...

Just one run between us. Not quite the monster that tempted us out into the cold. Still, when that pike float bobs it could signal a two or a twenty-two! This time it was the former - next time Mrs Pike...

Kennet Pike

My quest for a new river double pike took me to the River Kennet - probably a week too early judging by the water levels. But it's a lovely stretch of river, and I hope to be back for roach & barbel next season. And two jacks on float fished sardines provided the excitement!

Chilly Seven

Water is still too high for pike and it's a bit cold for barbel. But using really small bits of luncheon meat I managed to tempt three into taking a bait - 7lb 5oz, 6lb 14oz & about 5lb. The bank was much steeper than it looks in the photo - got a shot as I slid past!

Twenty Twenty-Four

The rivers are far too high for pike fishing - The Wye currently looks like the sea. So I thought I'd spend a few hours chasing a barbel - get a bend in the rod and christen my new reel (Xmas present, thanks Mum & Dad).

Mooching about on the Small River for the first time in nearly 6 weeks - and the barbel were on the feed! Eight barbel in just over 4 hours - including the 10lb 12oz beauty above!! Cracking start to the year!!!