Horses
Arrived around 1345hrs after a delayed departure due to emergency babysitting duties. I had been listening to the British Grand Prix on 5 live and just caught the end of it on TV, never mind Jenson. I had a cup of tea and a snack then spent a couple of hours walking the length and taking a few pictures along the way. I had a bit of a run in with Andrew Cameron, the landowner and local 'Lord of the Manor' who wanted to know "Who the hell I was and what was I doing ?" After explaining myself he apologised for his attitude and we parted on good terms. I continued on to the river chuckling to myself. A bit of work has been going on, the grass has been cut on the bankside track and they've been attacking the Giant Hogweed with weed killer so a few bare patches were evident. Other than that the banks were very overgrown and there wasn't much evidence of Anglers, I only saw 2 in 1.5 miles of bank walking. I checked out my favorite swim, just a couple of sets of footprints and most of the far bank trees had disappeared, no doubt deposited in the swim somewhere. I came across Jimmy the bailiff on beat one who was just about to have a couple of hours in one of my old favourite swims above 'the wall' he reported things had been very quiet, in fact he hadn't had a fish yet, one set of the footprints I observed earlier had been his. Looks like it might be a bit of a struggle.
Got fishing in my favourite swim just after 1045 am, catapulted a few pellets in and cast out 2 feeders. I only had to wait 15 mins and a had a 4lb 12oz Barbel to the upstream rod. I recast both rods and only had to wait half an hour for my next fish a hard fighting Barbel of 8lb 14oz to the downstream rod. I then managed to lose one in a snag. I might not know where the snags are now but the Barbel certainly do ! I was getting plenty of Chub knocks then just after 1pm one of 3lb 6oz managed to 'hang' itself. This was soon followed by a feisty Barbel of 7lb and later a smallish Chub around 2lb which I returned without weighing or photographing. All the fish were now coming to the upstream rod, which was closest to the snags which claimed yet another fish. Things went quiet for a while, even the Chub stopped pecking at the pellets, then around 4pm a heavy fish wrapped the rod round again. This reached the snag but a bit of slack lining persuaded it out and resulted in a long lean fish of 8lb 15oz which felt much bigger Later I lost yet another fish in the snag, this time through my own stupidity. I eventually packed up at 8-30pm and returned to the caravan for dinner and a beer.
Before starting fishing I went and paid for the week, shock horror the price has gone up, it's now £8 per day. Today was warm and sunny so the Barbel might be tricky. I finally cast in at 11-30am and relaxed in the sun, definitely a shorts and sandals day. One of the many Chub pecking at the pellets soon hooked itself and a 3lb 12oz example was landed. Things were all quiet on the Barbel front so I decided to pass some time float fishing and acquire a few more species race points. I was soon catching Dace, Bleak and many Chublets on caster. I then caught a decent Dace of a few ounces which I thought was worth weighing so headed towards the scales at which point the one Barbel rod I had left out slammed round. The Dace was hurriedly returned and a Barbel of 7lb 4oz landed. I then decided to have a rest from the float fishing and partake of a sandwich. Shortly afterwards I had a mad ten minutes, first another Barbel of 7lb 4oz, then as I was rebaiting that rod the other one went off and as I played this fish I realised I hadn't reassembled the landing net. Luckily as I use a quick release fastener I was able to refix the landing net one handed and successfully land a 9lb 9oz Barbel . Later I was cut off by another Barbel on a snag I hadn't yet encountered which was confirmed a little later when a hook length also parted easily. Things went quiet for a while then I decided to put on some warmer attire as it was getting cooler. No sooner had I pulled my jeans on when the right hand rod wrapped round, so there I was playing a Barbel with my jeans falling down; a recognisable 7lb fish with a protruding anus that I've caught previously. I later lost another fish in the usual snag and last cast a small Chub which also visited the snag but came free. I finally packed up at 8pm with a suntan.
I reached the gate at the top of the field around 1030am and was disappointed to see someone parked on the bank close to my favourite swim but as it was a pickup I thought it might be to do with the estate and decided to drive down anyway. By the time I reached the bank the pickup had moved down to the very end of the fishery where I would also be going in order to turn round. It turned out to be someone from the Wye and Usk Foundation spraying the Giant Hogweed but I wondered why he had stopped at my intended swim as there isn't any growing there. When I made my way down with my tackle all was revealed, he'd left me a present ,very nice he could at least have buried it. I was fishing by 11am and after an hour or so a 7lb 15oz Barbel came to the net followed soon after by Barbel of 6lb 15oz and 8lb 1oz. I had to wait an hour for my next fish which I thought was probably a big nine but it tipped the scales at 9lb 2oz. I rebaited and recast and as I was doing the same for the other rod the downstream rod was off again, this time a 7lb 2oz fish swiftly followed by another of identical weight . Whilst this one was in the net the upstream rod slammed round but the fish transferred the hook to a snag and only a twig was retrieved. I then had a wait for my next fish briefly interrupted by a slam round that cut me off on a snag and later landed one at 8lb 5oz. All went quiet then and, having had a good day and topped up yesterday's tan, I packed up early at 7pm.
Got fishing just before 11am another warm day but much duller to start with today. After half an hour I hooked a Barbel on the upstream rod which I left in the landing net whilst setting up the camera and unhooking mat. Unfortunately this approximately 7lb Barbel was camera shy and managed to unhook itself and swim out of the landing net. I prefer to use barbless hooks when fishing snaggy swims and at least this demonstrated how easily Barbel can free themselves of the hook. Shortly afterwards a Chub of 4lb 12oz graced the net. Various other suicidal Chub were landed throughout the day, mostly 1lb'ers, but that was it for Barbel despite fishing till nearly 9pm. I amused myself catching Bleak on a rubber maggot and tried for a Perch or Pike without success. Very strange how the Barbel didn't feed today, the conditions were much the same as yesterday when I had 7, just a bit duller which I would have expected to help. Maybe they can sense some 'weather' is coming ? I suppose I was due a poor day.
A very dull day so far with rain imminent and thunderstorms forecast. I started fishing just after 1030 and just after 11am I hooked what felt like a big fish, unfortunately it found the now infamous 'cut me off snag' and did just that. Around 1130 it started raining then the heavens opened and a full blown thunderstorm ensued. It rained on and off throughout the day and was only relieved by the occasional suicidal Chublet and a few bits on the float. Despite Barbel and various other unidentified fish leaping clear of the water on many occasions they refused to feed. I expect things will improve over the weekend when today's rain comes through (assuming it reached central Wales). I packed up at 7pm and after a chat with 'Jimmy' on the bank retired to the pub for a few consolation pints and a meal.