An uneventfull trip down from Leeds with the caravan in tow, other than a slight concern when various warnings came
up on the instrument panel soon after setting off. VSC, Trk Ctr and an
Engine picture all in yellow which equate to Vehicle Stability Control,
Traction Control and Engine Management malfunctions. Luckily these cleared
after my Brunch stop at Moto Tamworth.
I arrived around 15-30hrs, got set up, then went for a walk of the length I'll
be fishing. I did come across signs of fish predator activity (probably an Otter, more on this later) on the track leading down to the river. As I reached the river I met Jimmy a regular and season ticket holder returning from beat 3, he'd had
nothing today but had 5 Barbel (2 over 9lb) from the snags yesterday, where I
intended to fish. Only myself and Jimmy seem to fish this swim as the others
don't like the tackle losses. I prebaited with a few pouchfulls of pellets
to improve my chances for tomorrow.
I talked to a few anglers over the 1.5 miles of river; one had had a 10lb'er
from the stump on beat 2 and the others reported plenty of Chub. The river was up a
couple of feet with a good colour so I'm optimistic even though it's
dropping.
Barbel 8lb 12oz
Chub 4lb
Chub 2lb 7oz
Monday 20th June 2011
Got fishing for 9-30 not a soul on either bank. The river has dropped maybe 6" from yesterday but still some colour. Not a cloud in the sky, sat in sandals and sans t-shirt and just as I was typing that first fish of the day a 2-7 Chub.
As an aside I'm using my new tripod for the first time and it's taken me 2 hours to realise I put it together incorrectly, maybe Trafford Angling should've included instructions :)
1150 hrs first canoe of the day went past and very polite they were too, no further fish to report the only event has been a hook lost in a snag.
1230 hrs a knock and dropback on the upstream rod resulted in another Chub a few ounces bigger at 3lb.
1330 hrs a 4-10 Chub on the downstream rod on pellet.
1345 hrs same rod, same pellet a 4lb Chub, it's a Yorkshire thing tha nos :)
1516 hrs just had 6 of the other kind of canoeists go through they seemed to think canoeing down the Wye was the waterborne equivalent of dodgems at the fair :(
1535 hrs a 3lb 'ish Chub which I thought was a Barbel for sure the way it bent the downstream rod on the take.
1615 hrs an angler just appeared on the opposite bank, miles of empty river to go at and he sets up as near across from me as he can get then casts towards where I'm fishing. Hopefully he's landed in one of the many snags plus it's about to rain and he doesn't seem dressed for that. Who goes fishing in white trainers, slacks and a white sweatshirt ?
1725 hrs my soggy neighbour angler has now returned from whence he came but not before standing on top of the high bank above where I'm fishing ......... pillock !
1800 hrs a Chub of 4lbs on the downstream rod followed immediately after recasting with a new flavour of boily by an 8-12 Barbel in the pouring rain ....... at last first of the season :)
1930 hrs that will do all packed now the 1/2 mile trek back to the car before the next shower arrives (I didn't make it and got wet)
Barbel 7lb 8oz
Barbel 9lb
Barbel 8lb 5oz
Barbel 8lb 14oz
Tuesday 21st June 2011
A more leisurely start this morning as I intend to pay for my weeks fishing at the estate office.
Finally got lines in the water at midday after slipping over on my way down to the swim and bending the pick up arm on one of my baitrunners; some careful work with the pliers soon sorted that out. 10 mins later an 8-14 Barbel on the downstream rod and again to the new boily flavour.
River at same level as yesterday the extra water is still probably 12hrs upstream. A strongish downstream wind but that suits how the bankside shelter is situated in this swim unlike yesterday when the rain was blowing under my new brolly.
1330 hrs An 8-5 Barbel again to the downstream rod. Needless to say both rods are now on the new boilys.
1430 hrs lost one to a hookpull on the upstream rod and foulhooked a small Roach when retrieving the other rod. Good job I'm recasting every 30mins as these boilys are starting to split after being in the water that length of time.
1515 hrs lost everything from the upstream rod in a snag, first time this week, not bad going for a swim most of the regulars won't fish because of it's snaggy reputation.
1550 hrs River rising now hopefully this will trigger a feeding spell. Just as I was typing that missed a Chub bite on the downstream then a 9lb Barbel on the other rod which went like stink.
1715 hrs Bollocks just lost another feeder this is getting to be a bit of a habit :( river continues to rise slowly.
1800 hrs A 7-8 Barbel again on the downstream rod and smallest of the trip so far
1950 hrs last 10min then back to the caravan for beers and dinner. A couple just went past with "just married" on their canoe and yes they were on their honeymoon.
Barbel 7lb 14oz
Chub 4lb 6oz
Chub 4lb
Chub 4lb 9oz
Wednesday 22nd June 2011
The river is up a couple more inches from when I left it yesterday and the colour back in it. I got fishing just before 11:30 and then it started to rain and as I was donning my waterproofs a Chub hooked itself on the downstream rod. Fun and games landing that with one welly off, it went 4-9.
1455 hrs Unbelievable just had a boat with an outboard motor go through my swim my 'comments' were ignored, probably couldn't here me above the noise of the outboard.
1510 hrs a 4lb Chub to the upstream rod then immediately after a smaller sample which fell off in the edge. A salmon then proceeded to leap about the swim and then a Barbel was hooked on the same rod but the hook pulled as I was negotiating my other rod. A hectic half hour !
1600 hrs A sub 3lb Chub on the upstream rod which slammed the rod over and took line from the baitrunner just as I was about to recast the other rod. Panic ensued as I discarded the rod I was holding into the undergrowth to grab the other before it disappeared into the river, I was most disappointed when I realised it wasn't a Barbel :(
1730 hrs another Chub around 3lb immediately after recasting the downstream rod. Just prior to that I lost yet another feeder when I overcast the upstream rod. I've not been really on it today and keep missing the 6ft square I need to drop it into. As I was typing that a. Chub of 3lb to the upstream rod. The river has started rising again after holding steady most of the day
1825 hrs a 4-6 Chub on the upstream rod as the river continues to rise. It's all rather strange I would expect the Barbel to be feeding on a rising river, not the Chub.
1915 hrs a 4lb Chub on the downstream rod fished a bit closer in trying to find the Barbel.
2015 hrs well the river's come up a good foot in the last 3 hours and even the Chub have stopped feeding now, come on you Barbel !
2030 hrs just when I was thinking of giving up a hard fighting 7-14 Barbel on pellet on the upstream rod. The flow has speeded up noticeably now and I've had to add some lead to the feeder.
2115 hrs ok that will do it's been a long day, packing up.
Barbel 9lb 2oz
Chub 4lb 3oz
Lucky 7lb10oz Barbel
Barbel 6lb 4oz
Barbel 5lb 10oz
Thursday 23rd June 2011
1125 hrs Just got lines in the water, the river has dropped maybe 6" from when I left last night which makes it still over 2ft up on nsl. Passed a group of anglers fishing opposite the 'point' from the other bank.
Met one of the regulars on my way back last night, he'd had a good day up on beat 1 banking 7 Barbel and the day before had fished Hereford for 15 Barbel 2 of which were doubles best 12-6.
1150 hrs Just pulled out of what felt like a decent Chub on the downstream rod and was then surprised by what looks like a young Mink making a hell of a racket on the other bank. It just swam across to my bank but disappeared from view just over half way but I can still hear it (them).
1210 hrs Just spotted 2 more baby mink frolicking down the far bank and as I was attempting to video them a 3-14 Chub to the upstream rod.
1235 hrs an 8-8 Barbel again on the upstream rod, pellet being the bait in favour now.
1300 hrs The mink are keeping me amused looks like a mother and 3 youngsters one keeps lagging behind and is reluctant to go in the water so she keeps going back for it and dragging it along. If you watch the video and listen carefully you can hear them squeaking away, unfortunately it's done with my mobile so the mink look pretty small and distant.
1335 hrs a 3-4 Chub on the upstream rod which briefly snagged me then came out leaving the body of the Fox feeder behind.
1350 hrs Just as I was about to take a photo of the damaged feeder a 5-10 Barbel shot off on the downstream rod and no sooner had I finished dealing with that then off went the other rod but I lost it when the hooklength snapped at the hook as I piled on the pressure to prevent it reaching an upstream snag. I can only think I must have damaged the knotless knot with the forceps on a previous fish. I'm a bit sick about leaving a hook in a fish, it's a long time since that last happened.
1400 hrs Immediately after recasting a 6-6 Barbel on the upstream rod. Unhooked, weighed and photographed it, put it back, picked up the rod which I'd dropped in the edge and would you believe it the same Barbel had picked up the bait again. I won't count that one :)
Just as I was writing that I heard a disturbance in the bush next to me stood up to take a look and less than 6ft away from me an Otter with 2 young entered the water. As I reached for my phone to take a picture my downstream rod attempted to leave the rest so I grabbed it. Worryingly as I retrieved the Barbel the Otter family were swimming down the line towards it and I was relieved when they passed each other travelling in opposite directions. Not for long though as mother Otter must have done an underwater u-turn and grabbed the Barbel. I pumped like mad and was briefly attached to both Otter and Barbel. Eventually mother let go after a second grab and the 7-10 Barbel was released with just a couple of small puncture wounds and swam off strongly. Exciting times :)
1700 hrs I forgot to mention that during all the excitement of a couple of hours ago that an angler's pitched up just opposite and upstream of me and witnessed the duplicate Barbel and the Otter incident. Anyway his mates just been to see him, skylining my swim from the high bank opposite then jabbering away in Welsh to each other; Welsh bastard. I've also broken my pellet drill although I believe I've got a spare, but that's in the car half a mile away. Only problem is the hole in pre-drilled pellets is too large and they soon come off. Just as I was typing that the baitrunner screamed on my downstream rod, picked it up, nothing there but the pellet was gone.
1845 hrs It's been quiet for a good few hours now but Jimmy just drove down for chat and whilst he was here I had another 4lb plus Chub and Jimmy made the background of the picture.
1950 hrs Just when I was thinking about an early finish a 9-2 Barbel to pellet on the upstream rod. I'll give it a bit longer :)
2030 hrs All packed now the trek back to the car
Bream 4lb 6oz
Barbel 8lb 14oz
Barbel 8lb
Chub 5lb
Barbel 8lb 11oz
Barbel 8lb 4oz
Friday 24th June 2011
Another late start, got fishing just before midday, the river has come back up a few inches from where I left it yesterday. There were a few anglers fishing the Oxbow lake as I passed and a couple upstream of me here on the opposite bank.
1210 hrs A screamer on the downstream rod resulted in an 8-4 Barbel and as I was about to return that off went the other rod. What a kerfuffle a Barbel in the net sans handle and another on the end of my line charging towards the snags. I got the charging Barbel under control and managed to release the other one ok but couldn't re-attach the handle to the net but managed to land it somehow. The second Barbel went 8-11.
1400 hrs All very quiet after the hectic start just realised I forgot to take my BP tablets this morning, I expect I'll survive.
1440 hrs A fat Chub of 5lb exactly on the upstream rod. The guy on the far bank says he's just seen the Otters further upstream on my bank. Watch out Barbel !
1455 hrs a hard fighting 8lb'er on the downstream rod.
1600 hrs angler on the other side finally got his Barbel after losing 2 in the snags; claimed it at 12-6 at first but revised it to 8-3 after realising he was reading his Avons incorrectly !
1630 hrs It's been raining steadily now for the last half hour looks like it may have set in for the rest of the day. I'm ensconced under the brolly and have yet to don my waterproofs, which I may regret should a fish happen along.
1725 hrs a 3lb'ish Chub to the downstream rod which went straight back and it's still pissing it down but now I do have waterproofs on.
1815 hrs Just lost what felt like a Chub on the downstream rod, it fell off on the way in. The bloke on the other bank is now fishing one of his rods almost in my swim, no wonder I'm not catching :(
1835 hrs just as I was losing the will to live an 8-14 express train Barbel on the downstream rod.
1950 hrs a visit from Jimmy and a Bream of 4-6
2030 hrs that's it had enough packing up in the rain
Conclusion
Not a bad week at all, much better than last June, probably helped by the extra 2 to 2.5 feet of water that the occasional rain maintained all week. The final total was 17 Chub many over 4lbs and 15 Barbel with very few under 8lbs. It was noticeable that many of the Barbel had lice on tail and dorsal fins, maybe they'd been lying up for a while in the low water before the rain came. The highlight has to be the Otter close encounter as well as the entertaining far bank Mink family. Throroughly enjoyed my week and can't wait to return in September
