Wednesday 16 October 2013

Lacock 15-10-13. First ever Barbel.

Free day on Tuesday
so popped back to try
a few more new swims.
That is really enjoyable,
finding and exploring 
the swims.
You can't beat views like this
especially in October and with the
weather.
I fished three new swims using 
a home mixed pellet mix. So feeding the swims as
I passed, I started with this one.
After about half an hour
I  had some rattles on the rod tips.
The rig over on the far bank was first
to pull down, and a nice short run down stream
was slowed when it shot across to the 
near bank. It then got snagged in some
loose branches. While using the the landing net handle 
to loosen it, the other rod bent round 
and the bait runner allowed it to take line 
and slow the run.
Well I managed to land the first one at 3lb 9oz
and then play the second which 
was not in the mood to fight.
 So two chub were in the net,
and weighed and photographed.
Five more swims and two more chub
2.3lb and 1.9lb.
I ended up under a big tree with a large raft of
branches and other snags, I did not loose feed first.
This time I used PVA stockings hooked on the hook.
This did the trick, in under 15 minutes
this Barbel at 4lb 1oz was the result after a good 
tug of war. Well after 50 years of fishing I finally did it.
My first Barbel.
It had a mark on its side which could have been caused
during the action. Luckily it was only a scrape on scales
and non were missing. 
The photo is poor because it was very nearly to dark to take it.
I put it in the net and held it in the water till it was ready to go.
It was a great day made even better 
by the warm temperature, beautiful scenes and wild life.
I even saw an owl and walked back to the car
in a low mist.
I will remember today for a very long time.

Saturday 12 October 2013

A very sad looking River Frome.12-10-13

I had the afternoon free so popped down to
the Bristol Frome at the Snuff Mill.
What a shock I had.
Not having fished this stretch for a few months 
these photo show why I was shocked.
This stretch used to hold a good head of Carp,
Roach, Chub, Trout, Gudgeon and Dace.
As well Pike, Perch Minnow, Stone Loach
and Bullheads.
I,ve had Chub to 5lb 2oz (my P.B.), Roach to
1lb 7oz and Carp to 8lb on these swims.

The stretches above and below this area are still
OK. I will be contacting Bristol City Council
and the Environment Agency.

However I did find a nice shoal of Dace
further up stream,
Catching 12 of them in an hour. 
Plus the usual Minnows.
I could have possibly caught more
but for the leaves on the surface which
made it a bit more challenging.

Wednesday 9 October 2013

A little more luck.09-10-13

With another escape chit in hand,
I headed to Mead farm fields.
Baits taken were
Bread, high oil pellets,worm
and sweet corn.
First time here so fed a few good looking 
swims as I walked down stream.
At the end of the 3rd field
I set up two ledger rods
both had pellet baits
One was cast down stream 
the other up stream.
 Both rods were rattling merrily
but the down stream one seemed
different. That one proved to be snagged, so
that had to be sorted out.
The upstream rod (photo below) pulled down
and this (photo above) sorry looking
2.2lb Chub was landed.
It appeared to have been hit by a large Pike
or Otter.
 After 1 1/2 hours I moved upstream to
a swim that I had not fed on the way down as there was 
a large Wasp / Hornet, about 2 inches long there.
Good it had gone, so set up a similar set up as before.
Again another Chub took the pellet bait, 
this one was fine perfect and at first I thought it might
be a Barbel but no this 2.3lb fella instead.
 This spot was really interesting so will try it again. 
 Having tried 3 more swims with no results
I stopped in the first swim I had put loose feed into
on the way in.
 This time, although there were plenty of 
nod and rattles, pellet didn't work.
So worm was chosen as hook bait.
This produced another 2.3lb chub and was the last of the day.
Shock and horror.
I did not even set up a float rod all day.
Fished from 12 noon until 6.45pm.
I do like Chub.