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.

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.

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.