Bristol Avon Barbel. 26-08-20.

Arrived at my favorite venue

at just before 2pm.

As there had been some rain in the days before 

I was prior to this one the river was up.

However it was dropping down

and clearing.

My first swim was one I had dabbled 

with a few times.

It looked very fishy as usual

but with only a few light knocks 

on the lines

but no takes.

My second swim was a new one,

again looked very fishy.

Over hanging tree down stream 

on either bank.

Once again knocks and pulls

but no takes.

The reasons I fish these swims 

are:-

To find any snags,

To introduce my baits and ground baits,

and check the depths.

 By 6.15 I was in my third and last swim.

This was a is a regular swim,

I nearly always finish up here, it is closest to the car park.

I set up two rods,

one down stream with my usual Dumbell hook bait

and pellet  stringer and pva netting.

The second rod wes fished upstream

with Luncheon meat flavoured with a dusting of 

Braddocks Spice. Don't think it is available now.

At 6.52 the upstream rod, a

Korum 12ft Twin Tip. I was using the Avon tip.

A Trinium centre pin reel, loaded with

8lb Diawa Sensor line (brown) and 2ft same line for the hook length

to size 8 hook.

This 10lb 3oz Barbel pulled the tip round and

raced off up stream. I then had a 10 minute battle.

This is only my 4th Barbel ever,

and first on an Avon tip and center pin reel.

When I sorted out the Barbel,

I wound in the other rod, this

Gudgeon.

It took a size 4 hook on 10lb line.

Shortly after this Chub, 4lb 4oz, took the size  4 hook

with the Dumbell.

The Barbel was still recovering in the landing net,

and so the difference between the two can be seen.

The Barbel was 79cm long abd the

Chub 68 cm.

This was the last action for the evening,

and I packed up at 8.30,

a very happy fisherman.