New Years Eve Perch 2014

Well where do i start.My last two barbel sessions i got leafed out and i decided to turn my attentions to billy perch.I wanted to try something different this winter and maybe should of started a little earlier.Any way my chosen venue has a few features,but i needed to locate them.

My first couple of sessions i fished one rod on alarm and float fished with the other,bait was lobworm on the hook,maggot feeder on the alarm rod.I missed two good bites on the float and struck to early.My third session was to target another area,same tactics as last time,i kept to the same tactics and at 2 o clock the water came alive,fry jumping,fish swirling........things were looking promising,i had my first run and struck to early,just didnt read the bite.

Todays tactics would be different,an all out attack with the alarms,one rod in the margin on prawn,the other on maggot feeder,chopped up worm and two half lobs popped up.Nothing happened on the prawn rod,so i casted to the right of my other rod,same bait but with a straight lead.I carried on feeding a few pouch fulls of reds,little and often.As time wore on i was getting plenty of liners on one rod.at about 1-30 i changed rods over,i put the lead over to my left hand spot and moved my left hand rod further to my left.

Then the rain came,id left the brolly in the van,and i wasnt prepared to reel in,so i stuck it out.The rain stopped just after 2pm,so i fed my spots again.I waited now,at the back of my mind i wanted to go home,id dried off but was cold.I poured my self a coffee to warm up.I put my cup down and my bobbin rose about 6 inches,i waited,within seconds the bobbin hit my rod,fish on.

As i guided billy to my waiting net,i was so relieved i had decided to stay.And also fishing this swim after what i witnessed last week it defo paid off........................................

It had started rain again so a few quick pics,this isnt the best,i have others better,but you can see the venue
This is a new PB for me by 2 oz ....................2lb 2 oz,well chuffed................................

My blog wouldnt be complete without a couple of red robins from a previous session...........................

I have had a great season,Tench 8.10 Chub 5.2 Bream 10 . Barbel 9.13 and now Perch 2.2
5 PB,S in a season,well chuffed...............................................................
Tight Lines for 2015 and a happy new year x

Merry Christmas 2014

Well I havnt been blogging because I've been blanking.Id just like to wish all the bloggers out there a great Xmas and happy new year.
Tight lines stay safe,no drinking and driving and drink in moderation lol.

River Looked Spot On 9-11-14

Ian messaged me and said was i out,i said it wouldnt be till 6pm,so he headed up river earlier and i arrived as expected.The river and conditions looked spot on.A swim i wanted to try was taken ,so i headed to a new peg.Plan of attack would be boilies on both rods and pva bags,i fished one rod close in and the other downstream.I text ian and he said he had not had any fish .My left hand rod twitched twice and i lifted into my first bite,a chub.

Not much room in the peg,so not a great pic,chub never seem to want there picture taken,lol

It would be another hour before any movement in my rod,at first i thought i had a leaf or weed on my line
when the rod moved again,i struck and fish on,after a good fight,she was mine.

A nice barbel,bit to close to the camera.......................................

At about 9 pm ian turned up and said he was going to fish below me,i decided to stay another hour and if nothing happened i would move too.At 10 pm i packed up and got the peg i wanted earlier.I got both  rods out ,sat back and enjoyed a coffee.I managed two twitches and called it a draw at 11-30pm.
Ian managed a chub,so we headed home,Browny 2 Mann 1...............................................

Tight Lines bloggers,just cant say no to my barbel fishing at the moment,lets see what happens this week.

November Barbel Bonanza And A New PB 1-11-14

Well it looked a  really good evening to fish the river,a decent level of water,mild weather and low pressure.
I really hadnt made my mind up where to fish upon arrival at 6-30pm,this time last week it was still light,this week pitch black . I decide to fish an area that had seen me catch a few fish lately and i had an idea the barbel would be in the shallower area of the river.

This week i would fish a boilie and pva bag on each rod and feed a few boilies.I fished across to a deep hole and up streamed my other rod.Then it was time to sit back and wait,leaving the rods for 30 mins before recasting.It was really mild evening with the wind blowing across river ,as usual a marker at the side of my rods to keep an eye on the level.

I had just poured a coffee and had one sip as my right hand rod tore off,burning my lips in the process.Soon as i had the rod im my hands my spool went into meltdown as this fish went on a powerful run,it felt a really decent fish,was it the double i havnt caught yet,i turned the fish and after a couple more runs i guided her over the net at the second attempt. I turned on my torch to have a look,she looked big,was it a double.
I rested her in the net while i sorted my sling and scales.

I decided to weigh her first,rest her then take pictures,the scales hit 10,then were bouncing between 9.13 -9.15 till they settled at 9.13.Well chuffed smashed my pb by 11 oz.

The two sides.............9.13 NEW PB Barbel

I had only been fishing just over half an hour when i caught her,my next barbel came 10 mins later,a splasher barbel.It wasnt long before my right hand rod went again,and no 3 was in the net.

Another splasher barbel....................................

My next bite came not long after on the same rod a fish of the same size,barbel no4.I had only been there about an hour and a half and id managed 4 barbel,my next bite was a chub,that i bumped off at the net.
The wind was building up now,blustery at times ,by 10pm i slipped my 5th barbel over the net with what looked like a damaged tail.

Could be otter damage.............................................

I decided to stay as late as long as the bites came coming,from 10 pm to 11pm the wind changed direction and it was drizzleing and to windy to put an umbrella up,the river was falling and by 11pm i hadnt had another bite,so i packed up.

A great evenings fishing and a shame the mild weather is coming to an end.I need to get my Pike head on,but for now i will see what happens come next week.

Tight Lines Bloggers

3 Bites and a Swan 25-10-14

I decided to leave earlier last night due to it going dark earlier.I arrived at the river at 6-10pm,it was busy,decided to fish where i was last time with an option to move upstream.I had opted to fish feeders this week,boilie and pellet as bait.

With the clocks going back i decide i was going to stay later,and i took an umbrella just incase.My first bite was a proper 3 ft twitch,i leaned into the fish and the hook pulled.It was about 30 mins later when i struck into two twitches,rod hooped over,felt a good chub,net ready and guiding the fish to the net my hooked pulled,damn.It was still early so moving yet wasnt an option.

I recasted both rods every 20 mins to get some bait down,the river was dropping as i had a marker to keep an eye on the level.It would be 9-30 before my next bite,it tore off,i leaned into the fish as my clutch went into meltdown as it went on a powerful run ,i turned the fish and it made to more powerful runs before i netted her.I looked into the net and really thought it was a double.

9.2 that matches my personal best,different stretch.............................................

o took pics of the otherside that were better showing the fish better and size,they were poor.i leaned back here for some reason...............................................................

I moved up stream at 11pm to a new swim,casting every 20 mins and not a sniff,i packed up at 1am,arrived home as the clocks went back to 1 am,cant complain.................................

Tight lines bloggers,not ready for pike yet so one more barbel session to come as its so mild.....................

Funny watching this swan peck at my bait tub....................................

17-10-14 .....Barbel x 8

I decided to fish friday night after work,saturday and sunday looked unpredictable with the weather and also i had to work saturday and sunday morning.I arranged to meet Ian at are chosen river.On the way there i had,well i wasnt far away from coming off the motorway i realised id forgotton my landing net head ,DOH..

I rang ian and with luck he hadnt set off and said he would bring one,my saviour.I arrived at the river earlier than ian,i walked up and the two pegs i wanted for us,there was anglers opposite,damn.................

I walked back and ian arrived ,we decided to try a spot we have fished before,me in a peg i knew and ian further up in a peg he hadnt tried before.I decided to fish the usual,bomb and a bag,with boilie on both rods.

There was a chance of rain so an umbrella was taken this time.I got both rods out and after about half an hour i was into my first barbel.....

First fish of the night a splasher................................

It wasnt long before i was into another,this one came on the other rod,different boilie...............

A better fish at 6.10..................................................

The rain came and the scores on the doors were 2-1 to me,then my rod went again ,i didnt take a pic as it was raining heavy noe,it was about 4 lb,3-1 to me..............................

It wasnt long before ian was in,3-2,...................................

A very nice barbel for Ian..........................................
As the rain came down ian had another ,3-3 ,we decided to fish till 11-30pm at 11pm my right hand rod roared off,biggest of the night for me...................................

8.4 well chuffed...........................................

It wasnt long before ian,s rod roared off 4-4.............................................

Another cracker,ian had a 8.3 and a 8.9 well done...............................................

We had no twitches or knocks,they were full blown takes,a great evenings fishing,really enjoyed it.
Tight Lines Bloggers.......................................................................

Wet wet wet 9-10-14

I arrived at a different stretch at about 7-10pm,was hoping for a certain peg,it was taken,oh well headed down stream and ended up in a different peg .I was surprised how mild it was for this time of the year.

I fished bags on both rods with pellet and boilie,it wasn't long before the left hand rod twitched,then at 8 pm it roared off,a nice barbel about 4 lb.

 Then came the rain,it was off and on and no umbrella makes it difficult.At about 9 -30 I had a bite that just hung it self,i netted it expecting a small chub,it was a barbel about 2 pound maybe less.
I sat there for another hour and then the weed and leaves were coming down,I recast my downstream rod twice,then the downpour came,wet wet wet ,not that soppy 80,s band but a good soaking I got.

I packed up and headed back to the van,happy I had 2 barbel,not happy I had to pack in.Must remember a damn brolly next time.my stuffs on the line drying as I type .

Till the next time bloggers,tight lines over the weekend,no pike for me yet ,got barbel on my mind lol.