My Barbel season

Im just goin to reflect on my 2nd  season as a barbel angler.Ive thouroughly enjoyed it discovering new spots on the river and moving swims to find fish.Ive kept it simple all season,running feeder  or lead,with all my fish falling to Pellet,cant seem to catch them on boilie or dumbells.Im really pleased now with my paste mix which i now have spot on.My last 4 sessions have  all produced blanks for barbel,but thats fishing.The river has been low most of the year apart from one decent flood,saw it run off and i had my new pb of 8.8.Ive had 3 8,s this season which is pleasing.I enjoyed rolling meat on the trent which is something i will do more next season.I also had a new pb Chub of 4.12.Ive now packed away my gear,but can put my hands on it should the winter temps allow for some winter barbel,maybe January ,who knows.Its time for Pike now .

A lovely view on an earlier session this season,peace and a lovely view...................

Penn Slammer 460L Live Liner Reel

When it comes to reels i can honestly say im always swopping about different models .When i purchased this reel for my Barbel fishing i could not believe how good it was,i wasnt happy till i owned a pair.This reel can be bought as low as £79 if you shop about.The reel in itself is awesome ,it has a super smooth drag which is needed for barbel,the baitrunner engages with a simple turn of the handle.It has a spool capacity of 210 yards.The only downside is you only get one spool & that the reel is black & gold,not my colour of choice but im not after looks its the performance.Casting a big feeder into the river is effortless to reel in.Another thing about this reel is it has no backwind facility,so if you dont like using the drag then this reel isnt for you.The reel was designed for braid so you could target big fish,i dont use braid on the reel,but will have no qualms using this reel for pike,its been specially designed to take the strain of braid ,where most reels in time will have the shaft bent or even worse the spool exploding.Basically its bomb proof and i love em.

View from the front showing the front drag

Penn 460L Liveliner

Pike Conference Update 22 September 2012

Arrived at harrogate pavillions this morning with my mate clive.Met up with a few faces i havnt seen for a bit from the south.The place was well set out and all the stalls were well set out.We had a walk round and i made my mind up what to buy,off for breakfast then back to shopping.I purchased some Titanium wire,split rings,crimps and some bleeding leader wire,i also got a new hoodie as my last one was stolen.The guest speakers were Steve Rowley (Esox World) Phil Wakefrord, Alistar Rawlings and Neville Fickling.The talks were great but could have been a little longer.The only let down was the tackle on sale wasnt priced cheaper,but thanks to Eddie Turner for the discount.Highlight for me was having my photo taken with a true Pike Legend Mick Brown.

Pike Anglers Club Conference 22 September 2012

Being a member of the Pike Anglers Club i will be visiting  the conference at Harrogate Pavillions,the club are celebrating 35yrs.The conference is on saturday 22nd September.There will be talks,teach ins and plenty off stalls to stock up on pike tackle.
http://www.pikeanglersclub.co.uk/

Maggot Feeder

After a blank last week i decided to change tactics.On one rod paste,pellet & lead,on the other rod Maggot feeder,mag aligner on hook and 3 maggots.Started in first swim and had a trout,after an hour moved up river.I carried on with the same tactics and wasnt long before i had a nice chub to maggot,followed by 2 more trout a grayling and 2 roach,no barbel.I changed from pellet to Boillie.At around 1-45 i decided to move the rain was coming down hard now,i walked up river to find the peg i wanted taken,so came home.Probably another couple of barbel sessions before i concentrate on pike but dont count out a few winter barbel sessions.Till the next time.....

A lovely chub taken on maggot...............................................................................

My first ever Grayling ..............................................................................................

3 Barbel

Finally managed a session on the river.Arrived just after 3 and the river was low with not much colour.Made my way up river till i could find a spot with a good flow.Settled in my peg and fished feeder on one rod and lead and bag on the other.I was getting lots of knocks on the tips.After an hour i was thinking of moving when my right hand rod shot off,after a good fight,fish rested in net ,quick pic and back.wasnt long till my right hand rod went again,similar size fish as the first.I decided to stay put now,it wasnt that long before my next fish came along,fought reel hard and felt good,rested the fish in net,weighed at 8 lb 6 oz,quick pic and put back and as usual swam of strong.I stayed into darkness and with no further action,packed up and went home a happy barbler...................................

8 lb 6 oz...........................................................................................................

Same fished took picture of other side,has a smudge on its nose and a bite mark on the other side.

Hook bait that did the damage,Pallatrax Hook size 10 & 3 ellepticals glued together........

Great session 3 Barbel ,well pleased till the next time.........................................

Coming to a canal near you soon

After a long chat with my mate Lee its time to go in search of a canal 20 (Pike).After fishing resovoirs for the last 3 seasons and both catching a 20 resovoir pike its time for a change.The canals we will be fishing we will be special guests,lol.We have had a look at some cracking canals of late and we are chomping at the bit.We will be starting early october and will have a lot of walking to do to find our Esox 20.A few swims ive looked at of late we will per-bait due to low stock of fish.A mobile approach will be the only way with minimum gear and one rod.Take a look at Lee,s blog http://leebarlow82.blogspot.co.uk/

Ginghams fishery 1st Sept 2012

Had a pairs match here today.Arrived at 8-30 to overcast an overcast sky with a bit of chop on the water.By the time the draw was done  it started to turn out nice.The water was like a mill pond all the match.I had 3 set ups today.2 tip rods and pellet waggler.I fished preston method feeder with groundbait and double red maggot on one rod,I fished prestons and pellet on the method and rotated jpz,corn and my favourite tiger fish pellet , all on the quickstop with 4 inch hook length.Two hours into the match i hadnt had a bite.I had 4 swims on the go .Just afrer 12 i had to bites to the maggot rod and landed both carp.i waited over another hour for my next bite on my swim close in.I changed to pellet waggler and had nothing so went back on the close in rod,and with 10 minutes to go landed a nice mirror carp.My total weight was 13lb with my partner managing a small perch.The winning weight was 19 lb 8.Its time now to put the match gear away and get back on the barbel...............................

Ginghams Fishery Gingham Brow Horwich

Steps leading down to the pegs.........................................................................

My biggest fish today a lovely Mirror Carp..........................................................