Barbel
I fished the little River Ivel in several times through the summer, autumn and winter of the 2011/12 coarse fishing season. I caught chub and barbel on broken boilie, fished in a PVA bag, during the summer months. As the weather turned cooler, towards the end of the year, I switched to fishing a maggot feeder, with a short hook length and small (size 18) hook. This too produced chub and barbel - but none of the chub I caught were over 5lbs and only one of the barbel was a "double" (just over 11lbs). On 1 March, 2012 I decided to fish what we know as "the dog shit swim". The towpath side of the river is much used by people walking dogs and certain swims seem to attract more than their fair share of dog shit, left behind by irresponsible dog owners. This particular swim benefits from a small, overhanging tree and, more importantly, a pacy near bank current that has undercut the bank right below the base of the tree. It is a little awkward to fish because you need to drop, rather than cast, your feeder just out from the base of the tree and there is a small bush and other vegetation, in the way, on the same bank. Nonetheless, this is a noted barbel hotspot and it is worthwhile contorting a little to drop the rig gently.
I sat, surrounded by an unpleasant aroma, for 4 hours on the day in question, recasting the empty maggot feeder every half hour or so and loose feeding maggots down the margin at regular intervals. I didn't get a touch throughout that period but the rod did wrap round a few minutes after 4 hours had elapsed. I was using a pound and a quarter test curve rod, rather than my lighter feeder rod, and I had spooled up with 10lb test mono, rather than the 6lb test I often use for this style of fishing. The hook length (8lb test) was around 9 inches long (I often fish with a 6lb test/4inch hook length) with a small split shot about 4 inches up from 3 red maggots on a size 18 hook. Despite the relative strength of my tackle and rig and a suitably tight clutch, I simply could not move the fish upstream towards me for some time. When it did decide to swim upstream, it came with a rush that took it past me and across to very shallow water on the far bank. I must admit I crammed on the drag at that point, to keep its head up and away from the rocks. The fish's next move was to race further upstream to sit and sulk in a deep (for the Ivel) eddy. From then on it was simply a matter of gradually pumping the fish to get its head up. When I slipped it into the landing net I was thinking - "God that's the biggest barbel I have ever caught or seen".
Out of the net, the fish looked huge and it was in great condition. It weighed 18lbs 11ozs and a passing walker was kind enough to take a quick photograph or two before I sat with the fish in the net, in the water, for about 15 minutes, to let it recover. It always feels good to watch a fish swim powerfully away and that is just what this barbel did.
I sat, surrounded by an unpleasant aroma, for 4 hours on the day in question, recasting the empty maggot feeder every half hour or so and loose feeding maggots down the margin at regular intervals. I didn't get a touch throughout that period but the rod did wrap round a few minutes after 4 hours had elapsed. I was using a pound and a quarter test curve rod, rather than my lighter feeder rod, and I had spooled up with 10lb test mono, rather than the 6lb test I often use for this style of fishing. The hook length (8lb test) was around 9 inches long (I often fish with a 6lb test/4inch hook length) with a small split shot about 4 inches up from 3 red maggots on a size 18 hook. Despite the relative strength of my tackle and rig and a suitably tight clutch, I simply could not move the fish upstream towards me for some time. When it did decide to swim upstream, it came with a rush that took it past me and across to very shallow water on the far bank. I must admit I crammed on the drag at that point, to keep its head up and away from the rocks. The fish's next move was to race further upstream to sit and sulk in a deep (for the Ivel) eddy. From then on it was simply a matter of gradually pumping the fish to get its head up. When I slipped it into the landing net I was thinking - "God that's the biggest barbel I have ever caught or seen".
Out of the net, the fish looked huge and it was in great condition. It weighed 18lbs 11ozs and a passing walker was kind enough to take a quick photograph or two before I sat with the fish in the net, in the water, for about 15 minutes, to let it recover. It always feels good to watch a fish swim powerfully away and that is just what this barbel did.