Perchy Ponderings

With autumn upon us, I decided to target some river perch. The venue was a middle Severn stretch that I have fished on many occasions over the years but not too often in recent times. It was a lovely warm day with some October sunshine to boot. Not ideal conditions for perch who prefer to feed in low light but I did have an ace up my sleeve. Although the river had returned to normal level, it was still holding some colour. I also chose a swim that afforded me some shade. A quick plumb of the swim told me I had just under 5 feet of water a rod length out. There was some slight flow with trees upstream and downstream of where I planned to drop a bait. I began fishing a whip with maggots to see what was lurking in the swim. Unsurprisingly, bites came quickly with small dace, roach and chublets all making an appearance. This was encouraging since as any perch angler will know, where there are small fish then predators are never far behind. After half an hour or so, I dropped in a few broken bits of worm and baited a size 8 hook with a lobworm. I use barbless hooks with perch as they can at times end up deeply hooked. A barbless hook makes this event a lot more straightforward to solve. A small piece of elastic band on the bend prevents the worm escaping. The hook was tied to 6lb line with a bobber type float shotted with a single SSG shot around 8 inches from the hook. I see no point in over complicating matters. 

A 1lb 7oz was the pick of the first batch

Results were pretty instant with a 1lb 7oz perch the pick of the first three perch. They soon moved off and I went back to catching the small silver fish. With the steam engines of the Severn Valley Railway chugging along the valley it really did add something to the trip. After a bite to eat in the warm autumn sun, it was perch time once again. The second stint through up another fish around around the pound and a half mark before I hooked something completely different. I knew it was not a perch and and as the lively battle came to an end, a small pike came into view hooked right on the edge of its mouth and thus preventing my line being bitten through. Then the float dipped and again solid resistance was felt. The tell tale jags told me this was a perch and of much better stamp than its previous relatives. This fish really did put up a good battle and a beautiful perch was netted. It went 2lb 2oz which was a decent result and capped off a really enjoyable day. I plan to return when conditions allow as I know a 3 pounder is a real possibility and who knows, maybe something bigger. 

The 2 pounder promises much for the future

Summer catch up

After a summer break, I have spent the last two weeks catching up by fishing the Warks Avon and the middle Severn. I've fished some lesser known stretches as well as some more popular beats and pleasingly caught at them all. There's a satisfying feeling to catch when everyone else is reporting blanks. I was greeted by one chap on the Severn who told me I was wasting my time as seven anglers had caught about six fish between them. I always prefer to find out for myself.

As for the fishing,  I have continued to find barbel although a double still eludes me so far this summer. Chub have been plentiful and one 4 pounder gave me an epic battle even on barbel gear. Perch were the main target on the Severn and I found some nice fish over a pound as well as a few barbel, a pike and plenty of silver fish.  All great fun. Now my attention turns to finding a double figure barbel. Wish me luck!

A week of fishing

The last few weeks have been a quiet affair as far as fishing goes. But with a week off I was able to get out and about and do a bit of catching up.

First up was a friendly social gathering on the lower Severn. It was a very unstructured match complete with a half time. However, with the low conditions, a daylight session was always going to prove tough and so it was with only a few pound winning. For the record, I managed a few roach to avoid a blank.

Can you see the pike?

A couple of days later an equally difficult session ensured on the Warks Avon. I was on the river at around 7.30am with pike the target and I was confident. Deadbaits would be the prime attack but my optimism faded as the hours passed by and each likely looking spot failed to respond. With lunch time approaching I decided my next swim would be the last. Finally, the float decided to tremble and then inch its way across towards the near bank. The strike hit a lively fish but it was to be no monster at around 6lb. My son had turned up by now and wanted a photo but  the fish decided not to play ball and somersaulted itself back to its watery sanctuary. I did attempt a photo as it lay stationary in the margins but you'll do well to spot its camouflaged profile against the river bed.

Next up was a return to the middle Severn. Perch were to be my target on this occasion. I had seen some good fish attacking the fry during the summer and I had vowed to give them a crack on my return. I set up a worm rod and fed maggots to attract the smaller fish and the perch's attention. I did fish a float to see what would turn up but the result was mostly minnows although a few dace, roach and chublets turned up. I lost a pike to a bite off and did manage a small perch. As dusk approached, I did land a better perch but it was not the specimen I had seen before at just over a pound or so.

A short evening session back on the Avon saw me trying to take advantage of the mild conditions. A 3lb chub on the first cast was a great start. I then lost a barbel at the net which soon restored the balance. I did finally land a barbel of around 7lb or so before the action slowed to a complete standstill.

A chunky Avon barbel

My final session of the week saw me and my brother in law take to the banks. He wanted plenty of bites so we decided on a pool that would provide plenty of carp action but also gave me a chance of a decent perch. The sport was pretty frantic as the carp were in ravenous mood. We also landed some nicely sized roach and tench. The problem with the perch fishing was having a bait that would not be hoovered up by the carp. Fortunately, live baits are allowed. Unfortunately, catching roach of the right size was nigh on impossible. Eventually, we caught a fish that could be used as bait and it duly delivered in the shape of a 2lb 12oz perch which would turn out to be my most memorable fish of the week. I also lost another soon after but with the absence of any more roach I was unable to tempt another on prawn or worm.

The best fish of the week

Barbel in the mist

The weekend brought some foggy weather to the Midlands. I had decided that I could fit a quick session in and as it happened it turned out to be less than three hours. The upstream rod was baited with boilie and a PVA bag while the downstream rod saw trusty Spam over a few droppers of hemp and pellet. With both rods in place by 4.30 it wasn't long before darkness fell and the fog began to linger. By 6pm it was so thick that the far bank had vanished. I can't remember a night so dark. I have never been confident of fishing in foggy conditions and with both rods remaining motionless bar a chub stealing the meat, prospects were looking pretty grim. I had rebaited the downstream rod with a large lump of Spam to prevent a repeat but by 6.50 I had decided enough was enough and I'd give it another 15 minutes and go home. Moments later the baitrunner on the downstream rod started to click and pay line. This was no searing run, instead the fish appeared to be oblivious as it casually moved away. Since the bait was large, I allowed it to run a little longer than usual before striking into what was obviously a Barbel. It fought with the characteristics of a decent fish, staying low with several powerful runs as it neared the bank. A solid fish came into view. A huge girth made me think it was 11+ but amazingly, the scales only settled on 10lb 11oz. The huge stomach was a little hollow so the fish has plenty of potential but I have to admit to being surprised on this occasion. With an unlikely capture secured, I then braved the murky conditions in an attempt to locate the car and the route home.

River Perch: A Personal Best!

Following a journey dominated by road works, I finally found myself on the banks of the middle Severn. It was around lunchtime and the first few spots of rain fell as I settled into my chosen area. There was a deeper, steady run much of the way across river with a slacker area on the near bank. This swim had all the characteristics in order for me to exercise my predetermined plan.

I began by dropping some hemp and pellet just past the crease and then left it alone as I set about my second plan. I have been keen to land a big river perch for a while but to be honest, I have never really got round to giving it a proper go. A few half hearted efforts and some drop shotting have found some fish but not of the proportions that are deemed specimen proportions. My aim was a 2lb river perch and the nearside area was hopefully going to contain some.

After 40 minutes of drop shotting and plumbing the depth for my worm rig, I made my first cast with pellet to the baited area. This rod was left on the baitrunner as I continued to feed maggots to my left while giving the worm and drop shot rigs a try every so often, albeit without success. By now the rain

Not ideal conditions to be sat outside

had started. Fortunately, it was pretty mild but the light faded quickly as the mist descended above the rain pitted surface. The banks became treacherous resulting in me slipping and winding myself in the process. Covered in mud, I sat hunched under my umbrella watching the geese and jackdaws going to roost. Unsurprisingly, the low and clear conditions were not conducive to feeding barbel and the now torrential rain meant I was unable to explore other swims. However, I had continued to feed a dozen maggots regularly and the now gloomy conditions started to encourage a few small fish to rise and jump in the near bank area. Although my lobworm bait had been ignored all afternoon, now was surely the time for a big perch to bite if indeed it was going to happen at all. As the latest wave of rain lashed down, the float began to sink from view. I could see it clearly such was the water's clarity. I did not want to be to hasty with the strike as the bait was large and I wanted to ensure it had been engulfed fully. The float was now sinking from sight in positive fashion and a firm strike resulted in the first hooked fish of the day. Undoubtedly a perch and judging from the resistance, a

My first two pounder

decent one too. My first view confirmed it would be a personal best. They say perch is the biggest fish of them all and this one had a colossal mouth, but would it make the magical 2lb? The scales toyed with me briefly as it hovered around 1lb 15oz before freezing on 2lb exactly. I repeated the weighing process a further two times to be sure before posing in the wild weather for a couple of pictures. Darkness soon arrived and the perch feeding window was all too brief. I gave the barbel rod another half hour to see if one could be tempted in the low light but when I was blessed with a short pause in the rain, I decided to make a hasty retreat to the car feeling damp but ultimately satisfied with the results. I think I might have the perch bug so expect to see a few more perch related posts.

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Barbel: Back on the riverbank

A plump Severn barbel

Following an injury lay off which has seen fishing out of bounds for a few weeks, I was eager to get back out and find a few fish. A short trip to the Severn saw me net a barbel of around 7 ½lb but it was hard work. With an afternoon session on the Warks Avon to follow, I knew that catching a daytime barbel in the current conditions would be even harder. I've not seen the Avon this clear for a long time. The bottom is visible in 5-6ft of water meaning angling is as difficult as it gets.


In view of this, my tactics changed. The main attack would be

The rig

maggots introduced through an inline feeder with a short 6" link finished with a size 12 hook. This would be baited with an imitation maggot to disguise the shank together with 2 or 3 live ones. The rig would also employ a back lead to pin the line to the river bed for about a metre or so from the feeder. An initial bombardment of maggots and some hemp via a baitdropper put some bait in and hopefully had some fish gaining interest. It was then a case of recasting every 5 minutes or so to keep a steady stream of maggots going in. I had a few plucks and taps when the tip went round violently. I was holding the rod and was able to strike quickly to feel the satisfying resistance of a hooked barbel. It put up a great fight before it was eventually beaten and netted. The fish went 7lb 12oz and was a decent result given the conditions. With it still relatively early in the session, I was hopeful that another fish might show but it turned out to be the only bite of the session and my session drew to a close by late afternoon.

The result - 7lb 12oz of Warwickshire Avon barbel

The nights are drawing in now and there's a noticeable chill to some of the nights. With the water already clear and now cooling maybe it's time to start shifting my attention towards perch and pike.

Back on the barbel trail

Having found fish thin on the ground recently, especially barbel, I decided to visit the middle Severn in an attempt to change my fortunes. I arrived to my chosen venue at lunch time and decided to set up in a familiar peg albeit not one I had fished for a few years.
The Severn was back to flowing low and clear after a brief rise last weekend. My chosen peg had a deep channel that shallowed into rapids downstream. My approach was to use a cage feeder with a 3ft link baited with double 8mm pellets. From the off, my bait received interest from small fish but a positive bite failed to materialise.
A few hours passed without any major events but I had an ace up my sleeve. I had packed an avon rod and a centrepin loaded with 6lb line. A pint of maggots and some worms coupled with a deep hole to my right gave me another option: Perch! It was pleasing to see the float dip although the first two fish were small chub. However, it wasn't long before a string of Perch did succumb to the worm bait. None of the fish were huge but it was an enjoyable way to pass a few hours while the fish in mid-river failed to read the script. 

The best perch

Perch kept me occupied

I had about 10 fish and was now trying worm on my feeder rig out of desperation. This resulted in the first positive bite of  the day but the fish, which took off downstream, slipped the hook. I'm not convinced it was a barbel as it didn't have the speed so suspected a chub. I continued with the worm on the feeder rod and eventually I hooked a better Perch. At about 6.30, the baitrunner finally started to give line. At last a barbel was hooked. It was a typical middle Severn fish that gave its all in the battle providing several blistering runs. It was a relief to finally have my hands on a barbel after an
August drought. I hoped it would be the first of a few fish but it was a false dawn. The session neared its conclusion as the clock approached 8pm. I picked up the rod, removed the rest and as I turned the handle a fish was hooked. Talk about cutting it fine. Another barbel was on and another spirited battle ensued. I squeezed in an additional last cast but that was that. Nothing big but great to find some fish.

Finally!

In the nick of time

If you enjoy fishing the Severn then my guide my be helpful. Take a look here. I also have a Warwickshire Avon, which has proved popular over the last couple of seasons and is the most visited page on the site. That can be viewed by clicking here. As always, comments are most welcomed as are visits to my Facebook page which can be viewed by clicking the Facebook tab on the right side of the page.

River Severn Piking

The penultimate weekend before the river season finishes proved to be quite profitable. Friday evening saw me sneak in a quick hour session on the Warks Avon for a small lure caught pike.

The weekend's Avon opener

But the serious session had me visiting a dropping River Severn that had lost quite a bit of colour on Sunday. Therefore, I resisted the temptation of targeting barbel and set my stall out for pike. Visibility was a good 2ft, if not more so I fished deadbaits and soft lures.

My first swim saw me fishing a large slack area just off the main flow. Bait was a sardine mounted on a set of number 6 trebles with the float set at about 6ft. I kept myself busy by working the lure around the swim while my dad (who had come along to spectate) and I watched the float. Around 30 minutes had passed when we began to discuss moving on to the next spot. Just then, the float bobbed and moved a couple of feet downstream. It then turned and moved purposefully in the opposite direction.  I was in and it felt a good fish. With spring approaching, it was a far cry from the torpid battles of the pike I had caught in deepest winter. This fish had some power and had the reel screaming on several occasions. A muscular looking fish was netted and I suspect it had never been caught before such was its impeccable condition. The scales showed 12lb 1oz, which was my biggest river pike of the winter and represented a great start to my morning.

What a start

Perseverance pays off

The lower Severn can be something of an enigma. A huge expanse of water that doesn't give up its secrets too easily. I have not had a really good go at Barbel this season for a variety of reasons but with autumn upon us I felt compelled to give the 'lower' every opportunity to reward my enthusiasm. I fished three evening sessions over the space of the week and unsurprisingly it wasn't plain sailing.

Session 1

I arrived last Sunday around 3.30pm to a stale looking river. Like rivers all over the country, the Severn was in desperate need of rain. However, fish still need to eat so as far as I was concerned I had a chance. My plan was to deposit some bait into a swim, then fish for Zander for a while before settling down for a couple of hours into dark. The first part of my plan went well. I fished a standard float set up with a dead roach mounted onto a homemade trace sporting a size 2 barbless hook. After around 20 minutes, the float started to move downstream with purpose before disappearing.  A few turns of the reel and a strike connected me with my quarry. It was only a small Zander of a few pounds but it saved a blank and meant I could target Barbel without worrying about going home empty handed. Unfortunately, the second part of my plan, well, didn't go to plan. There was little activity until around 7.45pm when the rod tip showed a series of indications but none were positive enough to warrant action. Then twenty minutes later all activity ceased. By 8.30pm I had decided to call it quits and return later in the week. 

Session 2

I returned on Friday to be presented with a completely different river. Gone had the stale slow moving Severn to be replaced with a beautifully coloured Severn with a nice flow. It looked very promising and the air temperature was unseasonlly mild. I fished two rods - the downstream rod was a simple running ledger set up baited with meat. The upstream rod was an identical rig except it was baited with a boilie and cast over a modest bed of bait. I had one reservation and I am sure it contributed to what happened, or didn't happen over the next few hours. With the influx of water it was bound to knock the river's temperature. Whilst it would still be in the range that Barbel feed, a sudden drop often knocks your chances, and so it did. Despite a great looking river, the rod tips remained montionless from 6pm until 10pm when I called it a day. I wasn't too despondent though since I was sure the Barbel would find my bait and that once temperatures stabilised they would be catchable and hopefully in the area looking for more. Therefore, I vowed to return 48 hours later. There was one highlight however. A tawny owl, seemingly oblivious to my presence, was on the hunt just above my rods. Had I not been looking I would have had no idea it was there such was the silent movement of its wings. It even returned moments later for another survey of the bankside vegetation. It was a real treat.

Session 3

The Severn still looked very fishy when I arrived at 4.30pm on Sunday. It had crossed my mind to stay at home and watch the England game but instead both rods were cast out as the match kicked off on my radio. My tactics were identical to the previous session. A temperature check showed the river was 10.5°C which was encouraging as I am sure the last few days would have given the fish a chance to acclimatise to any recent drops. Almost immediately there were tell tale signs that fish were present in my swim. In fact I felt it was almost inevitable that a bite would result at any moment. Despite some sharp snatches nothing positive occurred and as dusk arrived the swim had gone dead. I have to admit my confidence had started to wane as dark always offers the best chances but all signs of fish had disappeared. Then, just before 7.30pm and completely out of the blue, the downstream rod was away. The fish felt good. There were no rip roaring runs; instead the fish stubbornly held station. Over the next few minutes I was able to inch it up river before I was finally able to draw it over the waiting net. I was convinced my first lower Severn Barbel of the season was a double as it looked a very stocky fish but the scales showed 9lb 13oz, not that the weight is all that important. More important to me was the fact I had managed to hook and land a Barbel after dedicating three sessions to them. It was a fantastic looking fish that I'm sure will be over 10lb if our paths cross again between now and the season's end. I gave it another hour but with no more bites forthcoming, I left the Severn safe in the knowledge that I'd been right in not staying home to watch England.

The reward for perseverance: 9lb 13oz

Mixed Fortunes

Following the disappointment of my recent match exploits, I decided a bit of lure fishing would get me out and about. I arrived on the banks of the Warks Avon after work with the intention of throwing various lures into likely places for a Pike and perhaps a decent Perch. After about 15 minutes and two lost lures I managed to connect with a small Pike. A lovely little fish and a promising start. However in keeping with my performance in Evesham the previous weekend, more disappointment was to follow.


A promising start failed to materialise

Over the next 90 minutes I managed to hook and subsequently lose four more Pike. None of them were big although one of them did feel a bit heavier. It was terribly frustrating as I had obviously found the Pike willing to have a go and I was using the correct approach to provoke a response but I must have run over someone's cat on the way home from work.

 So moving to the weekend I had another match although this was a friendly affair for charity. I was on the Severn, fishing a stretch belonging to a private group. I was fortunate to be invited to join almost two years ago and I have gone on to meet some great people with access to a super stretch of river. It's a far cry from the draconian approach employed by the BAA. We have no rules since there's no need. The thirty or so members value what we have enough to look after it in a responsible manner so you'll see no litter, theft or other misuse. There's also a great bunch of people involved who are only too happy to help others in any way they can. Anyway, enough of me waffling on and onto the friendly match.

Eight of us arrived on the bank. Well actually it was seven as the eighth and more importantly, the person in charge of the draw arrived late. He had spent most of the week preparing some beautifully coloured cards complete with numbers from 1 to a rather optimistic two-digit number. The idea was that whoever picked one out could pick their own peg and so on. My luck had changed since I manage to fluke number one. I have to be honest and say I am still coming to terms with the stretch and have yet to find a peg that has had me rushing back to fish it again. With this in mind I chose an unfancied area that has only recently been made fishable. My logic was that with the current clear conditions it was most probably going to be tricky so with that in mind I thought I might as well struggle somewhere new and learn about a different area. I always go for the challenge and the least obvious since it makes successes far more rewarding.

Some nice Perch were very welcome

With a fair depth of water in front of me I opted for two groundbait swimfeeder lines. One down the middle and another a couple of rod lengths out. I was expecting most action to arrive down the middle but the first indication came on the near side rod. Soon my double maggot hookbait resulted in a Skimmer Bream of about 6oz. My groundbait feeder approach seemed to be working as a string of Perch averaging around 4-6oz followed, especially after I changed my quivertip to the lightest one I owned. I was getting bites but not catching quickly enough so I reckon I had a couple of pounds when we met up for the agreed half time cup of tea. Unexpectedly, it turned out my catch was good going with most people struggling. Before the break I had baited up with 5 balls of groundbait on the near line in the hope that the fish would remain in the area for the second half.

A string of Skimmer boosted my net

The second session resumed with 2.5 hours to add to my catch. I had a good start as a string of Skimmers found the net via a worm/maggot hookbait. I probably doubled my weight in the first 40 minutes of the afternoon session so things were going well. By now I had brought my other rod close in too to maximise my chances. However the heavier tip meant less bites were forthcoming although a few bonus fish were welcomed to the bank. I continued catching Perch and Skimmers until bites dried up through the last hour and I only managed a fish or two.

The scales finally arrived and resulted in just under 6lb although a few shenanigans meant some fish had fallen in and missed the weigh in. I managed to find three that probably amounted to 8-10oz but since everyone thought I'd walked it we ploughed on unconcerned. About half way down the stretch another decent net of Skimmers were brought to the bank and looked rather threatening. It weighed 6lb 4oz and started to get our appointed man with the scales sweating following his earlier amateurish performance. The angler conceded defeat in lieu of my missing fish although I was more than happy with the more amicable draw verdict. It didn't really matter given the circumstances so we able to chew the fat on what had been a successful day regardless of some tough conditions. With some of the group staying on to fish over the following days there have been some decent catches so I'll be looking to have a few sessions down there in the coming weeks. and perhaps connect with some of its larger inhabitants.  

September Barbel

Always a sign that autumn is around the corner

September is probably my favourite month to be on the bank. Not only are they quieter as the fair weather anglers lock themselves away until next June but to me it's a magical time to be out in our countryside. As summer changes to autumn, the evenings begin to cool and the mist descends adding atmosphere to an evening on the bank. Overhead, a group of Canadian geese noisily pass in their
V-formation readying themselves for migration. There are many evocative sights and sounds at this time of year that make fishing almost a secondary thought, just being out and being part of nature is satisfying in itself. However, September is also a great fishing month for almost every species, especially Barbel. The famous Bernard Venables made September his month to target Barbel in the now legendary book, Mr Crabtree Goes Fishing. With that in mind, I also made Barbel my quarry.


River Severn

A nice middle-Severn Barbel

My first session took me to the Severn, a few miles downstream of Bridgnorth. It's a favourite venue of mine, which has always been kind to me over the years. I managed a 22 fish haul of Barbel during the 2007 floods that included my first ever double. Although I have never got near to hitting those heights since, I can think of few places that I'd rather spend an evening. With the call of alarmed pheasants in the background, the hoot of a Tawny owl and the Severn Valley Railway a short distance away it is always a pleasure to spend a few hours watching the river as it takes time. The farmhouse, tucked away amongst the trees beyond the far bank, always looks so inviting as dusk arrives and its lights give a warm glow.

An average sized Barbel

Catching a fish here is always a bonus and I was fortunate enough that the bonus came in the shape of two Barbel and a small Perch which fell to a drop-shotted lure. I lost a couple more Perch on the same method, which means I will have to have a rethink as this has happened far too many times for it not to be an issue. The Barbel were more than welcome with the first fish breaking the 8lb mark, which for the middle Severn still has to be considered a good Barbel. The second was more typical at around 5lb. Both fell to my new boilie baits, which appear to be doing the business and are seeing me putting more confidence in their use.

Warwickshire Avon

While I have seen reports of some super Barbel catches on the Avon this season, so far it's been pretty cruel to me. Although I have concentrated my efforts to a small area, I have been left disappointed by the lack of Barbel action to the point where I was almost ready to write the stretch off and move on. I made a few alterations to my approach, fishing a groundbait feeder, packed with pellets, which I never do on the Avon. I also decided to fish upstream as I get so many knocks and taps fishing in the more traditional, downstream method. Yet they often fail to materialise into a positive bite, making me think that resistance is putting off tackle wary fish. By fishing upstream, a more sensitive approach is achieved and I hoped it would be enough to fool a Barbel.

The session was slow but I continued with my plan of recasting to build up a bed of bait mid-river. I did have a 25 minute break to cast a spoon around in the hope of a bonus Pike but they too proved elusive in their presence. However, despite nothing happening to signify the presence of fish, something told me that it was right. It was a beautiful, still evening. Bredon Hill appeared to be shrouded in a haze. A hot air balloon silently moved across the skyline. The only thing missing was a bite as light faded and dusk approached. At last a few taps on the rod tip suggested something might be imminent. Minutes later a definite knock was followed soon after by a sharp pull which saw the taught line begin to travel downstream. A few turns of the handle to take up the slack line and a firm strike saw me connected with a decent fish that had the unmistakable traits of a Barbel. Barbel are renowned for their battling qualities and this fish did not disappoint as it provided some surging runs that had line screaming from the reel. The fish appeared for the first time and look bigger than what I had expected. Once in the net, a proper look revealed an impressive looking Barbel although it did possess a very empty stomach. The scales revealed 9lb 1oz although I have no doubts that this fish will be a comfortable double once it gets its head down to ready itself for the winter months. By the time the fish had swam away, the light had faded. A hasty strike to what was a tentative pull probably put paid to my chances of a second fish but I was not unhappy. My confidence had been restored and while many people are transfixed only by double figure Barbel, I am level headed enough to realise that a 9 pounder is still an above average Barbel and not to be sniffed at and, as you have probably noticed already, there's plenty more to an evening by the river than just catching. Until next time, tight lines!


This 9lb 1oz fish capped a lovely evening by the river

Summer Barbel - A plan comes together

It was the last day of July and I had yet to bank a barbel. It's been a really bitty start to the season for me so far and I was keen to make up for lost time. I decided that the middle Severn was as good a location as any so off I went to a familiar stretch that I used to visit regularly. The hour drive means I now only make a couple of trips a season but there's few places better in the UK to find a barbel or two.

With the recent weather leaving most rivers running low and clear, my first decision was to pick a swim. Would they be in the more oxygenated, streamier stretches or seeking sanctuary in the deeper, darker glides? I opted for the latter and picked a swim that has thrown up fish in the past and offered about 8ft of water. I used a baitdropper to deposit a couple of pints of hemp with some pellets just shy of half way and then feeder fished over the top with a pellet hookbait. Two hours later and I had nothing to report. The time was almost 7pm and I had to make a decision. Do I stick or twist? I went for a walk upstream and found what I believed would offer me an improved chance of a barbel. The water here was moving faster as a result of some rapids about 100m upstream. However, it still offered some depth although there were some risky looking rocks on the nearside. My mind was made up so I returned, gathered my belongings and made my way to the new spot ready to see what the last couple of hours had in store.

The sunlight fades on the middle Severn

Because I was sure barbel would be resident somewhere in the vicinity, I decided to build the swim up with the feeder ensuring I recast every 5 minutes or so. I also set up my second rod, baited with one of my new boilies and cast this upstream with a PVA bag. About half hour later and the upstream rod nodded before dropping back. I reeled in frantically to catch up with the fish which kited downstream rapidly.

First barbel of the season

With the rocks nearby I had to ensure I maintained steady pressure on the fish. After a spirited battle, a barbel of a few pounds was netted to get my barbel tally up and running. Soon after, the same rod saw another fish moving downstream sending the tip bouncing. This fish was larger and made some exhilarating runs in the shallow water near the bankside. This barbel was a typical middle Severn fish of around 6lb. Meanwhile, I had been continuing to recast the feeder setup but the pellet bait had not resulted in anything other than the odd tap. With both fish coming to boilie, I decided to switch baits. It paid off as the rod banged round and another Severn barbel was on it's way to the net. I did hook another fish on the upstream rod but unfortunately the hook pulled. This was the last of the action as light turned to dusk and then to dark.

A better stamp of fish

I had set out intending to catch barbel so to manage three (almost four) was a real result. It was made even more satisfying by making the decision to move. It can be all too easy to stick in the same spot, especially when you have invested a lot of bait, but I am certain that on this occasion the move paid off. It's great when a plan comes together.

Season Review

With another season passing, it's certainly been one of ups and downs for me. After a cold winter coupled with floods, the season of 2013 started with relatively warm and normal conditions. A sunny May saw me surface fishing for carp with the highlight being a PB carp as the river season approached.

Following an opening day blank on the lower Severn, the opening week soon took a turn for the better with a double figure barbel from the Warks Avon. With a 'double' in the bag so early in the season, I thought this would be the pre-cursor to a profitable season.

This double proved to be a false dawn

However, the next few weeks proved hard work as warm weather meant low, clear river conditions which are never ideal for fishing. Rather than struggle for fish in difficult conditions I decided a change in tactics was the order of the day. I had heard of quite a few zander coming off the lower Severn and having not caught one before decided it had to be worth a try. With slightly refined pike rigs, my first attempt saw me land a zander of around 6lb. To be honest, zander proved a god send as they were the only fish I could seem to tempt from the stretch as the season wore on.

It also meant I had new method under my belt. Variety is the spice of life and this new experience started a real interest in predator fishing which I would revisit in the autumn. Meanwhile, with my local Warks Avon at its lowest and clearest there were blanks a plenty judging by conversations with fellow anglers and the bailiff. With traditional static tactics resulting in little joy I decided moving baits could provide the fish with something different. The plan was rolling meat and it turned out to be pretty useful too, netting a string of average sized barbel when all around couldn't muster a twitch. 

A typical barbel taken on rolling meat

Another one bites the dust

With autumn almost upon on us, I was determined to get some predator sessions under my belt. It had always been my intention that pike would dominate my winter's fishing so I started a little early with lures and dead baits my main line of attack. Although none of the fish were huge, the clear water led to some exciting sport with perch and pike rewarding my efforts.

However, my enjoyment and winter plans were left in disarray as the rain fell and fell some more. With the rivers now in a permanent state of flood it meant that predator fishing became ineffective. With a few mixed bags to keep things ticking over, the final few months of the season proved hard work with just one barbel. The final week saw two lower Severn blanks with an Avon chub just under the 5lb mark sandwiched between them.

A decent way to finish the season

I started by stating it had been a season of ups and downs. Whilst there were some decent fish along the way, it was also a hard slog at times. I certainly managed fewer barbel than in recent seasons begging the question of whether a decline is in motion. Similar stories have been shared on other rivers across the nation so there has certainly been issues at play. Certainly, the weather of the last year or so has been erratic at best. A cold spring delayed spawning. This was then followed by a long, hot summer with little rain and a winter of almost permanent flooding. Prolonged conditions like the ones we have seen have to affect the river's species. Fish move on becoming localised, holding spots are moved in heavy flow and add to this the other well documented pressures such as predators and it's no surprise that some anglers have struggled. Hopefully, our current seasonal conditions will stay with us and a normal spring might see some return to what we have become accustomed to in readiness for June 16th. In the meantime, drop shotting for perch, a few tench sessions and some surface caught carp will occupy my thoughts. With a bit of luck I'll be able to share a few fishing stories with you over the coming months. All the best, Lee.

Rising rivers bring hope

It has been a while since I last posted but the half-term break meant I had the opportunity to get out and do some fishing. Even better that it coincided with the first proper influx of rainwater to our waterways. With the rivers carrying some extra water after months of stagnation I decided to try and catch my first barbel since the end of August.

The venue for my first session was the middle Severn, a few miles downstream of Brignorth. The venue is one I know reasonably well and I have a few go to swims when the river is high. I found

A high & coloured river Severn

the river up about 5 foot on normal. It is well documented that extra water entering the river as a result of a mild weather front, can encourage barbel to feed in earnest. In these conditions it is usually a case of finding the fish and presenting them with a bait. It sounds simple and it is if you follow the basic rules of watercraft. I believe it's often easier to find fish in these conditions than in normal ones. You see, a high, raging river actually eliminates many areas. Places where the flow is too fast, the bottom uneven and causing boils, and areas lacking suitable depth can all be ignored. Instead, slacker areas behind trees where the current is much more near to normal with a nice steady and even flow offer the best opportunities. I set up in my first of three swims and cast a rig consisting of a 2oz lead and a piece of flavoured Spam mounted on a size 2 hook. I also moulded some homemade paste around the weight as an added attractor. About half hour passed when the rod pulled round twice and a barbel took off downstream. The fish was quickly brought under control and safely netted. It was a typical middle Severn barbel of just over 6lb.

A 6 pounder put in an appearance

With the fish returned I then decided to up sticks and try my other two spots. Both swims looked good but I was unable to tempt another bite so I returned back to the original fish producing swim. I fished on but it became apparent the swim was changing. The river had started to rise and my swim had now become a boily cauldron. This had the effect of either switching the barbel off or causing them to move, perhaps both. The day had almost come to an end so I opted for the lazy option of sitting it out in the forlorn hope that another fish might put in an appearance. With hindsight, I should have sought pastures new.

The following day saw me attempt a short session on a very high Warwickshire Avon. This was a nondescript session that resulted in a blank. The Avon had been quite high with it just falling short of bursting its banks. However, on this afternoon the river fell at an alarming rate, over a foot in just 90 minutes or so. Any sudden change to the river causes the fish to lose their appetite so given the conditions so I had to take the 'blank' on the chin.

A high Avon resulted in a quiet afternoon

The first 4 pounder

I returned on Friday to the same venue. The river was now just over a foot above normal, although still carrying a lot of colour. The temperature was 10.2°C, a very slight drop on the previous session so barbel were a definite contender, if they could be located. However, I also knew chub would come in to play. Although chub are not fans of highly coloured water on a rising river or at the peak of a flood, they do feed well as the river fines down towards its normal level. Again, a mobile approach was the order of the day and I didn't get a bite until my third swim. With Spam as bait the tip pulled round and a spirited battle resulted in a nice looking 4lb chub. I continued on my  journey along the deserted stretch when three swims later I found evidence of fish. I was too hasty on one strike as a chub played with the bait. I

This swim looked the part but failed to produce

obviously spooked the fish as interest faded so I moved on to my final peg. Instinct told me I would get a bite here so it was just a matter of patience. Ten minutes later and a positive pull led to another pristine chub of 4lb. This peg was a quagmire after the recent rain and high levels so I decided to walk back to where I caught earlier for the last hour of daylight. For 35 minutes the tip remained unmoved as my meat bait was ignored. It was then that I decided to change baits. Cheesepaste was the choice and the effect was quite spectacular. No sooner had the bait settled when it was aggressively picked up by another chub. The fish was much smaller, approaching a couple of pounds but it served as a reminder that a change of bait can work wonders.

Another nice chub on the bank

It was obvious that fish had been there all along but had not fancied the meat bait and were less suspicious of the underused cheesepaste option. So my session had Although it wasn't the most productive session fish wise, I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon down by the river since I have to admit there has not been much joy for the river angler this season. Chub have long been a favourite of mine so it was nice to find a few decent fish especially when I had the whole stretch to myself.

To end, it's been a year since I started this blog and in that time I have managed over 32,000 views so thank you for looking; it makes it worthwhile that someone, somewhere is taking notice.