Arrow double

I have been after a river Arrow barbel for a little while now. A tributary of the Warwickshire Avon, its barbel population is not significant and like many small rivers has been hit hard over the last decade or so. 

However, that hasn't stopped me trying but a run of blanks or chub was all I had to show for my efforts until recently. I fished a December evening with conditions in my favour for the time of year. A bit of extra water, some colour and temperatures that gave me optimism. 

A small deposit of pellet offerings were deposited into the spot not far from a reed bed. A 12mm pellet was the hookbait. A couple of bream showed up to avoid the blank although I just felt something might just happen. It was soon after that my recently purchased new rod slammed round and an Arrow barbel was finally hooked and safely landed. What a fish too. Not only had it out up a spirited battle, it was a cracking looking fish. It weighed 10lb 9oz, which was a real result. Hopefully, another won't be too far behind. 

An Arrow double