Switching
to the Severn
Entering the final
fortnight of the river season, I felt a magnetic pull not only to
fish flowing water, after a few sessions on the canal, but also to
target barbel for the first time in 2009. Over recent years I think
it's true to say that I have fished for that species more than any
other, but I have never been totally focused on them. I definitely
back away from using the word 'obsessed' though because that is totally
unfair.
Just because some
anglers choose to fish for one species, what's the problem? None as
far as I'm concerned. But that's not true of everyone and there's
always someone in the world of angling ready to throw in a snide comment.
If you want to fish exclusively for one species, using one style,
on the same venue and even in the same peg, then that's no business
of mine. Go ahead. And no, I'm not ranting or on a soapbox, simply
sharing my thoughts in a very calm manner. My pulse has not moved
from its normal rate.
|
Feeling
sorry for those out on the town
But my heartbeat definitely increases when set I off
on a fishing trip though. I did the first session of the week
on the very last day of February and I drove to the middle
reaches of the River Severn. I made my way to a stretch that
I have not been near for years but have felt the urge to fish
it for a while. And with the temperatures - both air and water
- up and rising, what better time to set up on the bank.
And
when I say that fishing gets me going, that's no exaggeration
either. I reckon that if I were rigged up to a machine, the
doctors would be amazed at the change that takes place the
closer I get to my destination.
I can imagine them saying things like 'We have never encountered
anything like this before' and 'This man must really love
his fishing'. Well, I can't comment on the first, but the
second gets a definite thumbs up from me. Driving to the middle
Severn late on a Saturday afternoon, I felt sorry for all
those people that were going to hit the town on the evening,
while I was perched on the edge of the river.
|
|
Chub
number one in daylight
|
|
Using
the right tackle for the job
Obviously,
after a few weeks pursuing perch and roach, I had to start
again with the tackle needed for barbel. One of the advantages
of going for one species for a number of weeks is that your
tackle bag doesn't need much adjusting. But when you have
to more or less empty everything and begin anew, the danger
is that you forget to pack away a vital item. Fortunately
I didn't and so had everything that I needed.
One
of the noticeable changes was that I was now using 10lb line,
with Sufix Synergy on the reel and Drennan Double Strength
on the hook length. I fished a boilie, hair rigged from a
size 4 Drennan boilie hook and chose a 2oz lead, which held
bottom comfortably.
The
hooklength was about 2.5 feet and I used a PVA bag of pellets
and boilies around the hook bait to add bait into the swim.
As well as accurate placing of bait, the PVA bag also ensures
that the line does not tangle. Particularly when you have
the bait in the water for long periods of time, you need to
know that everything is as it should be.
|
|
|
Tip
of the week
We're
now on the final leg of the river season.
Get out
and enjoy a session before they close their doors for 3
months.
What you
go for depends on the venue and the weather but above all
enjoy.
That's
what angling should be about.
|
Angling
is not the same as football
I had my radio
on as I set up, and within a minute of the afternoon football
games kicking off, they were reporting from the Wolves game
as we were 1-0 down. And that's how it finished 90 minutes
later. In the meantime I had lost a fish myself. I struck
as the line peeled off the baitrunner, and although I had
the fish on for a few moments, the result was a hook pull.
Although I get
frustrated with Wolves, I don't feel the same way about
my angling 'failures', probably because I first and foremost
enjoy being there. But with football I am a results fan.
None of this 'We played great, the match was entertaining.
Even if we lost 3-0' business for me. I would sooner see
the team play badly but get a 1-0 win and the 3 points.
I want Wolves to be boring and win the Champions League
not entertain the purists in the Conference.
My session ended
pretty much lower league though as by the time I packed
away, I had seen no more action. And all that in spite of
perfect conditions and the river temperature running at
a consistent 8.8C. But there's always next time, I thought,
which was the middle of the week..
|
|
The
second chub of the session
|
No
barbel but a brace of nice chub
I
was back on the middle Severn and on the same stretch, but a different
swim. This time I had taken two rods and that proved a positive
move as I was able to fish them both comfortably in the wide peg
that I dropped into. The river had more colour, was rising slightly,
and the temperature was down to 7.4C, but I was still confident
as I cast out and settled back. Although not cold by the standards
of what we have been through earlier this year, nevertheless it
was a little chilly and I wasn't surprised when a hailstorm rained
down on the umbrella.
But
the fish were feeding and that's what really counts. No barbel but
a brace of decent chub, the first one coming while it was still
light at 4.20pm and the other into dark at 7.45pm. In between I
had a bite from another chub but there was nothing on the strike.
By the time I packed away at 9.00pm the first signs of a frost were
showing. I had a long walk back to the car and by the time I finally
drove away my hands were absolutely freezing.
Click
on the icon for this week's video clip
|
|
The
week ahead
The
final week and I am going back to the River Severn to see
if I can catch a barbel third time round. The weather forecast
is slightly colder temperatures but I'm feeling lucky, as
Clint Eastwood might say.
|
Back
to home page
|