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Hi, I apologise for the long gap between articles but as those who have read previous articles will have noted I have been a bit preoccupied with getting married. Well it is done now (I can hear all the comments "another lamb to the slaughter" etc) and for those who are interested it went exceptionally well and was a thoroughly enjoyable day. This article is dedicated with thanks to my wife, who is understanding of my passion for angling, that seems to keep me away from all the DIY and the washing up at all the wrong (or shall we say right) times and for allowing me an afternoons fishing on the honeymoon and even joining me! Venue: River Wye(Bredwardine, Herefordshire) Having spent a few weeks away from fishing as you can imagine I was champing at the bit to get back to the waterside, and having planned to go to the Wye valley for the honeymoon I managed to slip a rod and reel into the packing. My wife did catch me doing it and I got a b********* but she agreed that as long as it wasonly once and I did not spend the whole honeymoon talking about it I could go, RESULT! I told you she is understanding. Any way to the fishing, having talked to the bailiff and the local fishing shop I followed their advice, purchased my bait and ticket and headed for the water. On arriving at the water I found most of the swims un-fishable without a long cast and heavy feeder/lead and as I had brought only the bare minimum of tackle I knew that I would struggle. Eventually I found a suitable swim with some deeper water of decent flow close in and a nice snag just downstream. I t was the most suitable swim I had seen so it was onto the fishing. The bailiff had suggested that the barbel were regularly caught on large fishmeal pellets and that was what I chose, plenty of regular loose fed small pellets and large ones on a hair rig to a 6 lbs hooklink.And for those who are interested 8 lbs mainline and a 1 1/2 lbs test curve 12ft rod and a nice centrepin reel I had treated myself to earlier this year. Now if any of you have fished the Wye in summer you will be familiar with the hordes of minnows and gudgeon that descend on any bait that goes in the water. This caused much hilarity and
piss taking from my new wife as any strike resulted in foul hooking one.
This gudgeon was hooked in the the lip on two hair rigged 14mm pellets, would you believe it!
After two and a half hours and only one slight knock which could have been a line bite (and a bored wife and dog) I had only caught minnow and gudgeon, not really what I had in mind so I decided a change was in order and I changed to a single pellet glued to the hook. First cast landed perfectly a yard or two out from the snag in a nice crease, wallop fish on, my wife jumped up so fast she fell down the bank and only just avoided going for a swim, haha! The fish surged off across the river "this had to be a barbel, Yes!" I have not caught many barbel but I cannot imagine a better fight as they use the flow to the best of their ability and they know every
single snag. After a few hairy moments I managed to get the fish level with me, in with the net, and off it went again like the proverbial express train. Following a few more runs , stripping line off the reel so
fast it hurt, I slipped the bar of gold into the waiting net.One gorgeous lump of muscle was gingerly lifted onto the bank where a barking dog and amazed wife waited. A few pictures and a moments reflection
and it was time to release it. A minute or two getting its breath back (and mine) and it swam off strongly, disappearing back under the snag,brilliant. Thank you Kathryn Will Kennedy back to the top |
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No scales to weigh it but who cares, a moment to remember.