Barbel, Warks Avon

The title and aim of the session were both Barbel but the Chub were a lot more obliging. Fun at first but becoming a nuisance. Following an opening day blank it was pleasing to get a new season off and running with a Chub on the bank. But after that there followed another eight, all between 3lb and 4lb. Normally that would be an excellent days angling and I am not that short sighted as to realise this but I was only wanting Barbel. Probably sounding like a miserable old Yorkshireman having an unnecessary moan but sod it.

I did manage one example of the target species which took the secret flavoured luncheon meat, I did not weigh it but would guess at between 6lb and 7lb tops. 

The minnows seem really abundant this year and they were a menace, stripping the meat off the hair in about 20 minutes, so I changed to boilies and that caught more Chub plus an impaled Minnow with a size nine hook in it's cheek. Swam off ok though!

Trout, Lenches Lakes

A first fly fishing trip for over twenty years to the Lenches lakes. Accompanied by Uncle Ken a breezy day made for difficult casting conditions for an amateur but perseverence paid off with a brace of Trout weighing 1lb 6oz and 1lb 10oz. Several tangles and a few expletives but a happy angler at the end of the session.

Tench, Hardwick, Linear

A final Tench session before the rivers reopen, the close season seems to get longer each year. A slow and difficult day resulting in a brace of Tench weighing 7lb 2oz and 8lb 4oz respectively. Both fish were taken in the morning as the action ground to a halt in the scorching midday summer sunshine. The usual tactics of chopped worm feeder doing the damage. Bored of still water now and cannot wait to sit by the flow.

Carp, Stubb's Pool

A short evening session with our lad, one rod, a net and some dog biscuits results in over 40lb of Carp on the bank. First blood to me with this low double, followed by a simultaneous hook up which saw us both land small commons.
Then right at last light a large common wolfed down my floater and a glorious battle ensued. After a good twenty minutes the big girl was in the net and I was looking down at a new pb. 22lb 4oz of lean muscly Carp and a trip to the pub was decided upon to celebrate.