Managed to sneak down to the Avon for the last couple of daylight hours and I was glad I did. The wind dropped, the rain abated and the sun popped out for the first time today.
As usual!? a Kingfisher popped along to say 'hello'.
My plan of attack was two pronged, the downstream rod set up to trap a Barbel and upstream was for Roach. Typically the upstream rod registered the first bite but it was not a Roach that was attached but a Barbel. I played it cautiously concious that the closest components to my unseen adversary was a size fourteen hook and measly three pound line. Surprisingly it all held together and I slipped the net under a seven pound Barbel proving that it is possible but I will not be using it on purpose.
Now the worrying part: Otters have been working their way down the Warwickshire Avon and I had heard rumours they had made it down beyond Bidford but I hadn't seen any evidence until now. The beaten Barbel had obviously had a run in with one recently. Thankfully it had survived the encounter but there will be others that won't. I am not going to get all political with regards to Otters, there has been plenty said already but until now I had not been bothered. Now they are in my backyard, well, lets see what transpires....
I managed just one more fish before the light went completely, a Chub just shy of four pounds. Another fish that had been in the wars but it looked more like an old Pike wound.
A spectacular finale.
Lovely photos Joe and a big shame that the Barbel was in that condition but yes thankfully it's alive to show its battle scars, im certain that people out in the countryside have rifles!, surely now it's about time we protected our hobbies, thankfully on some of my rivers they are not present but Mink are on the increase rapidly with 2 seen just the other day.
ReplyDeleteJoe the tail damage is exactly the same as my father and I experienced on a barbel he had from Tiddington in October and during that trip I witnessed two different otters one larger than the other so I am presuming a male and female perhaps. As James states we do need some protection from our hobby. Although the recent poaching/netting found on the Thames is done by the worlds worst predator man.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with the otters. Here in Norfolk on the upper Wensum it's hardly worth bothering chub fishing any more. I'm not claiming to be the best fisherman ever but I now catch as many in a winter as I used to in one afternoon!
ReplyDeleteThanks for that Chris, cheered me up no end!!!?
DeleteIt's one of the reasons John Wilson moved to Thailand! Hopefully you've got a few years yet!
DeleteJoe I've caught Barbel where I've seen otters and luckily no damage (as yet) I suspect the barbel you caught had a lucky escape.
ReplyDeleteThe last Barbel I caught 9lb 8oz was in daylight and about an hour after a huge brazen otter popped his head out the water and glided downstream.
I've spotted them in all but a couple of places I fish, all upstream of Stratford btw
I don't tend to catch small barbel though all,not sure if that's an indication or not and most of mine have been caught well in to dusk.
Thanks Mick maybe they could be ok, sure hope so. In a few years the Otters are going to be along the whole river, will be interesting to see what happens when they hit the Evesham match waters!!!
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