Sunday 13 July 2014

When a river smiles

To rove or be static, move and shake as oppose to sit and wait, I considered my options, a change to single rod was made and I decided to head out for the evening and fish a handful of swims hoping to connect with the first barbus of the new season.


The river was alive, the underwater jungle looking fresh and full of life, cabbage patches dotted here and there, juvenile perch playing hide and seek between the dense green folds. I headed to a narrower section of the river, one I fancied but had not fished as much, with good marginal coverage for chub and barbel alike and some deeper gravel runs, perfect for the crayfish to pay my bait too much attention.


It was a glorious evening and I was entertained by deer on the opposite bank bouncing about with their youngsters and two Kingfishers which kept chasing each other up and down the river, one of which stopped in the third swim that I was in and gave me a resounding lesson in catching fish before calling out its success with a shrill chirp and darting back off downstream.

A crayfish with claws like a lobster was all I had to show thus far  but I was sated, at peace with my surroundings and natures theater had put on a splendid show, I could not have asked for more. I decided to mosey on to my final swim, a slower area of the river, a small bait dropper was filled with seed a couple of times and lowered unobtrusively into the margins, thirty minutes later and a whittled down boilie wrapped in paste was lowered into the same spot.

As an angler watches the isotope so his mind can wander a little, I played out various scenarios in my head, how I would play the fish, what snags it might try to make for and many other little things. It was a clear night and by the time the dew began to patter down at regular intervals I had started to wonder if the final roll of the dice may have been just that,it was at this point that he isotope nudged slightly, not a lot but it had moved, I glanced downstream although I am unsure what I expected to see, but in that moment the warmth of hope was kindled and along with it an anglers chance to perhaps dream.

Time passed by, a vixens shriek faded into the distance, the hairs on my neck standing on end as if to acknowledge and salute this lonesome female. The next sound was of the little rod doubling over and clutch trying to keep up, the bite if it could even be called that was savage as the fish steamed off downstream in search of cabbage patches, sure enough she found them and the safety they offered, a steady amount of pressure was applied and slowly but surely it was free again, this time in mid river and heading back upstream.

I knew from the tussle that I was connected to something a bit special and by now I was more or less done in and nervous exhaustion was rapidly taking charge, had this have been intercourse then I would have in all probability climaxed way too soon, leaving a rather frustrated female by my bedside.

Slowly and surely I gained control, finally a broad flank broke the surface and was guided into the waiting net, I peered inside and jabbered something that was barely recognizable as a language, by now I had been reduced to a state of devolution and neanderthal man was beckoning, I could have honestly just pointed into the net in the dark, started muttering and painting on the nearby trees to describe the fish, as try as I might words were not being formed.


I sat down and recovered somewhat before weighing this fighting fit barbus, the scales settled on 15lb a new personal best, the moment was a surreal one and watching her disappear back into the river is a sight I shall not forget.

20 comments:

  1. F*** me!, that mate is a belter of a Barbel, I bet you have that "Barbel grin" still and will do for a few weeks I suppose, what may she go come the cold depths of winter??, 17 plus dare i say it. Mark congrats on that superb specimen.

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    1. Believe me James, that grin is now a firmly cemented feature on my cheeks, I reckon she could go a good 16+ to 17 come winter mate, cheers for the kind words I still cannot get my head round it.

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  2. Wauw Mark that is one enormeous barbel! Well done. Can I also ask a guestion? Does barbel and chub feed on sweetcorn? I have never see sweetcorn in barbel or chub videos on youtube.

    greetings from holland

    Jelle

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    1. Cheers Jelle, barbel and chub love sweetcorn and will happily feed on it, although eventually they can become wary of it, a change of colour/dying the sweetcorn can keep it effective for longer once this happens though.

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  3. Wonderful write up Mark and a fantastic fish - well deserved mate. I was right there with you..... except I don't fancy vixens as much as you :o)
    Great result.

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    1. Thanks Dave,

      still cannot fathom it and how it all came together, I think sometimes it is best not to try and work it all out and how it came to be, instead just savour the moment. I am still reliving glancing into the net to see such a beautiful fish. Ah yes vixens, their banshee calls are something else and always make me jump a bit mate.

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  4. Nice one Mark, what a fish !!!!!!!!! and congrats on your new PB

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    1. Cheers Mick,

      playing her was something else and to be fair it was more like she was playing me, I was a wreck by the end.

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  5. Mark,

    I saw the photo you put on the Loddon thread you know where, don't ask ;-0.

    Well done mate, a really nice write up.

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    1. Ah yes that forum, I think I know where you mean Jason (wink wink nudge nudge).

      Cheers mate glad you enjoyed it, she was something else on the bank and certainly a lot fitter than me.

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  6. Hi mark

    Congratulations on your beautiful catch.
    I was wondering where on the thames your fish they look like some beautiful spots. I am from oxford just looking for some different areas to fish.

    Kind regards.

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    1. Hello Jack and thank you. This particular fish was from the Loddon, however when I fished the Thames more regularly a few seasons ago I generally headed in your direction and fished around Culham and the surrounding areas.

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  7. Congratulations on the PB Mark

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    1. Cheers Darren, are you planning some Wye trips soon mate?

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  8. Brilliant result Mark and some top angling sir. What an impressive fish.

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    1. Thanks Nathan, talking about barbel what a splendid trip to the Wye you had, I expect your arm is still aching mate.

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  9. Basically......Holy Sh$t. That's one helluva Barbel Mark. Big congrats on the pb mate.

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    1. Thank you Steven, it did certainly pull and then some mate.

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  10. Just Brilliant Mark! I so enjoy each instalment of your work.

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    1. Thank you Ian, glad you are enjoying the blog and the vlogs mate.

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