tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23332910147615356072024-02-19T07:27:40.214+00:00Diary of a Barbel AnglerLewis Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13391846636912059519noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333291014761535607.post-77513461395300976452010-02-28T18:54:00.004+00:002010-02-28T19:11:34.379+00:00January 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNjpbbOROjrQei5ba-vjkwhNNFMZ6kGNWD2zZI8PsUVzhd4OYeDywLcvyMhy0v-1Z1GsN0BvqrYmQNmQDKBbmaTMhkqLVKo-o6lVoqXoNQbOHf3TymMHXLtz9VE1orMtT7OM11PO5GbI/s1600-h/IMG_2381.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNjpbbOROjrQei5ba-vjkwhNNFMZ6kGNWD2zZI8PsUVzhd4OYeDywLcvyMhy0v-1Z1GsN0BvqrYmQNmQDKBbmaTMhkqLVKo-o6lVoqXoNQbOHf3TymMHXLtz9VE1orMtT7OM11PO5GbI/s200/IMG_2381.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443374053980035938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_jA59FAnLjvvnDqRweLkO6n_LPnK1FJL3rNCWy6vfwJJYcFrHzNrpUCgfjuQ1bs44X_s1ulZ5NfvXeybmpz3L7TPizwEtO7gKODmBtbpluYmXMJnxNX67X0uzhWD3yI3EBHQWB3P0OI/s1600-h/IMG_2343.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_jA59FAnLjvvnDqRweLkO6n_LPnK1FJL3rNCWy6vfwJJYcFrHzNrpUCgfjuQ1bs44X_s1ulZ5NfvXeybmpz3L7TPizwEtO7gKODmBtbpluYmXMJnxNX67X0uzhWD3yI3EBHQWB3P0OI/s200/IMG_2343.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443374043876367266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VJJE9sF2dYhcmrdAJDl_2YaOYsTDO45n7puert0L0ZJR6nL4x3y88_QLK9w3Ifu3TiTF5k4LpmlGig0Q9TXNFN9I6GWQ_9leY59u4u-YJxLS-MOzzu6H33bOC2_-ESb8229ypIbcvy4/s1600-h/IMG_2332.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VJJE9sF2dYhcmrdAJDl_2YaOYsTDO45n7puert0L0ZJR6nL4x3y88_QLK9w3Ifu3TiTF5k4LpmlGig0Q9TXNFN9I6GWQ_9leY59u4u-YJxLS-MOzzu6H33bOC2_-ESb8229ypIbcvy4/s200/IMG_2332.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443374041272319410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaT-_27cdsaPoJJparTclRSR0XHKD7UQtI-lCCGWVtU0J_WzX0xlBFOttuFWRiSDYoUoKNjkyFYPbIoMonZQhibIlPgYM44-TzzpqhltI93bqshu_SNnCp0iXtZ6NbcRgIVY_LSUTF4zM/s1600-h/IMG_1672.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaT-_27cdsaPoJJparTclRSR0XHKD7UQtI-lCCGWVtU0J_WzX0xlBFOttuFWRiSDYoUoKNjkyFYPbIoMonZQhibIlPgYM44-TzzpqhltI93bqshu_SNnCp0iXtZ6NbcRgIVY_LSUTF4zM/s200/IMG_1672.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443374028595991010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJ5uKwI3WHuqSZ0XrVA2xAr305MBQl9qQiwx1uzh0YGmhsRrGSMnwNEMJ31tBElSS4MJL-Qyh01w1AG15TQQ6Qybo5wT4Vsa6ojGrGHvOopbIcn1qetUyq0lAhZ5K81z3JyAiVxjTaLI/s1600-h/IMG_2356.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJ5uKwI3WHuqSZ0XrVA2xAr305MBQl9qQiwx1uzh0YGmhsRrGSMnwNEMJ31tBElSS4MJL-Qyh01w1AG15TQQ6Qybo5wT4Vsa6ojGrGHvOopbIcn1qetUyq0lAhZ5K81z3JyAiVxjTaLI/s200/IMG_2356.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443372685081589810" /></a><br />The 1st week of January saw me making a trip to the famous Throop fishery on the Dorset Stour to fish for its huge shoals of Chub. Taking up a long standing invitiation from my friend Paul Martin I was soon heading down the M40 with thoughts of monster Chub filling my head. Below is a short account of our weeks fishing that I wrote for an online forum,<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;">While the country has spent the past couple of weeks under a blanket of snow there has been a small pocket on the south coast that so far has escaped the dreaded white stuff. It was here, in Dorset that I spent last week fishing the Stour for Chub with Paul. I had fished the Stour a few years ago but it was in the height of summer and with me not knowing the venue I really struggled. Hopefully with a bit of local knowledge and more experience this trip would be different <img src="http://www.temesevern.co.uk/Forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0" /><br /><br />I arrived on the Sunday evening and Paul spent some time talking me through methods and rigs to get me upto speed for the week ahead, very different to how I would fish for Chub on the Warks Avon but 'when in Rome'.<br /><br />Monday arrived and we were on Throop for 1st light, </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;">Paul had been informed that the fishing was very hard and he kindly pointed me in the direction of the'going' chub swim on the fishery while he set up a couple of hundred yards downstream. It was indeed hard going, it was the 1st time I had ever fished with light lines and size 20 hooks and that 1st day I struggled, losing 1 fish and missing a couple of bites. The bragging rights went Paul for day 1 with him landing 4 chub to my 0. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><br />Tuesday came and again we were out for 1st thing. Today i was determined to make amends and learn from my mistakes of the previous day. We again set up in the same swims and from the off I fished hard, recasting every couple of minutes to build up a bed of maggots in the swim in the hope I could get the chub going. It was very hard fishing and by the time dusk came I was beginning to think it wouldnt happen but then someone hit the 'switch' and it was a bite a cast. My last 5 casts of the day brought me 4 chub and a missed bite, in the process enabling me to beat my PB with a lovely fish of 6.3.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;">With Paul blanking the scores were level pegging 4-4.<br /><br />Wednesday came and went without much happening, we fished till late morning but the conditions were awful and it was chuffing freezing so a cup of tea in the local Tackle Shop and a Cafe brekkie were the highlights.<br /><br />We were up bright and early again on Thursday and decided we were going to fish as a team. With Paul setting up slightly upstream of me the plan was for both of us to fish the same 'line' and draw the fish upto my swim. The plan worked to start with as I landed a couple of moderate chub mid morning but then as the day wore on the temperature took a huge dive and the river switched off. Just as it got dark I got a shout from Paul 'fish on'! I reeled in and went to his swim to see him land a chub of quite large proportions. It was certainly the largest chub I had ever seen and so it was proved when the scales read a very healthy 6.11.<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;">While Paul now had the biggest fish of the week (and the biggest off Throop for a while) I was nosing ahead in the numbers game 6-5.<br /><br />Friday was soon upon us and again we headed for Throop albeit in different swims today. A cold North easterly wind had come in and it was easily the coldest day of the week.<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;">Paul caught a fish mid morning to save a blank and as I was struggling in my choice of swim he kindly invited me to have a social and fish his swim with him as he had feeding fish infront of him. Before I could get amongst the fish Paul hooked and lost one, I then managed to land one of around 5lbs and then as the day before as it got colder the river seemed to go quiet. As dusk approached the river came alive with fish topping everywhere, alas no more bites were forthcoming and we headed off home.<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;">The final scores at the end of the week were 7-6 in my favour.<br />A very tough week in the coldest conditions I have ever fished in but very enjoyable and a good laugh, Cheers Paul. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;">Again this was to be my only fishing of the month due to work and weather restrictions. It is also the 1st time in 4 years that I haven't caught barbel in every month of the season!! Something to put right next season I think.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;font-size:12px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;font-size:12px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;font-size:12px;">Thanks for reading and hopefully I can finish the season with a bang.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;font-size:12px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;font-size:12px;">Cheers Lewis.</span></span></div>Lewis Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13391846636912059519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333291014761535607.post-17457995894506402332010-02-28T18:46:00.002+00:002010-02-28T18:53:28.363+00:00November/December 2009After the highs of October it was back down to earth with a huge bump for the start of my winter campaign!! With very little to report this wont be a long entry to my blog and with no photos taken a little bland :-( Over the course of Nov and Dec I managed just a solitary barbel of 9lbs 8oz off the Warks Arrow. With conditions being less than favourable I did very little fishing and to be honest struggled with motivation as the effort was far outweighing any possible reward. With trips out fishing being few and far between this was the only fish I banked in these 2 months<div><br /></div><div>Cheers Lewis.</div>Lewis Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13391846636912059519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333291014761535607.post-82855609605247024442010-01-13T20:46:00.007+00:002010-01-13T21:18:18.163+00:00October 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxah8-tVTTk-VZlFFRlmReTyg9icd1bUt43orO_S9blt_PYQUDkSzQm_qvskE40oDuHiOmNJOODqr7Fh-4YHaVyAhUPQZ2Zu-DYwpNsSFBrXbhqYD3lzYem68zE3dt6pnagK59B3klPo/s1600-h/IMG_2159.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxah8-tVTTk-VZlFFRlmReTyg9icd1bUt43orO_S9blt_PYQUDkSzQm_qvskE40oDuHiOmNJOODqr7Fh-4YHaVyAhUPQZ2Zu-DYwpNsSFBrXbhqYD3lzYem68zE3dt6pnagK59B3klPo/s200/IMG_2159.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426332081254243826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuUdlT4JdgzYAWq9B-YfLp3I9Xcls0OE99aUJSpzsZKUYk9K6dd414vsIK2cB7GJNhSIYbBEbp9PzQ_k1UcWlCyhXnZ1mVVGE4r2nf0hMzlu8h2HgACiT2b_uGPojaxEbk88v4JtnehY/s1600-h/IMG_2154.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuUdlT4JdgzYAWq9B-YfLp3I9Xcls0OE99aUJSpzsZKUYk9K6dd414vsIK2cB7GJNhSIYbBEbp9PzQ_k1UcWlCyhXnZ1mVVGE4r2nf0hMzlu8h2HgACiT2b_uGPojaxEbk88v4JtnehY/s200/IMG_2154.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426332076362872226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8i84lKrUMnkoqLZRoUf9eA5QC3xCBkEB8t2uLCGVXTvwSbtPo8bco8-Yg-Al3_DRbJuuGnIHJS1VI_C5pnOr6W8baKquqVdUHv8z9Sj2fDAcur03KKzLvuBRd7hSyRKYqV6M2LutA818/s1600-h/IMG_2120.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8i84lKrUMnkoqLZRoUf9eA5QC3xCBkEB8t2uLCGVXTvwSbtPo8bco8-Yg-Al3_DRbJuuGnIHJS1VI_C5pnOr6W8baKquqVdUHv8z9Sj2fDAcur03KKzLvuBRd7hSyRKYqV6M2LutA818/s200/IMG_2120.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426331867119948034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-pdzhnjdQMzcmioCysDLyc8_MiS_7_J9unBZnYswWqA3YWab1QML8PaCIrPm8M3Jf9u0OgogdaZmwJG4ZG6bwSdF5-UVcG17Zc91Y0u9b4QMYidJHa0qsh7AL1dR6wQZ-Wpifvj74JU/s1600-h/IMG_2146.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-pdzhnjdQMzcmioCysDLyc8_MiS_7_J9unBZnYswWqA3YWab1QML8PaCIrPm8M3Jf9u0OgogdaZmwJG4ZG6bwSdF5-UVcG17Zc91Y0u9b4QMYidJHa0qsh7AL1dR6wQZ-Wpifvj74JU/s200/IMG_2146.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426331862957019394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QrnlLd2zQ3dOF6TuhqOPGcUqDf0MlGLAC9nKWR_HrbS0FXNx1uypeWOCl7G16BR1-QR2YU9MsAzpHn3VSUBGQTzN3NkYS1d0a7DZddvwg0QDwBbum2n6gu8pqY59SxMHPz9RwaAm-Ow/s1600-h/09+019.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QrnlLd2zQ3dOF6TuhqOPGcUqDf0MlGLAC9nKWR_HrbS0FXNx1uypeWOCl7G16BR1-QR2YU9MsAzpHn3VSUBGQTzN3NkYS1d0a7DZddvwg0QDwBbum2n6gu8pqY59SxMHPz9RwaAm-Ow/s200/09+019.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426331849520453842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDeUR5yPMXJwCmyJrgjqX5L4t7FxcylRAkJXBYC6one0hvBfM4JkcIDSj_TBpG6mIX_YvS9Qrsz0my4J8uUva2DKuRGOHTT7Bg96fTI2iKsUyxc-yJZRjv5HoQuDp82CGO4FbOMIW6ww/s1600-h/08+074.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDeUR5yPMXJwCmyJrgjqX5L4t7FxcylRAkJXBYC6one0hvBfM4JkcIDSj_TBpG6mIX_YvS9Qrsz0my4J8uUva2DKuRGOHTT7Bg96fTI2iKsUyxc-yJZRjv5HoQuDp82CGO4FbOMIW6ww/s200/08+074.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426331848292519714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQn-NMTHflcL8VzmRjoE4KAQk-RVJ3HMHa5utvNqEp6usiMNOm2ftu9E3QLI1DV2U6N8Sf4TvS2NhSAotTzuAmy0KAiC2b-GG8oXyGKCKcFFHu3haPI6GBPS4ZL9n5kOg8Dw6Tvj9doOA/s1600-h/08+067.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQn-NMTHflcL8VzmRjoE4KAQk-RVJ3HMHa5utvNqEp6usiMNOm2ftu9E3QLI1DV2U6N8Sf4TvS2NhSAotTzuAmy0KAiC2b-GG8oXyGKCKcFFHu3haPI6GBPS4ZL9n5kOg8Dw6Tvj9doOA/s200/08+067.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426331840078743618" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCu09nvzEl-98Ezwk6vanvhR8nNKQALsX1Vr4AhOZQ_3oAlnGqSteYlLHkTsG2d3Oj7eGDWvYTmv4u7Qn5IvKfkgexrHuHXfZ8G3_FnbAXFA0RLG59lspYNjtcZxXuIBTUTNQeKtGPDk/s1600-h/08+031.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCu09nvzEl-98Ezwk6vanvhR8nNKQALsX1Vr4AhOZQ_3oAlnGqSteYlLHkTsG2d3Oj7eGDWvYTmv4u7Qn5IvKfkgexrHuHXfZ8G3_FnbAXFA0RLG59lspYNjtcZxXuIBTUTNQeKtGPDk/s200/08+031.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426330597349475522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_TqD6gFtrf8rsJk_PI9dxzCzODAdiOPdvP4QQrarUFDairTXygwKeoDRM_NiC9sZrn-LSw9PNHJ7reNpvFjALfP-Ea7wLpn51acLiDf8phhmyHLLqJBlsY6kQhmYEfKnqkkV9HVrwlM/s1600-h/05+029.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_TqD6gFtrf8rsJk_PI9dxzCzODAdiOPdvP4QQrarUFDairTXygwKeoDRM_NiC9sZrn-LSw9PNHJ7reNpvFjALfP-Ea7wLpn51acLiDf8phhmyHLLqJBlsY6kQhmYEfKnqkkV9HVrwlM/s200/05+029.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426330228424367762" /></a><br />WOW<i>, what a month October was!!!</i> The month of the season so far for me by a country mile. I will start this entry with an excerpt from my article I wrote for the Angling Times on Dutch Pike fishing followed by a particularly special session on the Severn.<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Holland? What comes to mind when you think about our neighbour from across the North Sea? Stag parties? Amsterdam and it’s ‘attractions’? What about Pike fishing and in particular Pike fishing with Lures?</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Having just spent a week in the country more famed for its tulips </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and windmills than Pike fishing I would like to share my experiences with you. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Taking up a long standing invite from close friend and Dutch predator ace Thijs van der Sanden I found myself at Birmingham International Airport boarding a flight bound for Holland, my head filled with visions of monster pike. On arrival I was met at the airport and away we went to Thijs hometown of Eindhoven to discuss the coming week and organise the trip ahead. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The plan was to spend the whole week lure fishing on 2 of Holland’s vast inland waterways, The Veluwe and The Nulde. These 2 venues are in the north of the country and are joined together, eventually spilling out into the North Sea. We were to fish exclusively from Thijs boat using a combination of trolling and casting. Unlike some of the large waterways in England these venues are totally man made and surprisingly the average depth is only 12feet. </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This would make fish location that bit easier as the margins were very shallow for up to 100metres from the bank. This created plenty of drop offs and plateaus that were easy to find and held large amounts of roach and bream shoals. Using the echo sounder and the GPS on the boat to locate areas that had previously produced would make finding the vast shoals of prey fish that bit easier. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 21px;"></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:6;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It was with anticipation and a hint of excitement that we headed north the day prior to fishing. We had rented a static caravan for a week situated in close proximity to a public slipway. This meant we could get the maximum amount of fishing time on the water possible as we could be afloat within 20 minutes of leaving the caravan. With an early start the following morning the fishing gear was organised, the plan for the following day was discussed and I decided to have an early night. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The alarm sounded and before I knew it we were at the slipway loading the boat with an assortment of lures, rods and the all important echo sounders. Before long we were on the water and came across a local angler who was having a few hours fishing from his boat before work. He informed us he had already caught 2 pike upto 93cm in length and had 3 ‘takes’ (the Dutch measure as oppose to weighing their fish and Thijs certainly raised his eyebrows when I produced my Avon scales and weigh sling!). With hopes high we headed out into open water to start the day with some trolling at mid depth. There were shoals of preyfish in abundance so I was sure it wouldn’t be long before my first take. Unfortunately Thijs then made a comment that made my confidence drop! Over the previous 4 days there had been some very cold, clear nights which had seen the water temperature drop from 18 degrees to 13 degrees.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Thijs was under the impression this would be perfect as the pike would feed in earnest at 13 degrees but I had my doubts. As with my barbel fishing come the autumn and winter I take a great interest in water temperatures and a sudden drop was sure to have switched the fish off until they had acclimatised. And so it was proved, we fished that 1</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">st</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and 2</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">nd</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> days very hard using a large selection of lures covering many aspects of fishing including trolling, casting, jigging, shallow and deep water fishing and after 2 solid days of 12 hours each day all we had to show for our efforts were 5 pike of a moderate size. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We decided a change of venue may be in order for day 3 and when we checked the weather forecast we realised a trip out on the lakes would have been far too dangerous. Heavy winds and rain overnight and all the following day saw us heading for a canal that ran through a local town and industrial area. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We arrived early and once again a pike graced the boat early giving us a nice confidence booster. Alas this was to be the only action of a very wet and miserable morning. Late afternoon and I managed a small jack pike on a trolled Shad Clone and we decided to call it a day. Wet through and quite despondent the warm caravan and a few beers seemed very appealing. Before we left we thought ‘1 last troll’ was in order. So I attached a very large spinner bait and cast it out beyond the back of the boat. Within minutes the end of the rod slammed over and line started tearing from the tightly set clutch. ‘Fish On’ was the shout and as I lifted the rod a huge pike I had dreamed of came to the surface.............thrashed its head.................and it was gone! In the blink of an eye the fish of my dreams had thrown the spinner bait and sank bank into the depths to leave me wondering just how big a fish I had just lost.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Down but certainly not beaten I had 2 days remaining to rectify the loss. After the rain and winds the weather had settled and as we arrived at dawn the lake resembled a giant mirror. We quickly organised ourselves and hit the water. It was with great confidence that Thijs announced the water temperature had risen since our last visit.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">True to form within minutes of our first troll Thijs rod hammered over and fish number 1 was on. A modest pike of about 7lbs but very very welcome.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This time it proved not to be a false dawn but the start of 2 days fantastic fishing the pike had ‘switched on’. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We fished the open water extremely hard but had only a few fish to show for our efforts. Thankfully Thijs had an ace up his sleeve.................the many harbours that surrounded the lake were home to a lot of pike and he had a feeling this is where we would find them, possibly still in there after the heavy storms of the previous day. This theory was proved right as almost instantly we were into fish in every harbour we fished. I still had the loss of the previous day on my mind and knowing it would have beaten my Pb I was determined to make up for it. Before ecstasy though must come agony and I lost a further 2 big pike, 1 of which would have obliterated my pb of 21lb 9oz. We were finding that the smaller fish were really hammering the lures but the bigger fish were being very cautious with both big fish throwing the hooks not long after being hooked. I decided to change the size of lure I was using in the hope a big fish might hold onto it harder. So it was proved right, on a troll around a small part of a harbour my rod sprang into life and I had a pike on. As soon as it came to the surface I knew it was a good fish, with some coaching from Thijs I gently brought her to the boat and she was mine. Thijs confidently ‘gloving’ her for me. The tape measure and my weighing apparatus were readied and I was the proud owner of a new Pb. 118cm long and 22lb 10oz! Photographs were taken and hands shook as relief swept over me, success at last. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The final 2 days of the holiday made the whole week. We landed a total of 16 pike with 3 of them being over the Dutch big fish benchmark of a meter. In all 25 pike were landed and the same amount lost to hook pulls (the perils of lure fishing). Now to February were I have a date with my new Pb at her winter weight.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 36px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">After my fantastic trip over the North Sea I still had time for a 2 nighter on the Lower Severn before I was due back at work. With the car loaded up I was ready to go and off I headed into deepest darkest Worcestershire. There had been a bit of rain and I was hoping the river would have risen and coloured up a bit, unfortunately this wasn't the case and I was faced with a low clear river. Not to be defeatest I organised myself and chose my swim. Once I had identified a good area I set about baiting it with 15kgs of groundbait, pellets, boilies and vitalin. Once that little lot was deposited 2 rod lengths out I set up camp and had some breakfast. Sport was slow to start with but it wasn't long before the resident bream put in an appearance. After landing several bream I finally latched into a couple of barbel in the 8lb bracket, that was to be it for day one and it was very slow for several hours. Things were very slow so I decided to go 'shit or bust' on one rod with 1/4 tin of spam fished just at the top of the marginal shelf. I decided to leave this rod until it went (if it did) and not bring it in till the following morning. After 2 hours the alarm screamed a '1 toner' and the meat rod was away. Straight away i knew it was a good fish and so it proved. After a nerve wracking fight I landed my PB Severn barbel of 12.12. Photos done and I released the fish to fight another day. Over the course of the night and the following morning I landed a few more barbel including another double at 10.02 and loads of bream. the final tally for my session being 16 bream and 8 barbel.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 36px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Thanks For Reading,</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 36px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Cheers Lewis</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 55px;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><br /></span></p></span><p></p></div>Lewis Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13391846636912059519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333291014761535607.post-56074663587699316892010-01-13T20:38:00.002+00:002010-01-13T20:45:17.272+00:00September 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35h3hnyLIU-Mx0uzxwZYnDtrzsiVs8gwsVXBI_AbJt28RhaCiOJ1XsiCx-34dVjoQSLjG7Gw2Eb86eD6W7Vcx_r-oseTzXVXp_wiZ2zHGdoxiZ9SXgsBYA5t6sbJ1p7eRwBFnOgluo3w/s1600-h/IMG_2040.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35h3hnyLIU-Mx0uzxwZYnDtrzsiVs8gwsVXBI_AbJt28RhaCiOJ1XsiCx-34dVjoQSLjG7Gw2Eb86eD6W7Vcx_r-oseTzXVXp_wiZ2zHGdoxiZ9SXgsBYA5t6sbJ1p7eRwBFnOgluo3w/s200/IMG_2040.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426328193134724402" /></a><br />September was a strange month on the barbel front. Traditionally for me it is the start of the 'proper' barbel fishing. With the fish looking to go hard on the feed in preparation for the winter ahead. For whatever reason this just didn't seem to happen and the fishing was very hard, I landed a few fish but not a lot of note, the one highlight of the month being my 3rd different 12lber off the Avon off 3 different stretches. Pulling the scales round to a very healthy 12.10, it was all the more satisfying as it came from a stretch I had not fished before and was my 1st double on pellet.Lewis Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13391846636912059519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333291014761535607.post-64709921511405171822010-01-13T18:52:00.003+00:002010-01-13T19:11:24.441+00:002010 Already??? Surely Not!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdMxlvXDBTm7S0T9Jv_1-qm1L64EkmKh_w1-ChfFWsqanTpbEt8rNMm7ghOD3X-wzIG6MQ4b95Ih20Oddk819uyvvajnSepi4EaWljRHLAA0dxeCthSGsrlypoBXiweq1SLVyuD5ObnM/s1600-h/IMG_1988.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdMxlvXDBTm7S0T9Jv_1-qm1L64EkmKh_w1-ChfFWsqanTpbEt8rNMm7ghOD3X-wzIG6MQ4b95Ih20Oddk819uyvvajnSepi4EaWljRHLAA0dxeCthSGsrlypoBXiweq1SLVyuD5ObnM/s200/IMG_1988.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426304068731530802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnifIonLe_2rtYx4oUOHtKAZs7OVXtwgL_x2ha4L_R-NlCiqNInvwEW6UdPxohNq3BWnfgZnfEfeqWmlrCmgoEw6sQqi6HbnVX05FulnFT7kgbLvTCaRJn0Eq113Xl63jPB6c3d_axovQ/s1600-h/barbel.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnifIonLe_2rtYx4oUOHtKAZs7OVXtwgL_x2ha4L_R-NlCiqNInvwEW6UdPxohNq3BWnfgZnfEfeqWmlrCmgoEw6sQqi6HbnVX05FulnFT7kgbLvTCaRJn0Eq113Xl63jPB6c3d_axovQ/s200/barbel.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426303389226660098" /></a><br />Well here we are, 2010. Happy New Year everyone. After being asked if I was carrying on my Blog via an angler on another forum I thought it was about time I updated it. Little did I realise it had been so long since I wrote an entry!!!! The time since July has passed so quickly it's frightening. As I cant recall blow by blow accounts of my fishing in the 2nd half of 2009 I do keep a diary as such and so will attempt to do a month by month review starting in August. So here goes, I hope you enjoy it.<div><br /></div><div><b>AUGUST</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>August was a month of 1sts for me and my barbel fishing. I had been driving over a stretch of tiny Warwickshire Avon tributary for some time and really fancies giving it a go. This river is no more than a stream and in most places it is only a rod length wide. It has no history of barbel as such ( a few stories but not exactly prolific) but I was convinced it had the potential to throw up a fish or 2. Myself and a friend Ashley Burton had concocted a plan to fish as many rivers as possible for barbel in a 24 hour period. We chose the date and I met him at his home in Hinckley. The venues we had chosen were a mixture of the known and unknown, the Trent, Soar, Anker, Warks Avon and Severn amongst them. Unfortunately conditions went against us and we failed in our challenge on the whole but I did manage the only barbel of the challenge from this tiny tributary of the Warks Avon and with it having no existing official river record there is certainly potential for the future.</div><div>Other highlights of August were a 12.02 Barbel off the Warks Avon and my 1st ever barbel 'on the pin' of about 3lb.</div><div><br /></div>Lewis Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13391846636912059519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333291014761535607.post-24483023961630099412009-07-29T16:25:00.000+01:002009-07-29T16:28:51.909+01:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifP0mAw8k_Nt20XnCehr5YAHL403PxZuZnY7VaHcq38nlFUPWAZOzjU8btnMcrqA8nKk93zR4FFoM6VOgo8icKrvrlcRJvA_Hv_FOfvuRP2jLUHBDX8QGyPgpfA_-trNls97PGn_8V-hI/s1600-h/Photo028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363904353744304930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifP0mAw8k_Nt20XnCehr5YAHL403PxZuZnY7VaHcq38nlFUPWAZOzjU8btnMcrqA8nKk93zR4FFoM6VOgo8icKrvrlcRJvA_Hv_FOfvuRP2jLUHBDX8QGyPgpfA_-trNls97PGn_8V-hI/s320/Photo028.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>It’s been a couple of weeks since the blog was updated but I haven’t been idle. Been working quite a lot but have still managed 2 overnighters on the Severn. I wasn’t planning on returning to this river until the autumn but with it carrying a couple of extra fee of water and being coloured I felt it was too good an opportunity to miss. Monday the 20th and I was on my way through the Worcestershire countryside, accompanied by my dad. I already knew which swim I was going to fish providing it was free with dad fishing 100yards downstream. Thankfully both swims were free and we started getting organised. Dad was set up with a single rod on elips pellets and pellet/groundbait feeder. I felt that this was the best approach for him to give him the maximum chance of catching several species. <br />For this visit I had decided to bring my 2 man JRC Quad bivvy, I usually use a storm shelter/brolly but with heavy rain forecast I wanted a bit of extra protection. Whoever said these things are easy to put up must have been joking I think. An hour of huffing and puffing and it was done.......................sort of. The groundsheet was a different shape to the bivvy but there was no way I was taking it down and starting again. That sorted and it was time to fish.<br />It wasn’t long before dad was into a few bream which kept him happy and busy. He then went one better and landed a barbel of about 6lbs, swiftly followed by another of about 8lbs. I was fishing a 2 rod set up with pellet/ groundbait feeder and 12mm boilies as hookbaits. It was 4 long hours before I had a bite but it resulted in my 1st double of the season off the Severn at 10lbs 10oz. I was quite possibly the strangest shaped and ugliest barbell I have ever caught. It had a severely ‘broken’ back with the head of a 12lber and tail of a 6lber, very strange. Fought like stink though and went back ok so obviously healthy. That was it for Monday and after a quiet night it was time for a breakfast of sausage and eggs (always tastes better cooked on the bank) washed down with a nice hot cup of tea. Sport was very sporadic throughout Tuesday. I landed a further 2 barbel and dad managed 2 more with us both getting amongst a few bream.<br />Mid afternoon came and it was time to go home so we could avoid the rush hour traffic. We had been bite less for a couple of hours when out of the blue my downstream rod tore off. Lifting into what was obviously a good fish I felt that horrible grating feeling. The fish had found a tree root and after 10 mins of trying everything I could think of the line parted. With the fish long gone the only consolation I could think of was that there wasn’t a barbell swimming round with one of my hooks in its mouth.<br /><br />One week later and I find myself back on the banks of the Severn, alone this time. I decided to fish the same swim as the previous week as it had produced the goods last visit. The level had dropped but it still held some colour so I felt confident a few fish would grace my net. I started by balling 1kg vitalin, 1kg groundbait and 1kg 3mm pellets into my swim which had been doused with a liberal amount of CSL. I again fished a 2 rod set up on the same vein as the previous week. 1st cast and I landed a bream of about 7lbs. It was a full 12hours before I had another bite but at 2am the downstream rod hooped over and the alarm sang. I lifted into what was obviously a barbel and a few minutes later 8lbs of fish lay in my landing net. I would like to say that was one of many but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. I did land one more barbel of about 6lbs and a couple of bream but with the fishing so slow and sporadic I thought it was time to give in and go home. My decision turned out to be the right one, as I was leaving I saw a friend and he fished through the night for 5 bream and it wasn’t until he had been fishing for 24 hours that he landed a barbel.<br /><br />The Severn...................................quite possibly the moodiest river in the county but I shall be back there next week to try again.<br /><br />Thanks for reading<br /><br />Lewis</div>Lewis Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13391846636912059519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333291014761535607.post-80367601816489246642009-07-16T21:57:00.001+01:002009-07-16T22:02:01.394+01:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdJ3TcGxgGTslW-Y8MiYx3djzseqJTXbYfIHjTSy3lsngeK69oobMtR06-467uUdnKg4VEx7bVZ5DKfwETHz08sQK2hxYA5I94Z33tiBqbQoBilfdJDpTPOPHprCocimS3TZzGeKgkM4/s1600-h/Photo005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359165964498790802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdJ3TcGxgGTslW-Y8MiYx3djzseqJTXbYfIHjTSy3lsngeK69oobMtR06-467uUdnKg4VEx7bVZ5DKfwETHz08sQK2hxYA5I94Z33tiBqbQoBilfdJDpTPOPHprCocimS3TZzGeKgkM4/s320/Photo005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Well we are now well into a typical English Summer, we have had the usual week of hot weather and now it’s onto the rain/sun/rain/sun weather that we are all used to at this time of year. The fishing continues to be consistent if not spectacular with me banking a few fish, nothing huge but nice to catch all the same as it keeps the confidence up. The past 8 days has seen me do 4 shortish sessions on the Warks Avon.<br />The 1st of these sessions saw me on the banks for about 7pm, fishing the feeder with lamprey mini mix sandwiched between ground bait and 12mm spiced liver and lamprey boilies as hookbait. I fished through till midnight and caught 6 chub of probably a 3lb average and 1 barbel of 6lbs. The following morning after a few household chores I felt that a few more fish could be had from the previous evenings swim. With the rod still made up and all my gear still in the car I was on the river and fishing in double quick time. Before long I was into the 1st fish of the day, a small chub of about 2lbs. This was followed by a further 3 chub and 1 barbel of 8lbs. Things went quiet early afternoon once the narrow boats got moving so having caught a few fish I packed up at 3 pm and went home.<br />Work then ensued for a few days but it wasn’t long before I was on the riverbank again. The Warks Avon was again the venue. It was originally going to be a small tributary of the Avon but after spending half an hour fighting through undergrowth to get 300 yards then finding myself 20 yards from the river with no way of fighting the brambles or nettles I tracked back and changed venues. I was on the river for late afternoon and again the method of attack was little and often with the feeder to try and build a swim up. I fished on until 11pm and managed to catch 2 barbel, 1 chub and 1 bream. Neither of the barbel were what you would call specimens but both had a good go of relieving me of my rod. The smaller of the 2 being only about 1.5lbs but managing to drag my rod into the river as I put my phone down, my only catching it as the reel hit my knee on its way into the water! The next morning my dad joined me for the day as he doesn’t fish very often. We got on the river for 6am but this time I decided to do things a little differently to try and attract the larger specimens. On arrival I baitdroppered 2 pints of hemp and 1 tin of corn into a margin swim along with a dozen hookbait samples of my chosen boilie. Whilst this was ‘getting to work’ I set my dad’s rod up for him. To give him a chance of catching a variety of species I set him up on a lighter rig that still had enough power in reserve to handle a barbel should he hook one. This involved a barbel quiver tip rod with 4oz insert, 8lb Fox soft steel mainline, 6lb Drennan double strength hooklength and size 12 hook with 2 small salmon Elips pellets as hookbaits, this was fished in conjunction with a pellet/ground bait feeder. This done I was ready to sort my rod out. Today’s rig consisted of a short 6 inch hooklength, semi fixed 2oz lead and a small backlead to pin it all down. At the business end I fished 12mm Spiced Liver and Lamprey boilie with a stringer of the same broken into pieces, the whole lot dunked into a sticky, smelly pot of barbel pro. Throughout the course of the day I managed 3 barbel of 4lbs, 5lbs and 6lbs and 1 chub, Dad had 1 barbel of 2lbs and 1 small chub, the bigger fish unfortunately eluding both of us. It was a thoroughly enjoyable days fishing though with a steady catch rate throughout the day. Back to work for the rest of the week now but the Teme is calling me for next week so hopefully I will come into contact with my 1st ‘Teme Tiger’.<br /><br />Thanks for Reading,<br />Lewis</div>Lewis Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13391846636912059519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2333291014761535607.post-87667373785997825302009-07-12T20:00:00.003+01:002009-07-12T20:03:51.345+01:00The Season So Far 2009-2010<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEChk2JPL7NIeeg8ND6VTt35wcwAWpfqcenlPsZsryRV4vfIAbVze1-wHse5uuYHyIF0FXAosFJSgHb69DsWf_T8t_Lmi81j2ecgY20DyRMyXrHzQbp53dsD7RdMFk-5NuAI6jMMSl-4/s1600-h/IMG_1890.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357651332689520546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEChk2JPL7NIeeg8ND6VTt35wcwAWpfqcenlPsZsryRV4vfIAbVze1-wHse5uuYHyIF0FXAosFJSgHb69DsWf_T8t_Lmi81j2ecgY20DyRMyXrHzQbp53dsD7RdMFk-5NuAI6jMMSl-4/s320/IMG_1890.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpCIy7W6k-_FCS25tl2umaYW7WAx5wXWuU4zsjQ3MFCSd-gSN_6qTyq0sP1OoltvQAqKJyoa7VAA0PkJgfOQU7S4KWIrZZD0K8QhdeBwIW7yxrAPH8kb0HfGVafSufdfrWlBM7HnwuqY/s1600-h/IMG_1858.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357650910873207634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpCIy7W6k-_FCS25tl2umaYW7WAx5wXWuU4zsjQ3MFCSd-gSN_6qTyq0sP1OoltvQAqKJyoa7VAA0PkJgfOQU7S4KWIrZZD0K8QhdeBwIW7yxrAPH8kb0HfGVafSufdfrWlBM7HnwuqY/s320/IMG_1858.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Due to the fact I was suffering from jet lag my season started on the 17th of June this year. After the enforced lay off for 3 months I was raring to go. I was due back at work on the 18th so a short evening session was all I had time for. I arrived on the banks of the Warwickshire Avon at 4:30pm to find the stretch surprisingly deserted giving me free range to choose my swim. In all honesty I knew which swim I was heading for, I was just hoping it was free.<br />I chose to fish 2 rods, 1 down the inside on a semi fixed lead set up, solid PVA bag filled with pellets and crushed boilies and back lead. The 2nd was set up with a free running ground bait/mini pellet feeder fished 2/3 way across the river. Choice of hook bait was Teme Severn boilie on the inside and pellet on the feeder. Plan of attack was to regularly cast the feeder to keep a trail of particles going in and to leave the inside rod till it went (if it did). It wasn’t long before a chub decided to do a good impression of a barbel by trying to drag the pellet rod in. Over the next hour or so a steady stream of chub fell to both rods before it went quiet for a while.<br />All of a sudden the inside rod burst into life and the bait runner sang, dis engaging the bait runner and I was into what felt like a very good fish but it was fighting in a very unfamiliar way. All was soon clear and new PB common carp of 16lb.01 oz was in the net. Rod was back out and before long it was away again this time things took on a familiar feel and my 1st barbel of the season was on the bank and at 10lbs 2oz my 1st double as well. Things were pretty hectic after this and over the next 2 hours I landed a further 3 barbel weighing 8lbs, 10lbs 4oz and 12lbs 12oz, a 10lb common carp and several more chub to 5lb 8oz.<br />All in all I finished the session with 13 x chub, 4 barbel and 2 carp. Every fish apart from a few chub came to Teme Severn Spiced Liver and Lamprey Boilies. The bait I used in the PVA bag was Lamprey Mini Mix, salmon elips of varying sizes and some crushed boilies which matched the hook bait.</div><br /><div><br /><br />The following week saw me make a trip to the Lower Severn on a private stretch I have been a member on for a year or so. Having had a few reports of it fishing very slowly I wasn’t expecting much. I arrived at 6am and chose a swim with depth of around 6 feet a rod length out, clear bottom on the edge of a crease. I had never fished this particular swim before but know people who have and it does produce. I spent an hour or so bait droppering some hemp and pellets in and then left the swim alone for a good 4 or 5 hours. In the meantime I set my rods up, tied rigs and got myself organised for the night ahead.<br />Late afternoon came and it was time to cast out, 1st cast and a snottie of about 6lbs was on the bank ‘oh no’ I thought this is the last thing I want. I had visions of me going home covered in slime and stinking, lol. Thankfully this never happened and unfortunately little else did either. I managed a few fish in the early hours of the morning, another bream a small chub and my 1st Severn barbel of the season of about 7lbs. Not a roaring success but not a blank also and considering a lot of people who had fished it blanked I did ok I think.<br /><br />One week on and I’m back on the Severn again..... For my sins at 6am. It was forecast to be one of the hottest days of the year and they weren’t wrong. I spent some time locating a swim that hadn’t yet been fished, which involved a lot of hard work and bank clearing. Easy when you have the tools but all I had was a pair of ESP braid blades and a small pocket knife! Eventually the peg was clear and I could go about getting a bed of bait down. This took about 4 hours in all and by now the sun was beating down with some force and it was pretty hot. I decided to set up my shelter and retreat under it for a while. I ended up being sat under it for 7 hours! Eventually it cooled enough for me to feel like it was worth fishing. I was fishing 2 rods and both were fished very close in, 1 dropped right off the rod tip 8 inches from the bank. I had chosen to fish boilies again and both rods on the large solid PVA bags. The margins in this swim were about 8 feet deep but a crease hit the bank and went right under my feet so I felt the slightly faster water may hold a few fish. How wrong was I to be? I managed just one bite which resulted in a barbel of about 8lbs being banked. This was at about 10pm and I fished on for a further 12 hours without a single bleep coming from either alarm.<br />This particular venue was very good to me last season and I had some great catches on there. Unfortunately this season so far hasn’t hit those heights as I have had another overnighter there which resulted in not even a single bite (my Dad did manage to lose a near 20lb common carp at the net though). I never fished the Severn until the autumn last season and I think it will be September before I grace the banks at this particular venue again. I have other rivers to fish which don’t fish well in the colder months so will concentrate on them for the next few months.<br /><br />Thanks for Reading,<br /><br />Lewis<br /></div></div>Lewis Baldwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13391846636912059519noreply@blogger.com0