Blogs

Autumn Harvest of Golden Barbel

I was up and about this morning far earlier than I needed or indeed, wanted to be. I had awoken in that comfortable snuggled state when you know you still have a good hour or so lounging time before the alarm clock will sound. But then my brain kicked in thinking back over this last week-end, for the gods of Sir Izaak had done so much more than smile upon me. They had rewarded me richly with a bumper crop of golden autumn barbel. I couldn’t turn my brain off so it was to be an early rise and soon the tea pot was mashing my favourite Assam/Earl Grey blend. I glanced at the pictures again and really couldn’t believe how incredibly fortunate I had been with my timing. If the truth be told it wasn’t really any sort of judged timing, it was pure fate and poor carp catching conditions mixed with a bit of idleness and lack of motivation that had me fishing for the barbel this weekend.

Traditional Angling on a Glorious Autumn Day

It is nice once in a while to be able to angle with people we haven’t or rarely get to fish with.

I guess I must have known Bob Brookes for 30 odd years now after swapping many a brown paper bag of fishing tackle for his hard earned, for many years before his retirement. I guess a lot of the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire based anglers used the tackle shop for a little lunchtime therapy after a gruelling morning at work.

I always enjoyed serving Bob, his cheerful face would brighten many a day and one of the minority you could enjoy a sensible relaxed conversation with.

Hang on a minute, time to change tract, it’s starting to sound like a obituary and after watch Bob stomp across the fields the other day with a full pack, shortly after a session in the gym, this is far from being a obituary.

Snippets from my Diary – The first 6 months of 2015

Well, last night I sat down and read through the first 6 months diary entries I have made this year and it hit home once again the amount of joy and pleasure being alongside water out there in the great outdoors brings to me. So, I thought I would share a few of these moments, as we pass through the changing seasons.

Braddock’s Sugar and Spice for Tench

Targeting a silty gulley on 15 acre lake over three separate two night sessions spread over a six week period the approach was to use maggots enhanced with Braddock’s Sugar Spice additive over a bed of scalded pellet and hemp. Action was not necessarily instant as the fish generally took a few hours to home in on the bait, but once they arrived they stayed. I don’t like to be shy with bait at this time of year and typically use 7 pints of maggots and 4 kilos of spod mix over the 48 hour session.

Chub, barbel, carp and things you forget about – as well as my money saving blog of the day.

I was sorting my gear out last night for a spot of chub fishing and found the block of Plasticine I used to use and to be honest I had forgotten how useful it is and for how many different jobs I used to use it for.

Snow Carp and consistent festive action

Well, it was a rather mixed period for me whilst away from the office for the annual festive break. I started off fishing for the barbel in the mild conditions leading to Christmas day and was fortunate enough to net myself a couple of nice fish but these faded into insignificance by Ron Key’s 14.06 as reported in the last of the 2014 reports. It truly was a pleasure to see and photograph this fish, which fell to the Questrami.

Making your own 'Special Hook Baits'

Here is a little tip for those of you wishing to produce something unique to you and customise your hook baits, plus a real quick and easy way of preparing ‘wafters’ (slow sinking hook baits) or pop-ups.

It is a method I first used on the bank when I felt I needed a hook bait acting differently to what I had at my disposal and since then I have found myself using the method more and more.

Obviously you are also able to add your own little extras this way too.

The Week-End Dilemma of an All Round Angler

Most will know me as a carp angler, but in reality I see myself very much as an all rounder. There are few weeks that pass by where I can’t be found at some stage of the week fishing for something other than carp. I might have slipped out after dark in pursuit of chub or barbel, I might have decided to grab a couple of hours to trot a float down a river or I may have decided to spend the last few moments of daylight trying to entice a perch.

Simple Barbel Feeder Mix

Spurred on by watching Ron Key catching barbel on the Questrami I thought it about time I prised myself away from my two favourite barbel baits Rahja Spice and Absolute Seafood.

Making the most of very little time (sorting your gear out)

I have to smile to myself, I have just read a message on facebook which has prompted this Blog. Someone was saying how good it looked for a fish at the moment but they haven’t got a day off for another week.

Well, do you really need a day off?