Definitely a slightly better week, weather wise for angling. The early part of the week bought rain, lots of it that eventually put some colour into the rivers. Sunday should have been the best time to be fishing but as this was the first good flush through lots of debris as well as contaminants would have been entering our systems, so I delayed my visit till Monday which coincided with the river fining down.

My timing was correct and at last a bite developed, producing albiet a small barbel of 7lbs 12oz, but at least it was a fish. That evening the first swim produced a few liners but after an hour I moved, fished three more swims before dropping back into the first swim just after dark. The tactic worked as sometimes after dark the fish become that much bolder so never ignore a swim that shows signs, always return at the best time. After the fish I tried another four swims before calling it a day.

Wednesday I met my brother for a few hours during the day, but with high pressure across the south the best time would definitely be dusk so fishing from 10am to 4pm, I wasn’t that surprised not to tempt a take, although took some confidence that most of the eight swims fished were all new ones. Kevin fared slightly better with a 4lbs 13oz chub, however he was kicking himself for missing a barbel bite whilst away from his rods.

Thursday I took a trip down into West Sussex and strolled along the tidal Arun trying to familiarise myself with the venue in order to produce a feature next week. Normally I would be fishing Thursday evening but with the first ground frost thought I'd leave it till Friday when I would go out and not allow myself home until a fish was caught, sometimes you have to push yourself that bit further!
 
Friday came and although the conditions were far from ideal had to get back to the river in search of a monster barbel and luck was on my side at last. The first swim I dropped into was the one that produced the small barbel earlier in the week, and again the signs were there. After an hour I moved upstream to a swim that has supplied the odd very big fish in the past but has loads of weed and a good drop sometimes can’t be found. The first cast felt soft so after fifteen minutes decided to have another go and at long last the lead bumped heavily on landing. Ten minutes later saw my hand grip the rod but as a sharp bang was encountered plus the odd tremor indicating a liner. Soon after an epic battle proceeded, only for a couple of minutes but this was the fight of all fights, testing my tackle to its limits. Eventually a huge barbel surfaced and dropped into the waiting net.

At 16lbs 7oz not quite a personal best, but by God it felt like one. My target weight for the season is 17lbs plus, so with a fish so close, so early, its time to look for a big perch with the hope of achieving my target at the back end of the season.
 
The barbel fell to a slightly different approach, firstly the rig consisted of incorporating a Korum Line Aligner as well as a size ten Korum S5 hook. The lead was covered with some Sonubaits crushed Halibut Pellet, which held a few hookbait, samples. Hookbait was two size 10mm boilies, which were covered in a paste, made of the same and the whole lot was dropped in a strong dip for added attractant.

16lbs 7oz