Feeling pretty chuffed with my results on the River Blackwater I decided on a short two hour trip to the River Loddon on my way home from work the next evening.

I made the short walk across the fields and headed to a swim I knew well.  After baiting it with half a tin of Sonubaits Hemp ‘n’ corn and a couple of handfuls of mixed sized halibut pellets I introduced a rig and sat back to wait events.  An hour passed and the line bites started and a confident bite resulted in a chub weighing 5lb 3oz.  I packed up soon after returning the fish and headed off home pleased with my efforts.

The River Blackwater was still firmly on my mind and I headed back to the river however, after a couple of blank evenings I returned with a plumbing rod and found a lovely area of the river that I just knew would produce the goods.  Baiting it for several evenings with Sonubaits hemp ‘n’ corn and halibut pellets I felt confident of action. 

My first two short evening trips both resulted in a blank however, with several line bites and fish rolling nearby I knew my plan was coming together.  I returned Friday evening and baited the swim with 10 bait dropper loads of hemp ‘n’ corn, introduced two rigs and sat back.  Line bites soon started after an hour and a good fish rolled nearby increasing my confidence.  Soon after the upstream rod was nearly pulled from the rests and I good fish was hooked and after a short tussle a good fish was netted.  On parting the mesh I found the hook to be bedded in one of its fins.  The fish was returned straight away, certainly a double.  A rare beast for the River Blackwater.  I couldn’t believe my luck.

I returned the next evening and the session mirrored the first.  Line bites started soon after introducing the feed and a couple of good fish moved nearby.  A short while later the downstream rood pulled over and a lovely River Blackwater barbel weighing around 6lbs was soon being returned.

I couldn’t resist but return for a few hours Sunday evening.  I arrived shortly before dark and repeated the same procedure.  Soon after casting the downstream rod signaled a good bite and after a brilliant fight I netted a good fish, may a double.  I wasn’t disappointed as the scales read 10lb 2oz. 

Over the next couple of weeks I am going to keep concentrating on this intimate river in the hope of more big barbel and chub.