Following an unsuccessful luring trip yesterday on the ouse I took some time out to have a good long look at some likely looking Barbel swims as I was going to have a go for them the next day (Today).
After spotting dozens of roving chub swimming up and down the streamer lined gravel bars I spotted a much larger, slightly lighter in colour shaped fish, which of course turned out to be a nice sized barbel. Its been hard enough spotting them the last year or two but as long as you can find them you can catch them!
I turned up at the same swim the next day loaded with a couple of rods and other essential items. The swim I chose was a real hit and hold type swim, snags everywhere and I had to keep hidden behind overhanging trees as I was only fishing a rod length or so out.
The swim was again teeming with Chub and as I sat back and waited I was convinced the first fish would be a chub, I hadn't caught a glimpse of a Barbel in the swim yet but would be satisfied with a decent chub to kick the season off with.
Twenty minutes or so later when I wasn't paying much attention my rod swerved to the left and I was in. It felt big straight away but assumed it was a chub as it made a dash for cover. Luckily I had remembered to set the clutch perfectly and I could control the fish enough to keep it away from any nearby obstacles. After a while the fish tired and it wasn't long before I saw the Barbel coming towards me on the surface. I was very surprised as I didn't expect to catch one this year let alone in the first 20 minutes of trying for one.
7lb 11 oz of Beautiful Great Ouse Barbel and one very happy Fisherman!
Top angling...I'm off for a session tomorrow to try out my new rod that I found on a train in the pyrenees
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