Mrmatthew's 1st river Barbel

[Russell Fitzpatrick]

nice boris matt,looks big! got one bigger than my best by 7oz.

[chavender]

well done ,thats one chunky fish

[The Flying Tench]

I suspect the secret was 2 pints of hemp - I was literally fishing just down of the bridge, so I chucked the lot in from the bridge (a bit easier and more precise than a bait dropper ) I did loose feed some 6mm halibut pellets as well. I had casters and maggots in an open ended feeder to.... Greedy bream a plenty as well!

Well done! How big were the bream?

[Guest Rabbit]

 

Thanks guys...

 

It was caught on two white maggots and one fake one on a size 16 hook, I was using 12lb fluoro as mainline but only 5lb bottom as I wasn't really expecting to get such a fine fish.

 

I suspect the secret was 2 pints of hemp - I was literally fishing just down of the bridge, so I chucked the lot in from the bridge (a bit easier and more precise than a bait dropper ) I did loose feed some 6mm halibut pellets as well. I had casters and maggots in an open ended feeder to.... Greedy bream a plenty as well!

 

Good to see you back Rabbit!

 

Cheers Matt, Sounds like the tactis were spot on. Getting to think that halli pellets are not quite so effective in the colder water. Well anyway I've tied up some rigs tonight and will try Severn Stoke in the morning, will give Pershore a miss 'cos of yet another match on that stretch

[Guest Rabbit]

Well done! How big were the bream?

 

Probably not as big as the ones you caught there John :thumbs:O

 

Shame that big girl didn't show up for us

 

See you Monday on the Kennet

[seph]

Well done Matthew, nice fish.

[Dick Dastardly]

Nice one Mr M, a cracking specimen especially from the Avon.

[Steve Burke]

What a corker, Matthew! Many congratulations!

[peter mccue]

Well done MrM you must be as pleased as punch with a fish like that. Has your smile dimmed at all yet

[Guest Rabbit]

Matt

Had a look on the BAA website yesterday, there a picture of a barbel @ 11lbs 4ozs caught in almost the same area as yours, ( do you recognise the fish?) by an angler that travelled up from the Hants Avon, he said he thought the Warwickshire Avon was better than the Hampshire Avon ...and cheaper. Well thats blown it, wont be able to see the river for floppy hats and camou

 

Look if you find it hard to stop smiling I have the cure, now you have 'cracked' the Avon, why not try the Lower Severn? You can spend a week and be thankful for one bite, but the potential of a big fish is very real.

Well now you have really caught the barbel bug (there is no known cure) you may as well get the biggest floppy hat and concede to the charms of Barbus Barbus