UKCF Anglers.

[gav_sw20]

Excellent result! I said this time last year, I was going to try & catch my first Barbel, never got to try. So I am making that target again for 26/27.


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Give us a shout and we’ll head to the Severn.

[Simon Bolivar]

Forgot to post these.

Had a day down the Severn just before the season ended.

I'd had nothing all morning and literally lit a cigar and the rod bent over double…typical !!!

Excellent result! I said this time last year, I was going to try & catch my first Barbel, never got to try. So I am making that target again for 26/27.


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[gav_sw20]

Forgot to post these.

Had a day down the Severn just before the season ended.

I'd had nothing all morning and literally lit a cigar and the rod bent over double…typical !!!

[Simon Bolivar]

Part 2: cigar was bl**dy strong! For a morning smoke anyway. Coffee & lucky Saint 0%.
Nothing else until 16:30, had a really good run, but didn't connect.

17:25 a bleep, another, wound down & stuck into a nice dble, as dusk fell.

A darn good day.

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[Simon Bolivar]

Out today at Spinnaker again, my first run was within 5mins of casting out a sardine. Nice start & I have a chunky N.C. with me to smoke a little later. Drizzling on & off but I have my shelter up so smoking shouldn't be a problem.

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[Simon Bolivar]

My fourth session this year & finally a fish! I smoked this excellent SLR ER Alemaina '23 (actually released 2025), my last from my S.S. in the morning, as rain expected later.

I was surprised by it's strength, I wouldn't age these, just smoke'm whilst their this good! Thanks again to my generous benefactor.

Had a run at 09:30, felt the fish for a few seconds & then it slipped the hooks. Always tough to miss one after a series of blanks. So recast & hoped it was really hungry it would be back.

Had to wait until 15:00 & same rod away again, this time set the hook well & after a brief scrap, a 12lb 10 was landed.

17:00 saw a 7lb 08 landed to make the brace. Despite keeping all our gear dry, in my mates shelter all day, throughout the persistent showers, we hoped to get it packed away dry but as we packed up another shower, of course the heaviest of the day & had the drag of drying everything at home but of course that didn't take the shine off my day.. 😊

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[Simon Bolivar]

Finally, finally I had a red letter day o n the riverbank. My session session since my Op & recent back pain.

Had to visit the tackle shop first to get a new seasonal ticket for Ringwood A.C. now I am a Senior, had to provide proof I had received the State pension & pay £40 joining fee, even though I a member but had 3wks between my ticket expiring & being eligible for the seniors. Bug*ers would budge, even though tge rules state you can join within 4wks of expiring & not paying joining fees.

Anyway, headed straight for the Old Weir, hoping to be the first & get the best swim. Well getting the ticket delayed my arrival, having to wait for the shop to open. I was the forth vehicle to arrive, 2 guys jumped in my intended swim, 2 mins before I dragged all my kit there. I took the second best swim, which is next door, with the intention if they moved on.

I pulled out the net that my mate Steve, had left previous evening with a dozen LB. 09:00, I caught the first fish of the day, a 10lber on a Rudd DB, my first on DB from the weir, where they massively prefer lives.

Second fish was mine too, a 6lb jack on Roach LB.

Steve arrived around 11:00 & set up in the corner swim.

Those in the No1 swim did indeed have the biggest fish of the day, a 21lb 13oz on Roach LB. He had waited until '96 to catch his first twenty so I could hardly begrudge him, what would have been my 4th.

I celebrated my brace with a Monte Open Master, my first Open. One of the cigars I was given at the Partagas Festival. Matched with a 0% lager. Not bad at all.

13:30 I hooked into a lump, felt good, netted on the second attempt, went 16lb 02, my best since a twenty Boxing Dsy 2023.

We stayed until until dark but despite plenty of crashing & fry jumping, we didn't catch any more.

Will celebrate more tomorrow!




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[Simon Bolivar]

I always go fishing Boxing Day, 2yrs ago catching a 20lb 1oz beast from the Avon.
Last yr on the rig, this year & retired, I fully expected to be out there today. However, mother asked that we stay overnight so she wouldn't be alone.

Just got home in time for lunch & my fishing buddy sent me this pic, a 20lb'er that he caught this morning. Of course if h ad been with him as initially planned, he'd still probably been the one to catch it but at least I could have witnessed it & taken a decentbpic!

Oh well, at least it's another know 20, gives me confidence I still might get one this season, so far still struggling to get my first dble.

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[Simon Bolivar]

Wow, that cat would eat my best pike this season as a snack before it's main course of 10lb+carp! Good luck & enjoy the rest of your fishy hols.

[gav_sw20]

Had three of these yesterday and lost 4 other fish.

Amazon Redtail Catfish.

[Simon Bolivar]

Come to Thailand for two weeks and visiting Jurassic for 6-days fishing over the Xmas period. Will post some photos over the next few days (hopefully.

I’ve lost an Arapaima my last two lyrics here so I’m hoping for a third time lucky.

Good luck Gav, look fwd to seeing your pic's!

[gav_sw20]

Come to Thailand for two weeks and visiting Jurassic for 6-days fishing over the Xmas period. Will post some photos over the next few days (hopefully.

I’ve lost an Arapaima my last two lyrics here so I’m hoping for a third time lucky.

[Simon Bolivar]

Update: Today's the 'traditional' start of the Pike season & I was at the gate by 06:30, for a 07:30 start. Big queue to get in & a scramble to get a decent swim. A couple of our Eastern European members jumped the official start & grabbed the swim I wanted (as members, they do put the fish back but will cast into your swim - from both sides). I bided my time in the next swim, knowing these guys would soon be on the move. 20mins later, they indeed moved on, having thrashed te swim with lures & flies. Undaunted, I moved in & cast my own lures.

I always carry 2 rods, one a light spinning rod, the other a med heavy jerkbait rod. The water is still very low for this time of yr but better than just a fortnight ago. And the recent rain has tinged it slightly. I tried a wee plastic jerkbait with a rattle, one I found with rusted hooks, changed them yesterday for a fresh set & thought the lucky find might lead to my first fish. Frankly, as the first guy in the queue said to me this morning, I just need one to make the opening day a success, I agreed.

Despite its wicked action, no joy. I tried a small spinner, thinking even though some were chucking 120gm rubber lures, a smaller, lighter approach should pay off on such a narrow beat. Ha! Nope, only when I switched to an 8" + rubber tail jerkbait did I get a hit! And a great take it was too; took line off my multipier, which has a firmly tightened clutch. A lean, strong fish weighing in just under the double figure. Chuffed, success by 08:00.

I moved on & 50mins later, had another on an inline spinnerbait, approx 5lb jack. Both fish fell to lures I hadn't caught on before - which is always nice, after carrying them around for several yrs.

Went back to the carp park to pick up my & coffee, when to my disappointment, I found I'd left my cigars at home! Will have to celebrate this afternoon.

Had a further take, stole the rubber tail of my jointed lure, didn't even feel it. There be monsters!
Anyone out there today?

[Simon Bolivar]

The Hants Avon & the Dorest Stour both hold decent numbers of barbel from a couple of pounds to 17lb+. Both avail on day ticket. I'll give you a shout if I actually catch one & water levels & weed are good.

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[gav_sw20]

Sounds like a cra king good time. Looking for my first Barbel this season.

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I’ll definitely return later in the season when the weathers more suited for fishing.

Not long until the rivers open up, does your local river have many Barbel in do you know ?

I’ve got a River Wye book this year with HDAA as I’m bored of only catching two fish a season on my local stretch of the Warks Avon. I’m allowed x4 guests a season and you’d be more than welcome to join me if you’d like.