UKCF Anglers.

[Simon Bolivar]

Sad news indeed Gav, water companies getting away to far too much & still getting bonuses. Big sewage leak was reported on the Hants Avon last week as well. Southern Water.

[gav_sw20]

Looks like all is not lost.

FINALLY had a barbel off a syndicate stretch I joined last season.

Went down Thursday evening and fished a swim but there was very little flow and I left about 8:30. Thought I’d check out a swim (where my mate had one last week) on the way back to the car and threw in x6 home-made boilies and then cast out with x2 pellets glued to a hair.

Saw a massive swirl on the water surface and no more than 5-mins later the rod wrapped around and I was finally into a barbel.

Didn’t bother weighing it but it was a good size and will fill out nicely over winter.

3502269B-643B-41BB-9B6A-4F25EE2A4576.jpg

[gav_sw20]

And another one last night which I did weigh at 9lb 10oz:

A2478931-0555-4AB2-8925-36D82E874445.jpg

[oskihen]

And another one last night which I did weigh at 9lb 10oz:

A2478931-0555-4AB2-8925-36D82E874445.jpg

That's a lovely fish

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[Simon Bolivar]

Excellent effort Gav! I didn't get out at all this leave, which is a shame. I was hoping to have a go for them myself but will have to wait until Sept now.

[gav_sw20]

Excellent effort Gav! I didn't get out at all this leave, which is a shame. I was hoping to have a go for them myself but will have to wait until Sept now.

Thanks, IMO September is the best time for Barbel / big Chub as the river should be at a perfect level and should have had a bit of rain / colour on it.

Let me know when you go and I’ll make you up some of my homemade boilies that look to be working well and post some out to you.

[Simon Bolivar]

Thanks, IMO September is the best time for Barbel / big Chub as the river should be at a perfect level and should have had a bit of rain / colour on it.

Let me know when you go and I’ll make you up some of my homemade boilies that look to be working well and post some out to you.

Cheers, apprecite the offer.

[Drewster]

Had a few hours on a local lake caught a few carp, roach and bream but this was probably the nicest specimen of the day not huge but a nice fish none the less no smokes as it was a wet day lol.

PXL_20230806_132950803~2.jpg

[Simon Bolivar]

Had a few hours on a local lake caught a few carp, roach and bream but this was probably the nicest specimen of the day not huge but a nice fish none the less no smokes as it was a wet day lol.

PXL_20230806_132950803~2.jpg

Nice Mirror, weather really is crap for August, don't worry we are off on a cruise on 26th so weather in UK bound to be good for a fortnight at least!

[Drewster]

Nice Mirror, weather really is crap for August, don't worry we are off on a cruise on 26th so weather in UK bound to be good for a fortnight at least!

Yeah it's usually nicer weather by now but it won't stop me fishing it's only a bit of water hoping for a nice day on Wednesday as I will be going somewhere new with 30+lb carp and MONSTER catfish last one caught was 51lb

[Simon Bolivar]

Yeah it's usually nicer weather by now but it won't stop me fishing it's only a bit of water hoping for a nice day on Wednesday as I will be going somewhere new with 30+lb carp and MONSTER catfish last one caught was 51lb

I have never hooked, let alone landed a Cat, sounds challenging, let us know if you catch one.

[Drewster]

I have never hooked, let alone landed a Cat, sounds challenging, let us know if you catch one.

I'm in the same boat, I have never actually fished for Cats main aim is for carp BUT I will set a line for some cats if one decides to take my bait happy days.

[Drewster]

Not big carp or cats today but I did get a very unexpected catch PXL_20230809_125348430~2.jpg

[Simon Bolivar]

Hi Drewster, caught your Jack's granny!

Had a few blanks since returning from the rig 7th Oct. Both the Stour & Avon have been in flood for a fortnight, the water on tge banks is knee high.

Finally fixed the holes in my thigh waders & went for it, trekking down to the furthest swim. A small bay, out of the flow, know to produce for other in he past but despite fishing there many times, never caught.

This time, the flood & high tide gave this plenty of depth & thought it worth spending a whole day there, if nothing there at the start, they could arrive after feeding in the main flow.

Having cast out a whole Joey, to the nearest edge to the upstream flow, I tried to tighten up & clip into my drop back indicator but it kept pulling out. I initially thought it was the current, but taking hold of the line, it was pulling through my fingers. As it was a large bait, I counted 10 & wound down, to meet solid resistance. I nearly had it too the net in a couple of mins & I was thinking 7-10pbs. Then it woke up & shot out across the bay & into some reeds. Patience paid off & I winkled it out & it still scrapped & I actually checked it was my 2.75tc rod & not the 2.5tc.

As the bank was flooded, & having left my tripod çonnector in the car, I just shot it in the net. Shame, but it went 17lb 08 & 95cms.

My 1st Pike of the season & only my 2nd since my 21lb'er, on the same stretch on my birthday last December.

I lit up a Belinda Princess '99, a brilliant wee MM. With coffee & a stickie.

I stuck it out until 14:00, hoping I could catch another, as I have never had x2 upper dbles in a day. Having come expecting to stay all day, having forgotten my seat, my back could take standing up any longer.

Back home & I took the last stick from the top layer of my Dec 2002 Cohiba Seleccion box, a Reserva CE. Enjoyed with Leffe Blonde & a dram of Bushmills. The smoke was divine - they are getting milder/smoother IMHO: enjoyed in the Boli' Lounge.

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[gav_sw20]

Hi Drewster, caught your Jack's granny!

Had a few blanks since returning from the rig 7th Oct. Both the Stour & Avon have been in flood for a fortnight, the water on tge banks is knee high.

Finally fixed the holes in my thigh waders & went for it, trekking down to the furthest swim. A small bay, out of the flow, know to produce for other in he past but despite fishing there many times, never caught.

This time, the flood & high tide gave this plenty of depth & thought it worth spending a whole day there, if nothing there at the start, they could arrive after feeding in the main flow.

Having cast out a whole Joey, to the nearest edge to the upstream flow, I tried to tighten up & clip into my drop back indicator but it kept pulling out. I initially thought it was the current, but taking hold of the line, it was pulling through my fingers. As it was a large bait, I counted 10 & wound down, to meet solid resistance. I nearly had it too the net in a couple of mins & I was thinking 7-10pbs. Then it woke up & shot out across the bay & into some reeds. Patience paid off & I winkled it out & it still scrapped & I actually checked it was my 2.75tc rod & not the 2.5tc.

As the bank was flooded, & having left my tripod çonnector in the car, I just shot it in the net. Shame, but it went 17lb 08 & 95cms.

My 1st Pike of the season & only my 2nd since my 21lb'er, on the same stretch on my birthday last December.

I lit up a Belinda Princess '99, a brilliant wee MM. With coffee & a stickie.

I stuck it out until 14:00, hoping I could catch another, as I have never had x2 upper dbles in a day. Having come expecting to stay all day, having forgotten my seat, my back could take standing up any longer.

Back home & I took the last stick from the top layer of my Dec 2002 Cohiba Seleccion box, a Reserva CE. Enjoyed with Leffe Blonde & a dram of Bushmills. The smoke was divine - they are getting milder/smoother IMHO: enjoyed in the Boli' Lounge.

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

Great summary Simon. Can’t beat a days angling and a decent smoke.

I’m hoping to get on the river soon now it’s dropped, getting bloody cold now though.