The River Angler

Monday 25th June dawned somewhat overcast but dry at least.  More heavy rain had fallen over the weekend and we wasn’t quite sure what to expect on arrival in Ross-on-Wye for our 5 days annual pilgrimage to this stunning part of the country.  We always look forward to our visits to the Wye both summer and winter but I do particularly enjoy the summer months here chasing barbel (the local girls are just too damn quick for me!)

After the usual tedious drive up, we finally arrived around lunchtime.  After setting up the caravan and awning and sorting out all of the paraphernalia that one seems to take on holiday, it was time to see the river.  It was as expected, up and coloured.  We were used to it, so it wasn’t going to be the end of the world.  We soon settled into some likely looking spots and after a few preliminary casts around to check on the river bed, we started to fish.

Spamalot ready for action

Things were a little slow but I felt I was in a good fish holding area.  It was just a few yards below a salmon croy, which was now submerged under the heavy, coloured waters of the Wye.  However after a couple of biteless hours, it was obvious that either no fish were present or they just were not interested.  I opted to move upstream and soon Kevin (who had headed upstream from the off) was reporting landed barbel.  Upstream the river is deeper and slower.  The margins offer enticing deep runs and it was to be these areas I was to target next.

Dan soon reported a barbel, shortly followed by Geoff.  I remained not only fishless but biteless too.   Still I was really happy with a new swim and decided to sit it out for the remainder of the session.  I was fishing a fairly standard Wye method: a 3oz open cage feeder (Andrew Witham’s from cagefeeders.com) packed with pellet and groundbait, a 3 foot Camfusion hook length, 10 hook and double elips pellet (either medium or large).  Mainline was 11lb Kryton Snide, which so far has proven to be very reliable.

Wye Barbel

It didn’t take too long for the rod top to whack round and the first Wye barbel of the new season graced the net.  Two more were to follow, but after receiving some rather sad news on the Sunday night, my heart wasn’t in it and so as the light was beginning to fade I opted for an early night.  So I packed up and wandered back to the caravan for a cuppa with Dan who had already called it a day.  Geoff and Kevin arrived back a short while later having had some pretty good results.  Kevin had 8 barbel and Geoff 7.  We enjoyed another cup of tea and a chat before tiredness overwhelmed me and I headed to the pit known as my bed.  “To die, to sleep.  To sleep, perchance to dream: ay there’s the rub, for in that sleep of death what dreams may come……..”