Monday 19th August river Wye with Shaun and his Merry Xmas party

Shaun’s partner had bough him a guiding day as a Xmas present. His goal was  to catch a barbel as he had never caught one before.

We met at 6am and travelled to the beat arriving at 7am. I had looked at the EA level for the Wye before setting off as they had some rain during the previous few days around the west midlands and sure enough the river had risen 1 mtr but had dropped back to 30cm above normal level. There was the red colour which is associated with flood water coming in from the river Lugg.

We fished the normal Hinder ground bait with the large elips pellets.

Rods were fox 2.25lb t/c and 12lb line. Feeders ranged between 90-70g.

It was about 8am before we were fishing. It had taken a while for me to get along the very steep gradient. I didn’t want to do too much more damage to my calf muscle. The day started with 3 chub to 4lbs 5oz which smashed Shaun’s pb.

4lbs 6oz chub

Soon though Shaun hooked into his very first barbel, not a monster but one of 4lbs that really pulled the rod around in the flow.

First barbel ever

Now Shaun is a large lad who has play rugby as a forward and even this small barbel pulled his arms a little. Shaun did a great first for me he only landed a feeder and a pb for him at 60g.

This feeder didn’t fight very well!

Soon we had a few more barbel with the largest being a very respectable 8lbs 6oz

8lbs 6oz barbel

The barbel and chub kept coming out at regular intervals and a couple of barbel were lost due to the braid being cut on the sharp boulders.

Hang in there Shaun

Play it Shaun

Then 4 came along in an hour with the largest being an even better fish of 8lbs 15oz, sorry Shaun couldn’t make it a 9lber but that’s the next visit.

Shaun and 8lbs 15oz barbel

Another 4lb plus chub plus a couple of other barbel graced the net. We really thought the last couple of hours would see many more chub and barbel but they just stopped feeding.

Still 9 chub and 9 barbel was a great days fishing.

We kept saying that it was very warm for Xmas!!!!!!

Thanks Shaun for a cracking days fishing.

Just think what a great birthday and Xmas present it is to give an angler, a days fishing guiding.