Paul and Geoff on the river Wye

I had a 2 day session with Paul and Geoff. The river Wye had turned a horrible brown colour which was from an algae bloom. Now these gents have been guided by me for a good number of years.

Paul brings all his own tackle as does Geoff. They tend to use their own baits which is fine but the pellet approach is the one that outscores all other baits early in the season.

Both were using boilies and struggling to buy a bite. I suggested to Geoff that he should try a pellet and see what happens. This is after 2 hrs of blanking by the both of them. Sure enough he changed and so did his luck. First a string of chub came along then 5 barbel which he was very pleased with. I put together another rod for Paul to fish with pellet. Very quickly we were landing barbel and chub on this rod, however the boilie rod was motionless. Even the Hinders pellet dumbbell didn’t earn a bite.

The next day we went off and fished another area and again after 2 hrs nothing came along. So Geoff moved to the swim he fished yesterday and Paul was going to move at 1pm to join him. Paul had one bite and landed a lovely barbel of 8lbs 8oz but nothing else came along. So we moved to Geoff’s swim where there was sufficient for 2 to fish. Paul remained on his boilie and dumbbell approach while Geoff continued with the pellet and feeder approach and caught about 5 more barbel and a few chub.

I’ve given up trying to persuade Paul to change his approach. Even he said he was obstinate and will use his own baits.

As they say you can take a horse to water but can’t make him drink.

It was really great to see them again. We all lamented about loosing poor old Jeff and the 2 of them said they both miss him.