Something great and then something sad.

My mate Alan from Bedfordshire has been amongst the barbel and chub this year and has started his predator season with his mate Colin.

Alan was after pike and Colin was looking at perch. And Colin certainly found a beauty one of 4lbs 3oz, what a great fish.

Colin and his 4lbs 3oz perch

What a lovely perch. It will get much larger towards March. He also had some others just under 2lbs.

Alan caught a couple of small pike.

I’m looking forward to fishing with both Alan and Colin the week after next on the Lower Itchen fishery. Tony Upjohn who I fished with on the Wye in September will be travelling down with me. I’m hoping that the grayling will play their part for the day.

On a sad note there are precious few double figure barbel on the Bristol Avon and now there is one less. Nick and Steve who I guided a few weeks back sent me a photo of a barbel that had met it’s end. It looks like an otter had the last word.

Still people stick their heads in the sand and say there is no problem with otters on rivers. Well just wait until their river is destroyed by these things. Why is it most of the commercial fisheries on the Somerset levels have had to put up otter fences to protect their living.

There is a programme on BBC west on the 21st of November where Martin Bowler and others argue the case. Hats off to them for doing this. The programme is called Inside out West which goes out at 7pm ish. Those of you with extra channels might just be able to get it through your TV.

The problem though is that the damage has been done!

Dead barbel

I hope that many of you don’t come across this sight.