open season.

I started the new season with a short session on the upper reaches of the Avon.  barbel could be seen in the swim, not big, but the target species,  A few hours later one picked up my artificial casters and I had my first barbel of the season.  Maybe 4lb but a start, and better than lots of blanks I've suffered on previous opening days.

                                                             First day barbel 2011
Today I went back for an afternoon session.  Again with casters/hemp and I hoped my previous bait dropping would have got their taste buds working.  Sure enough, between the rain showers [and storms] I caught a further three barbel to about 6lb and five chub to about 3lb.  I had forgot just how much barbel can pull, even these little ones put a nice bend in a 1.5lb test rod - I look forward to the bigger one pulling it round.  :)

                                                           Typical of chub caught.

                                                                        heavy rain as well