I had decided to fish the Arley stretch of the Severn, on the BAA card, with the intention of fishing the Harbour inn stretch. Unfortunately I got a bit lost and ended up in Highley so I thought I would fish the bottom end of the Hampton Loade section, however when I approached the Colliery Bridge car park I saw a police helicopter over the river and several police cars heading towards the river. It turned out that they were looking for someone who had gone missing, so I hightailed it out of there and ended up at Coombys farm at Stanley. Later I found out that it was an old man who had gone missing, I had assumed that it was a bad guy!!!
I walked along the stretch, initially I was not impressed, and thought about going on to the Harbour Inn stretch, until I found the only other angler on the stretch who was fishing the waggler. He put me on to a good swim so off I went to get my tackle. It was also my first chance to try out my new Korum Tripod, Christmas pressy from my wife, it worked out really once I figured out how to set it up!
I set up my 1.5 GTx with 10lb mainline, drennan blocked feeder and a size 14 drennan super spade to 6lb mono. First cast out to mid river with maggots on the hook and a bite within 3 mins....barbel on...then off!! Snapped hooklink. Next cast I tried 8lb mono with size 14 barbel super specialist hook....same result..snapped again. Next cast I tried a 10lb braid hooklink with a maggot clip..same result...snapped again Bait used was dead maggots, gassed with AB's flavouring and live maggots for the feeder flavoured with AB's flavouring.
I finally got the second rod out, 1.75 GTx with 10lb mainline, 12lb ESP coated braid and S12 Korum S5 hook with an Atlantic Heat boilie and paste wrap. After the 3 quick snaps on the maggot rod all went quiet for an hour or so until the boilie rod goes off....8lb 8oz barbel in the net...lovely fish..photo taken by some people passing by. This was the only bite on the boilie rod all day..tried Monster Crab boilies & large Halibut Pellet all to no avail.
Another quiet spell finally broken by a chub on maggots 3lb ish on drennan size 14 wide gape hook & 8lb mono, trying to but a bite, a 5lb barb quickly followed...I was pleased to land it on the hooklink. Next up was a PB chub of 5lb 2oz, I thought it was a small barb until I saw it...Nice condition fish, stuffed with maggots, took a couple of photos with it in the net then I slipped down the bank into the river whilst trying to put the fish back in, water up to my waist, bait all over the place and fish gone. Managed to drag myself out of the drink, fortunately I had some spare clothes and wellies in the car so I got changed and continued.
Another couple of chub, about 3lb ish, followed in quick sucession, then normal service..barbel on...snapped hooklength. Tried a size 14 BSS on 9lb Fluoro with no luck so switched to a size 14 specialist wide gape & 10lb braid, short while later and I am into a big fish, very worried about the hook!! What a fish a new PB of 10lb 14oz..immaculate condition. Couldn't find anyone to take a photo and whilst setting up a self take the camera crashes...'zoom error' No further action so I packed up at 18.15, what a day two PB,s...3 Barbel & 2 Chub and a pile of wet clothes!
I definitely will be back but would like to try the waggler, the guy who was fishing had upwards of 15 chub and 10 barbs on the float, all on maggot, feeding maggots, hemp & casters. Can't wait until my next trip out!!!
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