The Sessions - July 2017

Barbel and blanking for Perch

1 July 2017 – River Derwent

I drove up the M1 late afternoon arriving in the carpark to find it empty which immediately lifted my spirits. There had been lots of rain the previous week, the level was up but it was still its normal tinge of coffee colour. It was warm and sunny at 23 degrees with cloudy spells so it looked promising for a good session.

I made the 500 yard walk up the field and dropped in my first choice swim for a 19:15 hours start. I baited two lines with my pellet mix and a few broken Pandemic, one in the right hand margin, the other two thirds of the way across sat back with Talk Sport on the radio and relaxed. I written before about the Derwent but it is a special place and my favourite river, I just love being there.

By midnight I’d had two Chub and an 8plus Barbel with bites coming on both lines, after each fish I trickled a few broken boilies over the spot.

01:20 hours – the left hand rod slammed over and this one pulled back fighting really hard in the extra water, eventually it went in the net at 10-08.

02:05 hours – the left hand rod smashed over again, I don’t think I’ll ever bore of a Barbel take its so exciting; this was another good fish at 12-07.

02:30 hours – the pva bag must have only just melted when the rod slammed over again, they were really on the Pandemic, and this was another double at 11-08.

It went quiet after the last fish so I caught up with some sleep and got up at 07:30 to start to pack up for the drive home. Almost everything was on the barrow when the same rod slammed over again, what a great way to finish a good trip with another at 10-08.

4&6 July 2017 – River Ouse

I fished two overnight sessions on the Ouse getting up at 05:00 for work each time. The level was very low and the weather hot and muggy so I wasn’t expecting much and I wasn’t wrong with only an Eel that came off

8 July 2017 – River Derwent

It had been really hot all week up to 29 degrees and the forecast for the weekend was the same with hot days and no rain. To my surprise Julie decided she wanted to go fishing to see what it was all about, this was the perfect time to take her and the Derwent the perfect place so the car was loaded and off up the M1 we went.

The conditions looked good, warm with cloud cover which was good as I wanted Julie to see a good Barbel on the bank. We got to the river and made the 500 yard walk down the field and I set the swim up. Typically she had bright clothing on so had strict instructions to stand well back from the margin, once I had the shelter up and the bedchairs set up I got her nicely tucked away so I could start fishing.

Once the rigs and bait were out we had a lovely picnic and a bottle of Rose with the Saturday night radio on quiet, I’ve got to say we both loved it and it was nice way to spend a Saturday evening.

22:45 hours – we sat chatting watching the rods when the left hand rod slammed over, as I picked up I knew it was a good one and the fight was epic. There is a lot of streamer weed in the swim and it used it to full effect. Julie was so excited it was hilarious; she couldn’t believe how much the rod bent. Eventually I got the fish out the weed only for it to fly under a dead tree in the margin, oh great I thought, it looked like I was going in when it popped out and on the surface, Julie threw me the net and I scooped it up and it looked big!! I wasn’t wrong, it went 13-03 and was very long, and a big winter fish I think.

04:05 hours – it took ages for another take which surprised me, the margin rod went and it was obviously a Chub but a nice one at 5-01.

05:10 hours – it was light and I thought that may be it when the margin rod smashed over and it flew downstream, I landed it some 50 yards down and somehow got it over the weed bed but it was worth it at 10-11.

That was the end of the action and we packed up after breakfast and headed home. Well Julie loved it and wants to go again, let’s see how she fairs in the cold…..

10 July 2017 – Bedfordshire Reservoir

I got access to Beds Farm Reservoir a couple of years ago and had looked at it a few times but not given it a go. The farmer put some of the netted Pike and Perch in there years ago from Grafham to keep the Frogs and Tadpoles down as they were blocking the water pump. Each time I looked it was full of weed and I didn’t see anything to inspire me.

I was in my local tackle shop and got the nod from the farmer that someone had fished it and had a big Perch, now obviously my ears pricked up but rumours are rumours so you are never sure.

I got a key and decided I’d give it a go with lures first as I could cover most of it in an afternoon. Well I did three hours with spinners, the good old reliable Ondex size 4 and caught 7 Pike to low doubles, this was a surprise as we didn’t think there would be any left. But no Perch were caught so a return trip was planned.

13 July – Bedfordshire Reservoir

I went for an evening session with lures again and caught another 4 Pike with the same low double coming to the net again. I decided on the next trip I’d cut a swim out and fish Lobs and Prawns.

20 July – River Derwent

After a ten day stretch at work I finally had a night I could fish so loaded the car and joined the Friday traffic on the M1, it took longer as expected and I arrived in the car park at 21:00 hours.

It had been hot, up to 27 degrees with storms all week, when I arrived it was still warm and clear but rain forecast the next day. I made the long walk up the field to find the levels up but still very fishable.

I got the rigs out and baited up with 6mm Pandemic and relaxed after a tough stretch at work, fishing is the perfect release from my job and I just love being out.

22:35 hours – the left hand rod whipped over and it felt heavy but a strange fight, at first I thought it could be a Carp but then I saw it in the clear water, it was my first repeat of the season, the deformed fish from the first night at 12-05.

22:40 hours – I’d just netted it when the margin rod went over, I bundled it into the net with the other one and quickly unhooked and released a Barbel at 7 plus.

I got both rods back out and rebaited with 6mm’s again, Barbel just love Pandemic and I can’t recommend it enough.
00:50 hours – the margin rod went over again and after a spirited fight I landed another double at 10-14.

02:20 hours – the left hand rod went again, this was another double at 10-02. Generally I only bait one line but this swim was proving that two can be very productive too.

06:00 hours – I’d had a Bream and then a quiet spell and was thinking that might be it as the Derwent seems to switch of in daylight when the margin rod ripped off. When I picked up I really thought it was my dream Barbel as it felt solid and heavy and really put the RM-Tec line to the test. It took time to get it up and then it swam upstream, at that point I suspected Carp and I wasn’t wrong, it was a Common at 16-05, although a lovely fish from the river I have to say I was a bit gutted.

After putting it back I packed up before the rain came and drove home pretty happy with another three doubles in the bag.

28 July 2017 – River Derwent

The previous weekend Julie and I went to a wedding that was spread over two days, suffice to say it was awesome and we had a great time and had way too many beers, congratulations to good friends Gibbo and Steph.

The forecast wasn’t good for the weekend but I drove up with the intention of staying two nights. It started raining as I got in the car park and didn’t stop, by the time I got set up everything was soaked and it just carried on raining.

I had two 8plus Barbel in daylight but by midnight I couldn’t hold bottom on the left hand rod as there was so much weed coming down. The level had risen quickly so I had to retrieve the rods and move them up the bank and dropped both on the margin spot. I had another single and it went quiet and carried on raining.

The forecast was terrible for Saturday and night so perhaps against my better judgement I cut my losses and went home in the morning, fishing is to be enjoyed, there is always another day………

July 2017 a better month but still with limited fishing time, 14 Barbel / 9 doubles.

Until next month be lucky and tight lines.

Julian Barnes