Back For More

Hungry for more barbel, it was back the Trent for a few days with Bully, who was keen to break his duck.

First stop was at the excellent Tackle Dynamic, to stock up on feeders and bait. Top bloke who runs it, good prices and Louis is very helpful and knowledgeable.

Evening we took the easy option and fished fifty yards from the camper. Bloody lovely. 

It was a bit slow but I had some decent roach and an eight pound plus barbel to get off the mark. That'll do.

Next day, more of the same. Quality roach, eight good bream to 7lb and two barbel to 10lb 6oz, a cracking day.

Plenty of bait seems to be the key. I probably used five or 6kg of seed, pellets and corn.

Best period seems to be the first two hours of the ebb, although you can catch at all states of the tide.

Bully had a cracking roach around the pound mark but couldn't get a barbel.

We tried a new stretch on the following day and we were told you could drive along a track to your peg. The track was soft, muddy and slippery but once committed you couldn't turn round until the end, which was about two miles ! It was a real trouser filler.

We both had hybrids and big silver bream, the best going 1lb 11oz. The thought of driving back along the track in the dark was too much, so we packed up early, negotiated the track and went back to the campsite.

Bully decided to try in my swim on the final evening and I went in his.

Thirty droppers of bait went in immediately and a couple of minutes after the barrage I cast the feeder out, baited with a single small pellet.

Literally seconds later the rod whacked over as a decent barbel surged off downstream. 

9lb 11 oz and in immaculate condition. A great start. 

Next cast, same again, the rod sprang back and I was in again. This time exactly 10lb. 

Another bait dropper bombardment and the feeder was cast back in and same again, this time 8lb 12 oz.

Three fish in three casts and I decided to pack up and sit with Bully, who was biteless.

A superb home made curry and dry white wine were enjoyed on the bank. How very civilised.

Bully started to have a few bites and landed one, a decent bream of four pounds or so.

Dusk was approaching and we sat there waiting for "the" chance. The rod whacked over and Bully was in. Not for long though, the line parted. I was more gutted than him I think.

He had another chance but again it was not to be.

You've got to use robust gear for these fish, they take no prisoners.

A great trip again.