🎣 Barbel and chub from the River Severn: Very wet, very muddy, very cold and very windy, maybe very mad but definitely very happy
With the River Severn dropping to a normal level, my plan was to return and do some chub fishing this week.
I went to a stretch on the middle reaches of the river near Bridgnorth.
Very rarely do I name exact places fished, after all I see my blog as hopefully inspirational to my fellow anglers to get out themselves, rather than putting people in swims.
It’s always better to find spots for yourself as opposed to being told about them.
That’s what happened today, as although I have fished the general area before, it was the first time in that particular swim.
I walked up and down a good section of the bank before deciding on where to settle.
With overhanging branches just below and the main flow a couple of rod lengths out, it looked appealing.
It was and, with two good chub and a barbel on the bank, it was a great few hours in the afternoon.
I fished a cage feeder that was filled with bread mash and I caught the chub on Red Leicester cheese, with the barbel succumbing to bread.
They all put a great fight, especially the latter.
I nursed it well before it was returned and that’s important when it comes to barbel, as they give their all, and need good recovery time, otherwise they will ‘belly-up’ if released too early.
Tackle: Fox Barbel Special 1.5 test curve rod and an Okuma Zeon reel. 6lb Maxima Chameleon, with an eight-inch hook-length created by a small shot and an 5mm bead. Drennan 25g cage feeder. Size 8 Drennan Super Specialist hook.
Nature notes: Cormorant and raven in flight. Two goosanders on the river. Not in numbers yet but noticed the first lesser celandine in flower on the bank.