I went out again today for an evening session and decided to roll meat again for the Ribble barbel after my weekend success. I had to rush around at work, then I had a gym slot, so like an idiot I forgot the check the weather forecast. Just as I crawled up the M6 towards Preston about 4.30pm I saw a huge weather front coming in and I knew I’d fucked up not bringing the brolly. I almost turned around but decided I’d travelled too far.
I walked a mile or so to the top of the stretch and the rain started just as I cast. I didn’t even have a coat, just jeans and a thick fleece. Rain sponges. After half an hour with no action I moved downstream to an area where the channel runs close in. The sky darkened and the drizzle turned to proper rain. I had a strong feeling what would happen as it’s far from the first time: barbel love gloomy weather. They were hear and I started to get bites. First one I missed, the second was a small barbel around 4lb. Barbel are the only species where anglers like to catch small ones as they don’t spawn well and it bodes well for the future.
Next cast I hooked a lump which raced downstream like a bonefish in the shallow water. I turned it and the battle raged but after a minute or two of to-and-froing the hook pulled. The rain was now torrential and my fleece was soaking it all up but I couldn’t leave. I was feeling plucks most runs down. It could only have been a cast or two later and I was into another big fish which reached a snag quickly but I freed it. A great scrap again in the shallow water but this time I was the winner with a fish of 8lb 9oz. I fished on for another half hour but was utterly drenched by now, right through to my underpants so I called it a day and was back at the car at 7.20pm.
I suspect my catches have improved with rolling meat on this busy section is that every single angler is doing the same thing with stationary baits and they’ve wised up. Anyway, I’m home now with beers ready and the barbel were worth the drenching. Here’s the bigger one:
