It was the turn of our SWWL Division A to fish the Bristol
Avon at Lacock with the match stretching from opposite Beanacre Dump to
Reybridge. I always looked forward to fishing this stretch of the Avon as it suited the angling style instilled in me by
Dad. Basically, very light stick float fishing for Roach, Dace and Chub with
light feeding of caster and hemp. Maggot was a non starter because of the
millions of minnows, impossible to blank here. However, some of the walks were
horrendous, but I always kept the mind set that the further you walked the
better the fishing.
The draw was in Lacock village at the Red Lion car park (it
wasn’t even a consideration to ask the pub to open back then). Most anglers had
a 250 metre walk just to reach the Lacock
Bridge , some drove down
leaving there kit over the fence and driving back, I couldn’t see the point of
this. The shortest walks were about the same for the pegs in the Abbey fields.
I drew a peg down stream half way between Lacock Bridge
and Beanacre Dump. So a fair walk which necessitated climbing a number of
fences and obstacles suitable for a Grand National course, one obstacle in
particular was over a water filled ravine with barbed wire each side. I was
walking with Mike Jones who caught his brand new warders in the barbed wire, so
wet feet for him, I didn’t laugh - much!!
Finally arriving at my peg which was on a straight between
to bends with heavy weeding each end, which meant I couldn’t see or hear the
next angler. Access to the swim was difficult as it was shear 12 foot drop from
the peg to a plateau level with the water. However, by walking down stream I
was able find a gentler slope. Not much time left to set up, so it was a 4BB
stick float and a small caster feeder (maggot feeder with the holes enlarged) just
in case. I was pleased with the swim because I had a long trot, but it
shallowed towards the end dragging the float under. I messed around with the
depth accordingly so I had a consistent three foot.
I started on the single caster over light feed down stream of
caster and hemp and was soon catching small Dace, Roach, Gudgeon and Perch.
Then for some reason the swim died. This was unusual for this to happen so
early in the match because due to the nature of the swims the fished didn’t
move off; basically you caught what was in the swim. I decided to try the small
caster feeder down the peg and caught a small Chub. I then couldn’t get a bite,
so I put a worm on the hook and the tip was twitching which I kept striking at
thinking it was small nibbling Perch. I then decided to leave the worm until I
got a proper bite (now think it might be a decent Eel).
And a proper bite I got and I was into a big fish which at
first I thought was a Pike explaining the lack of small fish. After about ten
minutes I managed to get the fish under the rod tip and away from the weed. I
then saw it – a Barbel of about 6lb. The heart started to pound. It then dawned
on me that I wouldn’t be able to get the fish in my little landing net. I then
realised that a dog walker was up on the top of the bank watching so I asked
him to see if he could borrow a bigger landing net off the next angler, the man
and dog moved on not to see him again. Luckily I was level with the waters edge
and after a bit of arm to arm combat I managed to bank it in the shallow water
and was able to slide it straight into my keepnet. The feeling that followed
was wonderful; if only it could be bottled it (it probably is theses days but
comes in small plastic bags). I sat there for a while recovering expecting this
fish to be the talk of the match.
As per usual on this venue the
scales took a while to arrive at my peg, I explained to the scales men that I
had a 6lb Barbel but didn’t expect them to dismiss it, this was because further
down stream Johnny Raines had caught two Barbel one going 9lb 8oz (I always
wondered to this day how they weighed it on 7lb scales – but suspect someone
had a set of rusty old Sampson’s in their basket). My fish was further pushed
out of the lime light because Brain Webb had also caught one weighing 6lb 7oz.
This didn’t spoil the bouncy walk back to the results; it was another memorable
day out fishing
I did sneak in 6th for another pay day plus our
team – The Golden Carp won on the day pushing us up to third overall, "Our Col" was happy!
Steve Gosling won the match with 22lb 7oz of Chub from a
bend at the top end of the Abbey Fields.
Thirty Six year later from time to time I hear some of those that fished the match still talk about Johnny's two Barbel.
Full Result: (Angling
Press reports upper right)
- Steve Gosling 22-07-0
- Jonny Raines 18-08-0
- Brian Webb 12-11-08
- Steve Sharp 11-11-0
- Colin Dunn 8-05-08
- Mike Nicholls 7-01-0
1 comment:
According to my limited diary weighed in 1lb 13oz of gudgeon and minnows. Deleted from my memory!
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