Mind, still cant get my head around things, surely its miles too early to be practising for next years Cashmores Curse match on there
Had no idea you'd booked Evesham TK. Quite chuffed you have mind.
The Barbel weighed 11lb 4oz
Bigger than anything i've managed intentionally. Beefed up me tackle a bit in case of a big eel or Tench, ( didnt expect a Barbel, though I know they're there).
3lb hooklength and 18 hook.
Was a big old fish, heavy dogged fight. None of the zip that you get from a fit Severn fish. Not a really long fight either.
Had a devil of a job netting it. Got part of it in, just couldnt get the rest in.
Might have a picture later as the secretary from Evesham AA was passing (seriously) and asked if he could take a snap for the assoc.
Thought it was a pike for quite a while as i'd had a big one on earlier. An angry critter I didnt fancy unhooking at all. Too big for me !
They usually let go, but I could see the maggot in the corner of it's mouth.
Thought, if I can get in in the side. by the platform, might be able to unhook it in the water. Trouble was, when it flashed it's chops again, wide apart like on a John Wilson programme, I was going off it even more.
The six inches of my forceps didnt look enough to keep me safe from a twitch of it's tail and there wasn't room for me and a biting machine on the platform.
Pensioner chappy spots me playing it.... Oh you've got a pike on ! oooh it's a big one.
Yep I said, but I dont fancy getting it out.
- If i'd got my proper gear, big net, unhooking mat and LONG forceps it'd be no problem, or if it were 6lbs or something, but this was much bigger -
Oh... you've
got to get it out he says.
No , really I says, i'm only going to put it back anyway.
Course you are, he says, but you've got to get it out ...c'mon.... lets have a go.
I became aware he'd walked down the steps behind me and picked up my landing net !
I was thinking of pulling for a break .... when the hook came out....
and all was well with the world ;o).
